Minister Pemmy Majodina
By Nkosana Khumalo
In a major boost for water security and service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has officially handed over a newly completed four-kilometre pipeline stemming from the upgraded Kwa-Ximba Package Plant, marking a significant step toward ensuring a sustainable and uninterrupted water supply to several rural communities in Ward 1 of Kwa-Ximba.
Minister Majodina, joined by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, uMngeni-uThukela Water Board Chairperson Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo, Inkosi Mlaba of Kwa-Ximba, and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, conducted an oversight visit on Friday to assess the progress of the broader Kwa-Ximba water reticulation programme. The project forms part of the government’s commitment to ending water supply disruptions and promoting access to basic services in rural areas.
This development follows the completion of the first phase of the Kwa-Ximba Package Plant project, which includes a water treatment facility supplying 2 megalitres per day (ml/d). A second phase saw the upgrade of the plant to produce 7 ml/d, aimed at meeting the growing water demands of local communities. The plant’s commissioning coincided with the conclusion of National Water Month and Human Rights Month, reinforcing the right to access clean and safe water as a fundamental human right.
Majodina said the pipeline would feed water to two crucial command reservoirs — DV 1822 and DV 1818 — which are designed to ensure sustainable water supply to 18 villages. These include Mvini, Bhobhonono, Nkandla, Nonoti, Msunduze, Mhali, Esiweni, Livapo, Nconcosi, Ntukusweni, Zwelisha, Kajabula, Othweba, Kwanyoni, Skhoxe, Kwadenge, and Emngacwini.
Previously, these communities relied on the Cato Ridge reservoir, which received water from Midmar Water Treatment Works via the Western Aqueduct. However, due to rapid population growth and increasing demand, the Cato Ridge reservoir no longer had sufficient capacity to serve the expanding villages effectively.
Minister Majodina acknowledged these challenges during her address at the local school hall and commended the engineers, technicians, and municipal leaders who worked to fast-track the completion of the project. “This is an indication of government’s commitment to prioritise issues of water and sanitation in eThekwini Municipality and the country as a whole. We are confident that this project will guarantee uninterrupted water supply and bring much-needed relief to Kwa-Ximba and surrounding villages,” she said.
She urged residents to take ownership of the infrastructure and protect it from vandalism and illegal connections that could compromise its longevity. “We appeal to members of the community to protect this infrastructure,” Majodina said, reiterating the state’s appeal for community partnership in maintaining service delivery infrastructure.
Deputy Ministers Mahlobo and Seitlholo praised the alignment between national and local government in executing projects that directly improve people’s lives. uMngeni-uThukela Water Board Chairperson Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo assured the public that the plant remains under the board’s custodianship and will be maintained according to strict operational and environmental standards.
The eThekwini Municipality has also made strides in ensuring the functionality of the pipeline, addressing persistent issues such as leaks and aging pipes, which had previously disrupted service delivery. Municipal teams have worked to seal major leaks and enhance water pressure to ensure consistent flow into the DV 1822 and DV 1818 reservoirs. The result is a growing confidence among residents and local leadership that their long-standing water woes may finally be over.
However, some communities had previously faced inconsistent water access due to low capacity in the command reservoirs. In response, Majodina made a commitment to return to Kwa-Ximba to assess the maintenance of the new pipeline system and ensure it remains fully operational. Once both reservoirs are filled and balanced, the pipeline is expected to operate at full efficiency, reducing dependency on emergency water supply measures such as water tankers.
Beyond Kwa-Ximba, the Minister’s day included a second handover event in Oakford, Ward 60 near Verulam. In a gesture reflecting the broader reach of infrastructure development, Majodina officially handed over three newly constructed houses to families who had been relocated to make way for the Hazelmere Dam raising project. The dam’s expansion aims to increase water security in the northern parts of eThekwini and surrounding municipalities.
During the Hazelmere Dam project, 13 families were temporarily moved to alternative accommodations, while an additional three had to be relocated from the High Flood Line. So far, nine permanent houses have been handed over, with four more still under construction and due to be completed in the coming months.
Speaking at the handover, Majodina said: “We are not just building infrastructure; we are restoring dignity. No one must be left behind in our service delivery journey. These families have sacrificed for the greater good, and it is only right that they receive homes that are decent, safe, and permanent.”
The newly built homes meet modern housing standards, with improved roofing, proper sanitation, and structural designs suited to flood-prone areas. Community members expressed gratitude for the government’s support and welcomed the housing initiative as a key part of ensuring long-term security and stability for families displaced by critical infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, the broader implications of the Kwa-Ximba project are being celebrated across various government platforms. Not only does the project reflect the success of intergovernmental collaboration, but it also highlights how infrastructure rollouts can serve as catalysts for social and economic development.
Water security remains a key pillar of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The commissioning of the Kwa-Ximba Package Plant aligns with the targets for clean water and sanitation, helping address the backlog in rural service delivery and advancing the constitutional right to water.
As the country approaches the winter season, the project offers a layer of protection against seasonal droughts and water scarcity, which often impact rural areas the hardest. Communities such as Kwa-Ximba, once on the fringes of development, are slowly being reintegrated into mainstream service delivery frameworks.
Majodina reaffirmed the Department of Water and Sanitation’s commitment to fast-tracking other priority projects in under-serviced areas. Plans are underway to duplicate the Kwa-Ximba Package Plant model in other parts of the country where similar challenges exist.
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