Major Progress in Hammanskraal Water Restoration

Pretoria – The City of Tshwane, working hand in hand with the Department of Water and Sanitation and Magalies Water, is making steady headway in bringing back safe and steady drinking water to Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. This is all part of the bigger Hammanskraal Intervention Project, rolled out in stages to fix water quality for good and in line with rules. Families in the area, who have dealt with unsafe water for years, can now breathe a bit easier as Phase 2 gets the green light for human use after some hold-ups. But with higher demand than expected and old pipes causing leaks, the teams have had to tweak things to keep the flow going. As South Africa keeps pushing to meet goals for clean water for all by 2030, this project shows what teamwork can do, even if it takes time to get right.
The work comes after a tough past in Hammanskraal, where bad water led to big health scares. Now, with each stage reaching more homes, locals hope for a future without worries about what comes out of their taps.
Background to the Hammanskraal Water Crisis
Hammanskraal has faced water troubles for over a decade, but things got really bad in May 2023 when a cholera outbreak hit, killing more than 20 people and making hundreds sick. The sickness came from dirty water tainted by sewage from the Rooiwal wastewater plant, which could not handle the load and let bad stuff into rivers and dams. Folks had to rely on tankers for clean water, and many got ill from using the taps anyway.
To fix this, the government stepped in with the Hammanskraal Intervention Project, a R4 billion plan to upgrade Rooiwal and bring in new clean water from the Klipdrift Package Plant run by Magalies Water. The project splits into four stages, each aimed at hooking up more homes to safe water. It ties into bigger national aims, like the National Development Plan and UN goals for clean water and health. Phase 1 kicked off in late 2024, supplying spots like Mandela Village and parts of Kudube with about 12.5 million litres a day. But delays hit due to old pipes and high use, pushing teams to find quick fixes while building for the long haul.
Key Advances in Phase 2
According to a joint statement, Phase 2 (Module 2), commissioned on 29 July 2025, supplies water to Kudube Units 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and D, Majaneng Moshate, Jubilee Hospital, and the Dominican School for the Deaf.
“The confirmation of the water quality and safety for human consumption regrettable took longer than initially envisaged for the areas earmarked for this phase of potable supply. This is due to technical and infrastructure challenges experienced during the implementation of this phase of the project,” the statement reads.
This stage adds another 12.5 million litres a day, reaching thousands more homes. Tests done under South Africa’s strict rules, SANS 241:2015, show the water is now safe to drink in most spots. This means folks in Kudube and Majaneng can use their taps without fear, a big win after years of worry. The teams have worked non-stop to flush lines, fix leaks, and check samples, making sure every drop meets standards for things like bacteria and chemicals.
But not all areas are ready yet. Jubilee Hospital and the Dominican School for the Deaf need more work on their inside pipes, so they stay on tankers for now. A separate okay will come once checks are done.
Tackling the Main Challenges
Among the challenges included:

Operating in a Brownfield environment with the integration into an existing ageing network, requiring a controlled ramp-up of flow rates and pressures while also addressing multiple leak repairs.
Higher-than-anticipated demand, as confirmed by an assessment by the City of Tshwane in September 2025, indicating actual water demand to be approximately 21 megalitres per day (ML/day), nearly double the original design estimate of 11 ML/day, while the current design capacity to supply Phase 2 is 12.5 ML/day.
These issues slowed things down, with old pipes bursting under new pressure and more people using water than planned. The area has grown fast, with more homes needing supply, putting extra strain on the system.
To sort this, the partners got creative. They pulled extra flow from Phase 1 and even some from Phase 3 to boost Phase 2. This keeps taps running while full fixes happen. They also cut off the hospital and school for now to focus on their own setups, avoiding risks to patients and kids.
These steps show how real-world fixes can bridge gaps, but they also highlight the need for bigger upgrades to handle growth. The whole Klipdrift plant aims for 50 million litres a day once all stages are done, enough for about 84,000 people in Hammanskraal West.
Water Quality and Safety Confirmation
Water testing has been conducted in accordance with SANS 241:2015, South Africa’s national standard for drinking water.
Based on recent results, and notwithstanding earlier delays, water supplied to Kudube Units 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and D, and Majaneng Moshate (east of Makapanstad Road) has been certified safe for human consumption.
The stakeholders added that work continues to complete the water supply to Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the Hammanskraal Intervention Project.
Progress updates will be issued as each area achieves full compliance with national water quality standards.
“This progress reflects a strong partnership between the City of Tshwane, DWS, and Magalies Water, working to ensure long-term, safe, and equitable access to drinking water for the Hammanskraal community.”
The okay came after weeks of tests showing no harmful bugs or chemicals. This meets tough rules that check for things like E. coli and heavy metals. For families, it means no more boiling water or buying bottled stuff, saving money and time. But officials urge keeping an eye out and reporting odd tastes or smells right away.
Looking Ahead to Phases 3 and 4
The initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for universal access to clean water and sanitation.
Phase 3 will add more areas like Kudube Units 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and parts of Majaneng, aiming for another 12.5 million litres a day. Phase 4 will wrap things up, covering leftover spots and boosting to full capacity. Work on these is underway, with pipes being laid and tests planned. The whole project should finish by late 2025, giving all of Hammanskraal West clean water from Klipdrift.
But Rooiwal upgrades are key too, as they fix the sewage side to stop future pollution. Tenders for that have faced hold-ups, like a family fight over a big contract, but progress is happening with new teams on board.

🔴Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 119 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Jacob Zuma Welcomes Tony Yengeni to MK Party as Second Deputy President in Major Leadership Shake-Up🔴

centralnewsza #news #politics #ngwathe #feziledabi #freestate

Major Progress

Major Progress in Hammanskraal Water Restoration: Phase 2 Declared Safe for Drinking Amid Ongoing Challenges

Major Progress in Hammanskraal Water Restoration

centralnewsza #news #politics #ngwathe #feziledabi #freestate

Parliament Ad Hoc Committee Reviews Progress on Mkhwanazi’s Corruption Allegations Against Suspended Minister Mchunu

South Africa Secures $925 Million World Bank Loan to Boost Service Delivery in Eight Major Cities

Related Articles

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply