KWAHLANGA, MPUMALANGA — In a major stride toward rural service delivery, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has officially unveiled the KwaMhlanga Water Infrastructure Project, commissioning a R2 million decentralized borehole scheme for historically marginalized settlements in Mpumalanga. The initiative marks a critical intervention in the government’s mandate to eradicate regional water backlogs and provide dignified access to basic resources.
Strategically timed to coincide with the national observance of Mandela Month, the handover of the four underground water supply schemes took place on Friday, 3 July 2026. The project operates under the newly established Unserved Communities Access Acceleration Programme, a targeted government drive designed to deliver rapid, practical relief to areas that have long suffered from inconsistent supply and heavy reliance on water tankers.
Decentralized Technology for Sustainable Relief
Moving away from traditional, vulnerable water delivery methods, the newly installed boreholes are equipped with automated, decentralized water purification plants. These mini-facilities are engineered to guarantee a continuous supply of high-quality drinking water, coupled with improved sanitation and hygiene for the beneficiaries.
Rand Water Group Chief Executive Sipho Mosai highlighted the technological significance of the rollout, noting that the decentralized plants utilize the exact same rigorous treatment principles as Rand Water’s massive Zuikerbosch and Vereeniging facilities, simply scaled down for localized community use.
The physical infrastructure deployed across the region includes:
- Four newly drilled boreholes integrated with advanced filtration and purification units.
- Ten communal taps strategically placed for public access.
- Six high-capacity storage tanks (10,000 litres each) mounted on six durable steel tank stands.
- A dedicated manhole to facilitate ongoing maintenance.
The purification units have been specifically positioned at the Vezubuhle Community Hall, Bawokuhle Primary School in Gemsbok, Rhenosterfontein Farms, and Engwenyameni. Following rigorous water quality testing, all installations have been certified to meet national safety standards, ensuring reliable, long-term operation for the more than 1,600 residents, learners, and farmers who will benefit from the scheme.
A High-Profile Handover in Nkangala District
The official commissioning was attended by a high-level governmental and corporate delegation. Minister Majodina was joined by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, Mpumalanga MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Speed Katishi Mashilo, Rand Water Chairperson Ramateu Monyokolo, and Rand Water Foundation Chairperson Lusanda Netshitenzhe.
Funded and executed by the Rand Water Foundation—an entity of Rand Water—the completed infrastructure was formally donated to the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality within the Nkangala District to ensure local administrative oversight.
“Today is About Hope and Justice”
Following the technical handover, Minister Majodina traveled to Gemsbok to engage directly with the local community. She framed the KwaMhlanga Water Infrastructure Project not merely as a construction milestone, but as a profound social intervention.
“There could be no better way of honouring Madiba than ensuring that children spend more time in classrooms than searching for water,” Majodina told the gathered residents. “There could be no greater expression of service than restoring dignity to communities that have waited patiently for this basic necessity of life.”
Emphasizing the emotional weight of the rollout, she added: “Today is not simply about boreholes. Today is about hope. It is about dignity. It is about justice. It is about fulfilling a promise that the South African government made to the people.”
Balancing Urgency with Long-Term Sustainability
The Minister explained that while massive regional water systems remain vital, rural and remote communities require immediate, localized solutions while long-term mega-projects are finalized. She detailed that the Acceleration Programme achieves this by blending urgency with sustainability through a multi-pronged approach:
- Groundwater development via targeted borehole drilling.
- The protection of natural springs and the installation of rainwater harvesting systems.
- The rehabilitation of existing, previously non-functional water infrastructure.
- Targeted extensions of local reticulation networks.
“These are practical interventions designed to reach communities that have too often remained on the margins of development,” Majodina explained, reaffirming the department’s pledge to collaborate closely with local municipalities to identify and assist all remaining unserved areas.
A Plea to Protect Critical Assets
Concluding her address, the Minister issued a stern appeal to the community to act as the primary guardians of the new infrastructure, warning heavily against vandalism and theft.
“Every damaged pipeline forces government to spend scarce resources on repairs instead of expanding services to new communities,” she cautioned. “Ultimately, those who suffer most are the poorest households.”
Majodina ended the event by expressing her deep gratitude to the Rand Water Foundation and Rand Water, praising their enduring expertise and unwavering commitment to fortifying water security for millions of South Africans.