MQANDULI, Eastern Cape — A major R130-million investment in Eastern Cape water projects is set to transform rural service delivery, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, announced. The funding anchors a national water access acceleration program launched in Mqanduli to coincide with Mandela Day, directly targeting the severe water scarcity that continues to plague the region.
The OR Tambo district remains one of South Africa’s most water-stressed areas, with more than six in 10 residents still lacking access to piped water. To address this critical gap, the government is rolling out a portion of 67 new borehole installations in Willow Village. This initiative is designed to provide immediate, reliable water access to communities that have endured years of service delivery grievances.
Responding to questions about whether these boreholes are merely a temporary stopgap, Minister Ramokgopa firmly stated that the rehabilitated groundwater infrastructure is a permanent, sustainable solution. She clarified that while future national budgets from the Department of Water and Sanitation will increasingly pivot toward surface water, historical local municipal planning heavily favored groundwater. This new program bridges that planning disjuncture by actively upgrading and rehabilitating existing systems. Officials personally verified the water quality at the site, confirming it is thoroughly tested, safe, and drinkable.
The R130-million provincial allocation encompasses approximately 13 distinct projects across the Eastern Cape. Collectively, these interventions will extend water access to nearly 40,000 individuals who previously had none. While the long-term vision is full household reticulation, the current communal setup strategically places one tap for every two and a half households, ensuring robust and immediate coverage.
This local rollout aligns with broader national infrastructure priorities. Recently, the President highlighted the critical need for consistent infrastructure maintenance while launching the Mahali water clip drift pump package plant in Hammanskraal. Complementing this, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, noted that the overarching national infrastructure budget exceeds R700-million, underscoring the massive scale of the government’s commitment to water security.
Acknowledging valid community concerns that government projects often deteriorate after official handovers, Minister Ramokgopa emphasized that her department’s presence is specifically tied to enforcing sustainable development. Comprehensive strategies are being finalized to guarantee ongoing infrastructure maintenance and protect against vandalism. To ensure strict accountability, the department will report on the progress and sustainability of these specific water projects to the national Cabinet every six months.
The Mqanduli handover was a collaborative, high-level effort. The delegation included the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, who joined the initiative to reinforce the shared government commitment to transforming water access from a historical plight into a dignified, reliable reality for the Eastern Cape’s most vulnerable communities.
