R500-million Macambini water scheme brings water to Mandeni households for the first time

Rural communities around Mandeni will soon have water piped into their homes for the first time.

Phase 5C of the R500-million Macambini Water Scheme was recently launched by the provincial department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), and is expected to be complete by March next year.

Funded by the municipal infrastructure grant (MIG), the Macambini Scheme pumps water from the Tugela River and currently produces 40 megalitres per day.

The project has been in development since 2004, with the first phase breaking ground in 2010.

Another four phases are at planning phase and await further budget allocation.

So far, some 172km of piping and 10.3 megalitres of reservoir storage has been completed, while 497 households have had standpipes installed in their yards at an overall cost to date of just over R260-million.

Phase 5C will add a further 65km to the municipal pipeline and plans to complete another 600 yard standpipes at a combined cost of R48.9-million.

There will be a specific focus placed on the areas of eMacambini, eNdondakusuka, kwaMangethe and eMhlubulweni, all of which previously had to rely on communal standpipes or natural water sources.

“This project will ensure that all households in the area of Mandeni receive clean water,” said provincial Cogta MEC, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi.

“March is when we celebrate human rights, and the most fundamental right is access to clean water as a basic need. We saw it fit to launch these projects during this month, which also recognises the importance of water.”

Sithole-Moloi was also referring to a waterborne sewerage project in Groutville and public swimming pool in Sundimbili, Mandeni – both of which were launched on the same day as Macambini’s Phase 5C.

Over the past seven years, 699 households in Myundwini, Etsheni and Melville have been given waterborne sanitation in their homes, while over 4 500 homes in Chris Hani, Lloyds and Ntshawini were connected to bulk sewerage.

The most recent project to come online, which was handed over by Sithole-Moloi, was the Ward 10 treatment plant which can handle sewage from 900 households.

Altogether the projects in Groutville and surrounding areas have cost just over R217-million, also funded by the MIG.

The next phase will connect another 290 Myundwini households and is currently at tender stage.

Sithole-Moloi’s final handover was for a new community hall and public swimming pool in Sundumbili, near Mandeni.