In celebration of National Water Week 2026, the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation and uMngeni-uThukela Water, proudly led the launch ceremony of the refurbishment and upgrade of water infrastructure for the Bhongweni community under the Greater Kokstad Municipality. The event took place on 24 March 2026 at Shayamoya Community Hall (Ward 10).
National Water Week serves as an important reminder of the value of water as a scarce and vital resource, while promoting its sustainable use and equitable access for all. Marking this significant week through the launch of this project demonstrates a firm commitment to improving water security and ensuring that communities have access to safe and reliable drinking water.
The Bhongweni water infrastructure upgrade is a key initiative aimed at addressing existing challenges affecting over 38,000 people across nearly 6,000 households. The project will enhance system efficiency and secure a long-term water supply for residents. It further reflects the ongoing collaboration between uMngeni-uThukela Water and the Harry Gwala District Municipality in strengthening service delivery and uplifting communities.
His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Zamo Nxumalo emphasised The information we are presenting today is based on inputs received from the community through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) processes, where you raised your needs and service delivery concerns,” said Cllr Nxumalo. “As a municipality, working together with local councils, uMngeni-uThukela Water, and the Department of Water and Sanitation, we have translated these requests into implementable projects aimed at improving water access for our communities.
“Since 2019, you have seen us conducting site inspections, assessing project progress, and allocating budgets to ensure that these initiatives are successfully implemented. Our objective has been to address water shortages in a sustainable manner.
“Through these efforts, the capacity of Kempsdale Dam has been stabilised at four metres, enabling water to be pumped, treated, and supplied efficiently to the community. The Shayamoya system has also been upgraded and will now supply up to one million litres of water.
“Today marks the handover of the Bhongweni reservoir that has an increase system capacity to meet future demands of 4.3 million litres, which has a capacity of 250,000 litres and will now serve the community. In addition, a further 650,000 litres will be stored to ensure reliability of supply, particularly during times of disruption.
“We acknowledge the challenges related to ageing infrastructure, particularly old asbestos pipelines from previous administrations, which are prone to leakages. In partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, we will address these challenges through infrastructure upgrades and replacements.
“The responsible use of water remains critical. Many households utilise flush toilet systems, which consume significant amounts of water. We urge the community to adopt water-saving practices and to install approved smart meters to better manage consumption.
“To the residents of Marikana, we recognise that, due to the density of the area, the current project may not fully meet your needs. However, a technical team will be deployed to assess suitable solutions for the installation of pipelines to ensure equitable water supply. The introduction of smart meters will allow households access to approximately 6,000 litres of free water.illegal water connections are strongly discouraged, as they disrupt the system and negatively impact the equitable distribution of water.
“I would like express our sincere appreciation for your cooperation, respect, and participation in this important engagement”.
Mr Hadebe, the CEO, Department of Water and Sanitation said We are working hard to secure and provide water in line with government efforts, especially during this Water Month. We have not stopped at the current scheme; we will continue planning and identifying funding mechanisms to support the construction of water projects .
“The funds allocated to the Mayor, Cllr Zwide, are being used appropriately, and that is why we will continue to trust him with these resources to advance development projects. We therefore urge the community to use water responsibly and to pay for the services they receive.”
As we commemorate National Water Week 2026, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect water resources and invest in sustainable solutions that benefit both current and future generations.