MQANDULI, Eastern Cape — The South African government has committed a R130-million investment to Eastern Cape water projects, aiming to resolve critical water shortages in the region. Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, announced the funding during the launch of a national water access acceleration program in Mqanduli, marking Mandela Day with tangible infrastructure development for underserved rural communities.
Currently, more than six in 10 residents in the Eastern Cape’s OR Tambo district lack access to piped water, classifying it as one of the most water-stressed regions in the country. To combat this, the government is unveiling a portion of 67 new borehole projects in Willow Village, Mqanduli, designed to deliver reliable water access to communities that have faced prolonged grievances over service delivery.
Addressing concerns about whether these boreholes are merely a temporary fix, Minister Ramokgopa emphasized that the rehabilitated groundwater systems are entirely safe, drinkable, and sustainable. She noted that officials personally tested the water at the pipes to verify its quality. While future national investments from the Department of Water and Sanitation will increasingly focus on surface water, local municipalities have historically relied on groundwater. This new initiative bridges that planning disjuncture by actively rehabilitating existing groundwater infrastructure to ensure immediate and consistent reticulation.
The R130-million allocation will fund approximately 13 additional projects across the province, ultimately extending water access to nearly 40,000 people who previously had none. While the ultimate goal is individual household reticulation, the current communal tap installations are designed to service approximately one tap for every two and a half households, providing a robust and immediate solution.
Acknowledging resident concerns regarding the longevity of government projects and the threat of infrastructure vandalism, Minister Ramokgopa assured the community that sustainability is a core mandate of her department. Officials have developed comprehensive maintenance and security strategies to protect the new infrastructure. Furthermore, progress on these projects will be formally reported to the national Cabinet every six months to ensure strict accountability and long-term reliability.
The initiative is a collaborative interdepartmental effort. The delegation also included the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, who highlighted a broader national infrastructure budget exceeding R700-million, and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, who joined the handover to reinforce the commitment to sustainable local government service delivery and community empowerment.
