DELMAS, Mpumalanga — After seven years of existing without basic services, the newly implemented Mimosa township water and sanitation project is officially bringing potable water and flush toilets to the residents of Mimosa township and Brakfontein village.
For years, community members were forced to relieve themselves in nearby bushes or dig makeshift holes around their homes. Today, that reality has fundamentally changed. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, alongside deputy ministers and local officials, toured the settlement to officially hand over the infrastructure implemented by the Rand Water Foundation.
While the handover marks a massive relief for the community, officials acknowledge the scale of the ongoing demand. The local population stands at 106,000, and while more than 300 facilities have been delivered so far, the ultimate goal remains to provide hygienic, safe sanitation and reliable clean water to every single resident.
“We are accelerating dignified sanitation and accelerating access to water,” Minister Majodina stated, noting that the government began its interventions in the area in 2023 and has returned to deliver services every year since. She emphasized that the department does not work alone, pointing to ongoing collaborations with the departments of Human Settlements and national local government to utilize dedicated water and sanitation budgets. Acknowledging the broader challenges ahead, she noted that while they have started on the correct footing, “as you climb this mountain, there are more mountains to climb.”
A major concern raised by residents and officials alike is the long-term sustainability of the 5 million rand investment. Historically, even when infrastructure is successfully installed, poor municipal maintenance leads to service failures and subsequent community protests over clean drinking water.
Addressing these operational concerns, the MEC for Cooperative Governance confirmed that the local mayor has assured the provincial government that funds have been specifically budgeted for the operation and maintenance of these new projects. To prevent the infrastructure from collapsing and rendering the investment null and void, the MEC urged municipalities to reinvest all revenue from water sales directly back into infrastructure upkeep.
Furthermore, a critical shortage of technical skills—such as water engineers, water scientists, and hydrologists—has heavily hindered local municipalities. To bridge this gap, the provincial government has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment. This initiative will assign graduate interns to assist local municipalities, ensuring that technical interventions are supported on all fronts.
Following the historic handover in Delmas, the minister and her delegation continued their tour to the next stop, where additional water projects are being transferred to the community, reinforcing the government’s commitment to long-term service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
