UMkhomazi Water Project is in progress

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu, announced that, the R23 billion uMkhomazi Water Project has been revived after being postponed for a number of years.

Mchunu made the disclosure at a press conference held in Durban to provide an update on water security in eThekwini and surrounding regions, particularly Phase I of the uMkhomazi Water Project.

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UMKHOMAZI WATER PROJECT WILL BOOST WATER SECURITY OF WHICH PLACES?

Mchunu stated that the uMkhomazi Water Project will boost water security in the uMngeni Water Supply System, which provides eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala District Municipalities, and Msunduzi Local Municipality, and ensure water security in 2030.

After numerous meetings with the ministers of finance, cooperative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA), and the mayor of eThekwini, he claimed that this represented progress.

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The project’s raw water component will be carried out by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), a state-owned organization tasked with funding and carrying out bulk raw water infrastructure projects, while the project’s potable water component will be carried out by uMngeni-uThukela Water, according to Mchunu.

“This means that, the ball is now in eThekwini’s court to start consultations and complete them as soon as possible so that the project can really start without any further delays. These consultations will also enable TCTA to start raising 50% of the finance required for the project on the market.

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WHO WILL FUND THE REMAINING 50%?

“The remaining 50% will be funded by National Treasury, through a 25% loan to the TCTA and a 25% grant. The contribution to the project from the fiscus enables the water that will be provided to be affordable to the municipalities. We now want TCTA to proceed with planning and design work right away so that construction can start as soon as possible in 2024 / 2025,” Mchunu said.