By OBAKENG MAJE
Magalies Water is bidding farewell to its well-decorated Chief Executive Officer, Sandile Mkhize. This comes after Mkhize, who served the institution across various capacities from the late 2014, tendered his resignation. Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said back in 2014, Mkhize was appointed as General Manager until as Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to date.
Magae further said Mkhize who has been with North West’s only Water Board for almost a decade, will leave the Rustenburg head-quartered water utility at the end of June 2024, almost a year after his re-appointment as the institution’s Accounting Officer for a fixed term of five years, following the successful completion of his first term of office.
He added that among other responsibilities, Mkhize was appointed as Chief Operations Officer during his period of employment and has overseen numerous projects in response to the water demand in Magalies Water’s area of operation.
“These projects include the completion of the Bulk Water Master Plan in June 2015, upgrade of Vaalkop Water Treatment Works from 210Ml/d to 240Ml/d, upgrade of Klipdrift Water Treatment Works from 18Ml/d to 42Ml/d.
“Other projects include efficiency improvements at Wallmansthal Water Treatment Works with the development of improved high-lift pump-station. Implementation of Pilanesberg Phase 2 Mafenya Reservoir, pumpstation, Pipeline, and Tlhabane Reservoir,” said Magae.
He said more recently, Mkhize was ceased with the difficult task of integrating Magalies Water with the erstwhile Sedibeng Water, whose North West operations, liabilities and staff was duly transferred to former following the latter’s disestablishment. Magae said this saw Magalies Water’s area of operation grow to include Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Distric, as well as the workforce growing from a humble 370 to over 700 employees.
Reflecting on his years of service to Magalies Water, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer said his tenure was not without its fair share of challenges.
“Some of the challenges we have experienced include the lack of sufficient potable water production to meet the demand in Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities, which comprise the highest number of people in Bojanala Platinum District.
“Lack of funding to speedily implement the Bulk Water Master Plan, the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, which negatively impacted the water sector including Magalies Water customers in Moretele Local Municipality, non-payment by the municipalities for services rendered by us, as well as the lack of local support in Madibeng Local Municipality for Magalies Water to finish the longest running water treatment works upgrade project in Brits” he said.
Mkhize has overseen the revenue growth from R0.2 billion in 2014/15 to R1.2 billion in 2022/23 financial years and an asset growth from R0.9 billion to over R4.5 billion, as well as leading Magalies Water to three consecutive clean audits from 2019/20 – 2021/22 financial years.
Meanwhile, Board Chairperson Dr Lydia Sebego said Mkhize leaves behind an impressive track record and his leadership will be sorely missed, given the meticulous approach with which he handled the integration of Magalies and Sedibeng Water Boards, at a time when there had been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty.
“We are obviously saddened by his departure, given his contribution and wish him the best as he prepares for working life beyond Magalies Water. We are confident that he will continue to do very well,” she said.
Sebego said the appointment of the acting Chief Executive Officer will be communicated in due course to stakeholders and the public once all internal processes in this respect have been completed.
The Guardian 