By OBAKENG MAJE
31 March 2025- Magalies Water said it has taken note with great appreciation of declarations made at the Water and Sanitation Indaba recently held in Gauteng Province. According to Magalies Water, these commitments represent a fresh mandate from the highest echelons of government in the country, with support from the highest office in the land.
Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said the Indaba took place at a time when the water sector faces numerous challenges, to which Magalies Water is not immune. Magae said as an organisation that has emerged from a reconfiguration process, which resulted in the expansion of its service mandate to cover the rest of the North West province, they are working diligently to finalize the updated Bulk Water and Sanitation Master Plan.
“Previously, this strategic document focused on the Bojanala Platinum (North West) and Waterberg Districts (Limpopo). Upon the conclusion of the review, it will shed light on the entire North West’s water challenges and future demands.
“It will also be a key driver in our quest to expand the entity’s presence in previously un-serviced areas by ensuring that all future water and sanitation projects undertaken are informed by feasibility studies and bankable business cases that highlight the need for bulk infrastructure investments across all four districts of the North West,” he said.
Magae further said much of the North West province’s water resources are strained, limited and in certain areas lack the requisite bulk infrastructure to respond more pragmatically to water-related challenges. He added that to this extent, Magalies Water has been implementing key projects that seek to address the water supply challenges, where it currently has operations.
“Below are some of the projects the entity has undertaken in the last seven financial years and has continued to implement beyond the reconfiguration process as part of its growth strategy into the future.
“Pilanesberg South Bulk Water Supply project in Rustenburg Local Municipality – where a 50 megalitre reservoir has been completed, as well as a pump station. This project also includes a construction of a 30 megalitre reservoir in Tlhabane Township, which has also been completed,” said Magae.
He said upon full commissioning, this project will impact about 63 238 households bringing about much-needed relief to residents in areas with historically high-water demand patterns. Magae said Klipvoor Bulk Water Supply Scheme is a bulk water infrastructure mega-project.
“The project beneficiaries include Moretele, Bela-Bela, Modimolle-Mookgophong and Mogalakwena Local Municipalities. Currently only two out of seven work packages are in the construction stage, as project implementation processes for the other work packages are still at early stages.
“Magalies Water is currently engaging national government departments on funding models, and technical project scoping. The Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant upgrade project is also underway. We are nearing the upgrade and optimization of the raw water pump station,” he said.
Magae said the raw water pump station has been upgraded from a capacity of 270 Ml/d to a 360 Ml/d, including linking of the raw water pipeline and supernatant to a common inlet works. He said practical work on this aspect of the project is earmarked for end of May 2025.
“Implementation Readiness Study for the upgrade of Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant from a 270 Ml/d to a 360 Ml/d, including upgrading of the distribution works is underway, and this mega project will be submitted to National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure for blended funding.
“This catalytic project will ensure water security in the Bojanala Platinum District of the North-West. The Moretele South Bulk Water Supply Scheme is a multi-phased project being implemented by the Magalies Water,” said Magae.
He said a total of R640 617 000 had been budgeted for the scheme from the Department’s Regional Bulk infrastructure Grant (RBIG). Magae said Phase 1 of the project was an upgrade of the Klipdrift Water.
“Treatment Works from 18 ml/d to 42ml/d completed in 2022. Phase 2 consisted of 30-kilometre bulk pipeline from the treatment plant towards the far west end of Moretele, while Phase 3 is currently under construction, and includes the construction of a reservoir and bulk pipeline, to ensure reliable supply of potable water to seven villages identified in far west of Moretele including Swartdam, Noroki, Ratsiepane, Moeka, Ga-Motle, Kromkuil and Mmakaunyana,” he said.
The Guardian 