Makhathini Lower Pongola Water Users Association will ensure fair water management for water users in uMkhanyakude and Zululand Districts, says Minister Mchunu
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. Senzo Mchunu has assured the community of Jozini in uMkhanyakude District, and the farming community of Pongola under Zululand District Municipality that there will be fair and equitable access to water for consumption and for farming. He said this following the launch of Makhathini Lower Pongola Water Users Association, that will manage water resources such as the Jozini Dam, Pongola River and Makhathini Canal for the benefit of all water users in the two districts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Minister Mchunu with Deputy Minister David Mahlobo were accompanied by the Minister and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza and Nokuzola Capa respectively, during their community engagement activities in the two districts on 13-14 December 2023.
The Ministerial visit to the districts forms part of the continued effort by Minister Mchunu to intervene in the challenges faced by uMkhanyakude district to restore, augment and expand water supply to communities that have been experiencing water challenges in the districts.
The 32-kilometre Makhathini water was received by the Minister following its transfer to the Department of Water and Sanitation from the landowners, Silwane Trust. The process of the canal transfer was facilitated by the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA), a public entity under the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DARRLD) in KwaZulu-Natal.
During the walk about to assess the canal, Minister Mchunu and Deputy Minister Mahlobo noted that some parts of the canal have been vandalised and there were illegal connections by some community members, and this had led to infrastructure damage. Water pollution has also been identified as also one of the major problems at the canal.
An estimated R122 Million will be required to refurbish the dilapidating canal to function optimally.
The water canal with a capacity of 141 754 cubic metres (m³) is meant to benefit both agriculture and domestic users. It abstracts raw water from the Jozini Dam to six different pump stations and the pressurised water is distributed from the pump stations through extensive network of underground pipelines to four different types of irrigation system that are being used which are sprinklers, centre pivots, floods & drip.
“The newly established Makhathini Lower Pongola Water User Association will facilitate and coordinate stakeholder consultation for ensuring equitable decision-making when water is being released from Jozini Dam for environment and socioeconomic purposes. This, in the end, will enable both domestic and agricultural users to have equitable access to water”, said Minister Mchunu.
The community of Kwa-Gumbi, near Pongola in Zululand District consists of small-scale farmers who are beneficiaries of land restitution programme from DARRLD. The farmers represented by Emvokweni Community Trust, had water use licence issues and requested the Minister’s intervention.
Both the Ministers of DWS and DARRLD have pledged their commitment to assist the farmers to restore farming operations on their farms. Minister Mchunu has assured the farming community of availability of water to ensure sustainable irrigation on their farms.
For more information, contact
Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
Kamogelo Mogotsi
Spokesperson for the Ministry
Cell: 076 523 0085
