Western Cape Government to invest R40.5 million in municipal water resilience projects for the 2026/27 financial year
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said the Western Cape Department of Local Government will invest R40.5 million in municipal water resilience projects for the 2026/27 financial year.
“Climate change, population growth and economic growth continue to challenge municipalities in delivering basic services to our residents. This is especially true in the case of water security. Proactive planning to build resilience through the long-term investment in the development of water sources and associated infrastructure is therefore essential,” Minister Bredell said.
According to the targets set in the Western Cape Water Resilience Strategy (2025-2035), the province needs to secure an additional 350m³ millions of water supply by 2035 through various augmentation, conservation, infrastructure development and improved infrastructure governance initiatives.
The projects proposed for the 2026/27 financial year are:
- Testing and equipping 8 boreholes in Beaufort West at a cost of R4.34 million.
- Construction of a new reservoir (Phase 1) in Eendekuil in the Bergrivier Municipality at a cost of R1 million.
- Bitou Municipality will be supported with R800 000 for new membranes for the desalination plant in Plettenberg Bay, as well as a R1 million contribution towards a new pipeline from the Keurbooms River to the Roodefontein dam in Plettenberg Bay.
- Cederberg Municipality will see the development of a prefabricated balancing reservoir (R1.75 million) at the Citrusdal water treatment works, as well as phase 3 of a wellfield development in Lamberts Bay (R2 million).
- Kannaland Municipality will receive R2 million for a deep borehole project in Calitzdorp as well as R3 million for borehole refurbishments in Ladismith.
- Knysna will receive R1.75 million for the refurbishment of the Akkerkloof, Charlesford/Eastford, Gouna, and Glebe Dam pump stations (Phase B).
- Laingsburg will be supported with R1 million towards a feasibility study on whether to invest in securing water from the Floriskraal Dam, or in the purification of water from current approved boreholes.
- Langeberg will be supported with R1.83 million towards the raising the Dassieshoek Dam wall.
- Matzikama will be supported with R1.7 million for the refurbishment of the Vredendal water treatment works, R1.5 million for a pipe bridge in Van Rhynsdorp, and R1.5 million to equip 2 boreholes in Klawer.
- Swellendam will be supported with R2.4 million to develop new boreholes.
- Witzenberg Municipality will be supported with R415 000 to improve telemetry systems, which includes the installation of additional bulk water meters.
Additional to this, the Department will invest R7.5 million towards the procurement of large potable water tankers for the West Coast, Central Karoo, Cape Winelands, Overberg and Garden Route District municipalities. A further R5 million will be kept as a contingency fund to be able to respond to unforeseen emergencies.
Contact:
Wouter Kriel
Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Cell: 079 694 3085
