Water & Sanitation Minister pins SA's water woes on incomplete projects

JOHANNESBURG - The Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, has raised concerns about numerous incomplete water projects despite funds already spent.

The African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) member said the water supply challenges experienced in parts of the country are due to the unfinished projects.

Majodina made these comments on the sidelines of the ANC’s NEC meeting in Boksburg on Saturday.

The unfinished project to upgrade the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant in the City of Tshwane highlights the severe impact of incomplete projects.

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Because of the delays, large parts of Hammanskraal continue to go without clean drinking water after decades of receiving a contaminated supply.

Majodina said several municipalities also have incomplete water projects, and it’s time for the national government to intervene.

“So what have we done? We have intervened and reclaimed the funds, and we are going to intervene through sending implementing agents to complete these infrastructure projects.”

She said the government is now cracking down on what she describes as water mafias, who have been extorting a share of state funds from contractors.