UMNGENI-UTHUKELA
WATER . AMANZI
LEADING THE
F LOW
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA
WATER . AMANZI
Above left: Sandile Mkhize, CEO
2 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA WATER ENERGY & UTILITIES
LEADING THE
F LOW On a mission to enhance sustainable development and provide water security in KwaZulu-Natal, uMngeni-uThukela Water goes above and beyond in its role as a bulk water service provider for the province. Sandile Mkhize, CEO, outlines how the company’s recent activities align with both provincial and national development goals to improve quality of life for all Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Rob Payne
L
ike many parts of South Africa (SA), KwaZulu-Natal province faces pressing water security challenges, ranging from climate change and recurring drought cycles to urbanisation and ageing infrastructure –variables that have converged to place immense pressure on water systems. As an entity that provides bulk water to municipalities, industries, and communities across the region, uMngeni-uThukula Water is no stranger to such difficulties. With challenges further compounded by a lack of technical skills at municipal levels to both operate and maintain water infrastructure, alongside KwaZuluNatal’s rapidly growing population, the province is uniquely positioned
to demonstrate how integrated planning, sustainable investment, and strong partnerships can ensure a water-secure future. “The mammoth task of delivering water to all our stakeholders, whether in urban or rural areas, has served as a call to action,” opens Sandile Mkhize, CEO. Indeed, all spheres of government must work towards the common vision of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 – to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. In her recent address at the 2026 Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) conference, SA’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, the Honourable Pemmy Majodina, exhorted all water Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 3
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA WATER ENERGY & UTILITIES
sector players to intensify their efforts and tackle water backlogs with a simple yet powerful reminder. She outlined how securing the nation’s water future will require more than additional infrastructure, but new governance models, financing mechanisms, technologies, and a renewed commitment to collective action. Majodina added how water is a catalyst for socioeconomic development and must be prioritised, emphasising that infrastructure on its own cannot guarantee water security. “This statement resonates strongly with our mission at uMngeni-uThukela Water. Every drop we treat and deliver to our customers is part of a broader social contract to advance equity, dignity, and development in line with the vision of universal access,” he impassions.
PROGRESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY For KwaZulu-Natal, the past year has demonstrated that whilst the road is challenging, progress is possible. Although communities continue to face intermittent supply constraints, with some municipalities struggling to cope with maintenance backlogs, through coordinated action, partnerships, and investment in infrastructure, the situation is improving. Strategic augmentation projects, upgrades to treatment works, and the extension of key pipelines have collectively enabled tens of thousands of households to enjoy improved and more reliable water compared to previous years. “Our efforts are underpinned by a philosophy of sustainability. Water infrastructure is capital-intensive, but also foundational to economic growth, food security, and public health,” Mkhize confirms. To finance and implement the scale of projects required, partnerships remain essential for uMngeni-uThukela Water, including collaborations with contracted water services authorities, engagements with industrial clients who depend on reliable supply, and ongoing alignment with the Department of Water and Sanitation as one of its shareholders. “Moreover, partnerships are also forged with a view to extend into new and previously underserved areas,” he insights.
The company’s efforts have culminated in the signing of a partnership deal with the uThukela District Municipality to resuscitate water infrastructure in that area. “Again, these initiatives of going above and beyond in our role as a bulk water service provider resonate with the call made by Minister Majodina in her maiden budget speech where she called upon all water sector actors to address water scarcity with urgency and innovation. “This is an injunction that continues to guide our approach to water stewardship. Our goal is to be efficient in our operations, transparent in our governance, and bold in our vision,” Mkhize reflects.
MAKING MEANINGFUL STRIDES uMngeni-uThukela Water is acutely aware that its responsibility extends beyond pipes and reservoirs and encompasses building a culture of water conservation, promoting community awareness, and preparing for the impacts of climate change. Recent flooding in KwaZulu-Natal province serves as a stark reminder that resilience must be built into every aspect of water planning. “Accordingly, our strategic initiatives now prioritise not only the expansion of access but also the protection of ecosystems, diversification of water sources, and strengthening of disaster preparedness,” Mkhize tells us.
“Our efforts are underpinned by a philosophy of sustainability. Water infrastructure is capital-intensive, but also foundational to economic growth, food security, and public health” – S A N D I L E M K H I Z E , C E O , U M N G E N I - U T H U K E L A WAT E R
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THE TRUE COST OF DOWNTIME: WHY FLUID DYNAMICS DEMANDS ENGINEERING EXPERTISE, NOT JUST EQUIPMENT? In the engineering sector, procurement is often treated as a transactional matter of matching part numbers on a datasheet. However, when a municipal pump station fails or a chemical dosing system loses calibration, the fallout is measured in lost revenue, stalled delivery, and compromised communities. In fluid dynamics, the hardware installed is only as good as the engineering intellect behind it. This reality defines the operational philosophy of Ecochem Pumps. Rather than acting as a passive supplier, the company has spent over 30 years positioning itself as a high-tier fluid handling solutions partner in South Africa. Drawing upon a combined wealth of industry expertise spanning more than half a century, our team handles the complex mechanics that keep heavy industry and public utilities moving. A standout example of Ecochem Pumps’ approach to infrastructure modernisation is the recent upgrade of the Ntuzuma Reservoir 2 Water Pump Station for the eThekwini Municipality. Designed to strengthen water security for Ntuzuma, Inanda, KwaMashu, and surrounding communities, the project involved a complete mechanical, electrical, and control systems overhaul. Our team established fifteen high-performance pumps, installed a modern and more reliable electrical distribution system, and implemented advanced control automation that reduces reliance on manual operation while enabling seamless communication with other reservoirs across the municipal water network. To further enhance resilience against power interruptions, a 1,650 kVA standby generator was installed, ensuring uninterrupted operation during outages. The result is a smarter, more reliable, and future-ready pumping station that improves the resilience and efficiency of the region’s water infrastructure.
Executing public infrastructure projects of this scale requires strict regulatory trust. We back our operational capacity with elite industry credentials, holding both 8ME and 6EP CIDB ratings, legally qualifying them to pilot major mechanical and electrical contracts. However, specialised engineering requires access to world-class machinery. Ecochem Pumps anchors its technical capability through seven exclusive global brand partnerships. The company is an authorised sales partner for KSB and stands as the sole distributor of Milton Roy pumps in South Africa. This Tier 1 portfolio is further strengthened by direct access to specialised international manufacturers, including Someflu Prochem Services, Des-Case, Hidracar S.A. Controlmatik ABW, Haskel BuTech, and Albin Pump. The lesson from the Ntuzuma Reservoir 2 project is clear: successful infrastructure requires a marriage of elite international hardware and sharp local engineering insight.
Lead the Industry with Ecochem Pumps This project underscores a critical truth facing the modern industrial sector, relying on off-the-shelf equipment without understanding systemic fluid dynamics invites premature wear, energy waste, and catastrophic downtime. Operational endurance demands a holistic approach where hydraulic design, robust controls, and backup power work in harmony. By prioritising engineering depth over sales volume, Ecochem Pumps custom-tailors installations to withstand harsh realities. In an era of escalating infrastructure demands, don’t leave your fluid handling to chance. As your definitive partner, we diagnose system vulnerabilities before they manifest as failures. Our value lies not just in the components we deliver, but in the long-term reliability we secure.
Contact our engineering team today to future-proof your next project. JHB (Head Office)
KZN (Durban Office)
Contact details:
011 455 5710
031 101 3045
ecoinfo@ecochempumps.co.za
4 Sunrock Close, Sunnyrock, Germiston
Unit 16, Thynk Industrial Park, Brickworks Way, Briardene, Durban
www.ecochempumps.co.za
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA WATER ENERGY & UTILITIES
These activities demonstrate how, with the support of its Board of Directors, executives, and dedicated staff, uMngeni-uThukela Water continues to make meaningful strides. From large-scale capital projects to operational efficiencies and skills development, the company has worked tirelessly to fulfil its mandate. “Importantly, this work is not confined to engineering and technical solutions. It also embraces governance, stakeholder engagement, and social responsibility,” he highlights.
KEY PROJECTS – PROGRESS UPDATE Key schemes that uMngeni-uThukela Water is currently delivering include the: • UMKHOMAZI WATER PROJECT – Serving six water service authorities, Phase 1 includes a dam, raw water tunnel, pipelines, treatment works, and reservoirs. Major milestones have been achieved, including the signing of water use and off-take agreements in April 2024. The treasury also approved a cost-sharing model by which the state funds 50 percent and users contribute via a unit charge. Site access has now been secured, procurement packages approved, and stakeholder engagements are ongoing. • LOWER UMKHOMAZI BULK WATER SUPPLY SCHEME – Serving eThekwini and Ugu, the construction of Phase 1 is progressing, with Ngwadini Dam having progressed by 13 percent, targeted for completion in July 2027. Goodenough Abstraction Works is 80 percent complete, and additional pipeline and reservoir contracts are in tender or early works stages. Phase 2, which includes a water treatment works and bulk pipeline, is scheduled for completion in 2029. • GREATER MPOFANA BULK WATER SUPPLY SCHEME – Phase 1 was completed three years ago, providing treatment works, reservoirs, and pipelines to Nottingham Road and Bruntville. Phase 2 – a 25-kilometre steel pipeline to Lions River – is at design stage. • IMPENDLE BULK WATER SUPPLY SCHEME – The Stepmore and Nzinga schemes are in preparation, with Stepmore scheduled to begin in 2026. Nzinga is in the detailed design stage, planned to commence a year later. • UMSHWATHI BULK WATER SUPPLY SCHEME AND SOUTHERN NDWEDWE PROJECT – Phase 4 of the Southern Ndwedwe scheme is 75 percent complete with multiple work packages underway, whilst Phase 6 of the regional project remains in detailed design. • OTHER MAJOR SCHEMES – Progress has been achieved on the Lower Thukela Phase 2 upgrade, Maphumulo Phase 3, Mhlabatshane Phase 2, Vulindlela upgrade, Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works, and South Coast Pipeline Phases 2B and 3.
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According to statistics from SA’s 2025 General Household Survey (GHS), some ground has been covered in terms of pushing back the water deficit in KwaZulu-Natal. For example, access to water in KwaZulu-Natal has reportedly increased to 81.2 percent over the past two decades. Similarly, when it came to sanitation provision, GHS noted that
the proportion of households with improved sanitation had increased by 30.6 percentage in KwaZulu-Natal over the same period.
LONG-TERM VIEW In order for the province to make good on its SDG goals, municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal require an estimated ZAR3.98 billion to alleviate the
backlog in infrastructure investment. “Combined with high non-revenue water losses – averaging 52.6 percent in some instances – these factors build a case for urgent interventions to tackle the infrastructure challenge,” Mkhize reveals. uMngeni-uThukela Water’s infrastructure strategy directly targets these deficits by prioritising backlog
reduction, loss mitigation, and the rehabilitation of ageing systems to safeguard sustainable water provision for the province. “Our goal is to extend the benefits of reliable water provision beyond our current bulk water infrastructure footprint – including those municipalities that currently do not fall within our areas of supply. Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 7
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA WATER ENERGY & UTILITIES
“We will continue to work collaboratively with municipalities to ensure we augment their water service delivery efforts for the benefit of all the people of KwaZulu-Natal” – S A N D I L E M K H I Z E , C E O , U M N G E N I - U T H U K E L A WAT E R
“We do this in the knowledge that many communities in KwaZulu-Natal still remain outside the reach of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s supply system and are not yet served by alternative water schemes,” he outlines. These areas often face severe service backlogs and limited access to safe and sustainable water sources. To address this, the company’s long-term infrastructure development plans specifically prioritise underserved communities and ensure current and future projects remain inclusive, equitable, and aligned with provincial and national development goals to improve quality of life for all. 8 | Africa Outlook Issue 121
THE ROAD AHEAD Guided by its mission statement to improve quality of life and enhance sustainable development in KwaZuluNatal, uMngeni-uThukela Water made significant progress in capital infrastructure implementation during the 2024/25 financial year. Spend performance for the year exceeded ZAR3 billion – of which approximately ZAR3 million was spent on infrastructure work and ZAR1 million on rural development. “Notably, more than 85 percent of planned milestone targets were met,” Mkhize asserts. Indeed, targeted and progressdriven key bulk infrastructure
development continues to drive uMngeni-uThukela Water’s implementation of large-scale bulk water infrastructure projects across KwaZulu-Natal. These projects are aimed at expanding access, reducing backlogs, and improving system reliability for municipalities, industries, and communities. Looking ahead, the company is
confident it will deliver its mandate of bulk water and wastewater management services with diligence, integrity, and ethical responsibility. “We will continue to work collaboratively with municipalities to ensure we augment their water service delivery efforts for the benefit of all the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” Mkhize passionately concludes.
UMNGENI-UTHUKELA
WATER . AMANZI Tel: 033 341 1111 info@uuw.co.za
www.umngeni-uthukela.co.za
Africa Outlook Issue 121 | 9
Improving Quality of Life and Enhancing Sustainable Economic Development in KwaZulu-Natal
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