Makhanda’s decade-long struggle for reliable water
Upgrades to the water treatment plant to solve the crisis that started in 2015 are yet to be completed
Makhanda residents have faced unreliable water supplies for a decade, with taps running only a few times a week for a short duration. In Extension 6, residents receive water between 4am and 5am but it quickly stops around 9am. The upgrade of the James Kleynhans water treatment works, meant to increase production from 10 to 20 million litres per day, has been delayed and over budget since its commencement in 2015.
The project, costing an estimated R400 million, is still not complete and has faced numerous challenges including contractor replacements, procurement delays, and coordination issues. The upgrading process involves refurbishing an operational plant while maintaining water supply to communities, a complex task that has resulted in further delays.
Despite some progress in Phase 3, the project's completion remains uncertain, leaving Makhanda residents without a reliable water source.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
