Mpumalanga Business 2017-18 edition
Mpumalanga Business 2017/18 is the eighth edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga Province. Supported and utilised by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Mpumalanga Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on Mpumalanga.
Mpumalanga Business 2017/18 is the eighth edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier guide to business and investment in Mpumalanga Province.
Supported and utilised by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Mpumalanga Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on Mpumalanga.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
OVERVIEW<br />
Water<br />
Improving water services is a major priority in <strong>Mpumalanga</strong>.<br />
SECTOR INSIGHT<br />
Rand Water’s intervention<br />
in <strong>Mpumalanga</strong> reflects the<br />
company’s strategic shift.<br />
• The town of Wilge will<br />
receive water from the<br />
Kendall power station.<br />
• The Imkomati-Usuthu<br />
Catchment Management<br />
Agency oversees water<br />
usage in the region.<br />
<strong>Mpumalanga</strong>’s biggest industries of forestry, mining, synfuel<br />
production and power generation are all thirsty<br />
activities. Old mines present problems in that they can<br />
pollute groundwater. This means that <strong>Mpumalanga</strong><br />
must conserve its waters, build more dams and commission new<br />
water-treatment plants.<br />
Many municipalities in <strong>Mpumalanga</strong> have been struggling for<br />
some time to provide water for their citizens. It was in that context<br />
that the Rand Water was asked to step in and supply clean water in the<br />
Bushbuckridge area. This was followed by the national government<br />
disbanding the Bushbuckridge Water Board and Rand Water taking<br />
over its operations.<br />
The area of supply covers Bushbuckridge and Mbombela (Ehlanzeni<br />
District Municipality) which has 15 water-treatment works, with a<br />
capacity of 245ml/day. Water is supplied to 1.5-million people in the<br />
areas. The water-treatment works include three large works (Inyaka,<br />
Hoxani and Kanyamazane) and a number of smaller treatment works<br />
(Thulamahashe, Acornhoek and Edinburgh) supply local communities<br />
with drinking water. Expenditure in Bushbuckridge and Mbombela<br />
over the period 2015-2020 is<br />
expected to be R600-million.<br />
This is part of a broader<br />
national strategy whereby bigger<br />
boards such as Rand Water<br />
are growing their footprint, often<br />
replacing the smaller local boards<br />
which lack the skills or resources<br />
to carry out their mandate. Rand<br />
Water, which historically served<br />
greater Johannesburg, now serves<br />
an area which includes Gauteng,<br />
Limpopo (Greater Groblersdal<br />
and Great Mable Hall), North West<br />
(Rustenburg and Madibeng areas),<br />
<strong>Mpumalanga</strong> and the Northern<br />
Free State (Boundary of the Upper<br />
Vaal Water Management Area).<br />
The national Minister of Water<br />
and Sanitation is the shareholder,<br />
representing the government of<br />
South Africa.<br />
In terms of the National Water<br />
Resource Strategy, catchment<br />
MPUMALANGA BUSINESS <strong>2017</strong>/<strong>18</strong><br />
44
Change language