The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) continues to advance national bulk water and national resource projects across South Africa.

During her Budget Vote speech this month, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said that several grant-funded bulk water projects were completed by the DWS in 2025/26, while several more are set to be completed during the current financial year.

These include four bulk water schemes with a combined R2.24-billion price tag to be implemented across the Chris Hani district municipality, Engcobo, Xonxa and Hofmeyr, in the Eastern Cape, all of which are expected to be completed by June.

Projects already completed in the region include the R15-million Misgund bulk water scheme and the R9-million Sterkspruit water treatment works refurbishment, both finalised in March.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Phase 4 of the R1.5-billion Maphumulo bulk water supply scheme is expected to be completed by December this year, following the completion of Phase 3 in November 2025.

The R2-billion Loskop regional bulk water supply scheme, in Mpumalanga, is expected to be operational by December, along with the R500-million Gabosch dam, while the R882-million Driekoppies bulk water supply scheme will be completed by June 2027.

Also in Mpumalanga are the R52-million Piet Retief water treatment plant refurbishment and the R234-million Eesterhoek and Ekulindeni bulk water scheme, both of which were completed in March.

The North West’s R351-million Moretele South bulk water supply scheme was completed in March, while the R790-million Mafikeng South bulk water supply scheme and the R845-million Brits water treatment works are expected to be completed by August and September respectively.

The R605-million Greater Mamusa bulk water supply scheme and Phase 2 of the Taung/Naledi bulk water supply scheme are scheduled for completion by June, while the R146-million Ratlou bulk water project is expected to be completed in July.

In Limpopo, Phase 1 (24 of 55 villages) reticulation under the R4.8-billion Giyani water project was completed in February, followed by the completion of the R736-million Babanana bulk water pipeline in March.

The Mametja Sekororo bulk water scheme Phase 1 was completed in December 2025, while the R797-million Moutse bulk water supply scheme is expected to be completed by October.

Meanwhile, in Gauteng, the R759-million Klipdrift water treatment works, in Hammanskraal, is producing the full 50- million litres a day, with minor outstanding work and network preparation work by the City of Tshwane completed in May. Full completion is expected in June.

The R1.1-billion George water supply project, in the Western Cape, is on track for completion by October.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said when delivering the department’s Budget and Policy Statement that good progress has been made in unblocking and accelerating national water resource infrastructure projects.

These include the R53-billion Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which is 54% complete, with first water delivery expected by 2028 and planned completion by 2029.

The department has also made steady progress on the raising of the Clanwilliam dam wall, in the Western Cape, with the project currently 47% complete and expected to be finalised in October 2028 at an estimated cost of R7-billion.

Construction on the Tzaneen dam wall raising is also progressing steadily and is now 63% complete. Mahlobo pointed out, however, that progress was significantly affected by the recent floods in Limpopo, resulting in the revised completion date of the R850-million project being pushed to December 2027.

The Mzimvubu water project, in the Eastern Cape, which has been delayed for decades owing to difficulties in raising finance for the project, an issue that has now been resolved, is 15% complete. Meanwhile, construction of the Ntabelanga dam wall has started, entailing foundation excavation and associated earthworks. The R8.1-billion project is expected to be completed by 2030.

Further, Phase 2A of the Mokolo and Crocodile (West) river water augmentation project, in Limpopo, has moved from design phase to the current construction phase, with a contractor appointed and currently undertaking site establishment and related preconstruction activities. The project is due for commissioning in 2030 at an estimated cost of R19.7-billion.

Turning to projects in the design phase, Mahlobo highlighted the proposed R617-million Coerney dam, in the Eastern Cape, the detailed design of which is 64% complete. Construction is expected to start in 2027, with completion planned for 2031.

Also in the Eastern Cape, the design work on the proposed Zalu dam is 79% complete, with the construction phase of the R993-million project scheduled to take place from 2028 to 2032.

Further, the proposed Foxwood dam project is currently in the design stage and a professional service provider has recently been appointed. The project is estimated to cost R2.2-billion and projected for completion by 2032.

The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) is also advancing the detailed design of the proposed R27-billion uMkhomazi water project, in KwaZulu-Natal, with construction planned to start in 2027, and completion targeted for 2032.

The proposed R1.8-billion Cwabeni off-channel storage dam project, also in KwaZulu-Natal, is at the detailed design stage, and is due for commissioning by 2030.

Meanwhile, the design and tender documentation stage has been completed for the proposed R1.82-billion Stephen Dlamini dam project, in KwaZulu-Natal. An intention to award has been issued to the contractor, and the works are expected to start in due course, with commissioning set for 2030.

In the Western Cape, the proposed Berg River-Voëlvlei augmentation scheme is at the detail design phase and construction is expected to be completed in 2030 at an estimated cost of R1.7-billion.

The DWS continues to plan new water resource development projects to ensure future water security.

Among these is a new dam in the Lower Orange river, called Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift, being planned jointly with Namibia. It is intended to offset the impact of the construction of the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on flows in the Orange river and to ensure adequate water supply to users along the Orange river.

In the Upper Orange river catchment, new dam sites are being investigated with a view to building a new dam or raising an existing one to strengthen water availability in the upper and lower parts of the catchment.

Meanwhile, the Thukela water project is being planned as the next major water augmentation scheme for the Integrated Vaal River System and to augment water supply for areas in KwaZulu-Natal. The project comprises components such as new dams in the Thukela catchment and associated transfer infrastructure in the Thukela and Vaal catchments.

Other projects in the planning stage are the development of water resources to support the Musina-Makhado special economic zone and surrounding areas through the building of a dam on Mutale river and the transfer of water to the Musina area. Plans are under way for a dam on the Klein Letaba river, together with the reconfiguration of existing conveyances to improve water availability in the Luvuvhu-Letaba catchment.

In addition, the Lesotho-Botswana water transfer project is being planned as a cross-border initiative to transfer water from Lesotho to Botswana, specifically to Gaborone and Lobatse, through South Africa, while also serving the Free State and North West provinces.