Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, will next week meet with various stakeholders in the water sector to hear their inputs on the water resource development projects in the Mfolozi catchment area in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Apart from Pongola and Mkuze Rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, the Mfolozi River Catchment is one of the rivers that supplies water to uMkhanyakude and Zululand District Municipalities.
The department said 75% of allocated water from Mfolozi River is used for domestic use, afforestation, and irrigation.
However, the department said the growing population in the two districts has resulted in increased water demands for household consumption and from other sectors like forestry and agriculture.
“The Department of Water and Sanitation, together with its sector partners, has developed a water resource reconciliation strategy for Mfolozi catchment, which consists of surface water resource development projects, including the raising of Klipfontien Dam, construction of Usuthu Dam and the development of a dam in lower Mfolozi,” the department said.
Mchunu and Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, together with Umkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor, Siphile Mdaka, will on Tuesday meet with different stakeholders, including Mtubatuba traditional leaders, to obtain their inputs on the development and implementation of the water resource reconciliation strategy for Mfolozi catchment.
The meeting will be held at KwaMshaya in Mtubatuba.
Update on Phoenix and Tongaat water supply challenges
Meanwhile, Mchunu will over the weekend hold a meeting with residents from Verulam, Phoenix and Tongaat to provide updates on measures aimed at resolving water supply challenges within the three areas.
The meeting follows water supply challenges in areas under eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, particularly Verulam, Phoenix and Tongaat, north of Durban.
In a detailed joint statement issued on 26 January 2024, the Department of Water and Sanitation, including the City of eThekwini, and uMngeni-uThukela Water, outlined current and future measures to be implemented to address the continuous water supply challenges, which continue to plague the city, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rains.
During the meeting to be held on Sunday, Mchunu, together with eThekwini Executive Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, will address the residents, and provide a progress report on measures to restore water supply. – SAnews.gov.za
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