While Komani is in the grip of a severe water crisis, facing a daily shortfall of 22 million litres, the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) delays in securing crucial funding to address the emergency.
Komani is located within the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, where the CHDM serves as the water and sanitation service provider.
After many years of delays, the Xonxa Dam Pump Station came online in March 2025, allowing the Komani Water Treatment Works (WTW) to operate at its full design capacity of 36 megalitres per day (ML/day).
However, rapid population growth in Komani has driven daily water demand up to 58 ML/day, resulting in a significant shortfall of 22 ML/day.
In response to written questions submitted by the DA in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, confirmed that the CHDM requires more than R1.65 billion to upgrade and replace Komani’s bulk water infrastructure.
This includes R862 million to the WTW and bulk water infrastructure; and R797 million to replace aged raw water pipeline infrastructure.
Despite the urgency of addressing this crisis, the CHDM’s 2025/26 budget allocates no funds for raw water pipeline infrastructure in Komani. Additionally, only R21 million has been allocated for upgrading the area’s sanitation infrastructure.
I have now written to the CHDM Mayor, requesting that the technical report, which forms the basis of a funding application through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), be tabled before the Enoch Mgijima Council.
The report has already been submitted to the Department of Water and Sanitation, as well as the Eastern Cape Technical Appraisal Committee. Enoch Mgijima councillors should also have the opportunity to review and assess it.
I will also write to the Enoch Mgijima Municipality to request a detailed report on how it has used its Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) allocation to address ongoing infrastructure challenges, especially in water and sanitation.
The people of Komani deserve better, and the DA will continue to fight for their right to basic services.