Engagements with stakeholders on crucial issues

During the financial year under review, as uMngeni-uThukela Water we realised that our ability to remain resilient and sustainable hinges on how well we manage our relationship with all our stakeholders. Led by members of the Board and the Executive and, in certain instances by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, we held a number of engagements with various role players including amakhosi, mayors, councillors and captains of industry to count a few among many.

These engagements culminated in robust discussions and resolutions being taken on how to improve bulk water provision or plans to develop potable water infrastructure in instances where such was lacking.

Ministerial interventions

The Board and Executives of uMngeni-uThukela Water participated in a number of a community outreach programmes which were led by the Minister of Water and Santion. These were geared towards either inspecting progress on the implementation of infrastructure projects, updating communities and stakeholders on progress on implementation or issuing directives to uMngeni-uThukela Water to undertake emergency or long term relief efforts towards water provision.

Some of the visits took place as follows:

• Ugu District Municipality – Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme Launch
• uMgungundlovu District – Upper uMkhomazi site visit and signing of off-take agreement
• UThukela District – Announcement of Section 63 intervention
• eThekwini Municipality – KwaXimba, community engagement on water infrastructure
• ILembe District – KwaMaphumulo, community engagement on water infrastructure
• Zululand District – Babanango, community engagement on water infrastructure

uMkhanyakude District – Jozini, launch of Water User Associations uMngeni-uThukela Water’s other pre-arranged engagements continued with other stakeholders during the period under review. These were meetings with the Office of the Public Protector, Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Ingonyama Trust Board; other municipal customers of uMngeni-uThukela Water; the Department of Water and Sanitation; the the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), Verulam Water Crisis Committee, Phoenix Water Crisis Committee where numerous strategic focus areas were discussed, including:

• The ability of uMngeni-uThukela Water to supply bulk water to WSAs as per contractual agreements;
• The delivery of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s audited annual performance results;
• Consultation on the proposed bulk water tariff for the new financial year, and,
• The five-year bulk potable water infrastructure development programme

Engagements also took place with the King Cetshwayo District, uMkhanyakude District as well the Msunduzi Local Municipalities during the process of mediation over municipal outstanding debt for services provided by uMngeni-uThukela Water. The potential buyback of the Darvill Wastewater Treatment Plant by Msunduzi Local Municipality was also discussed.

All statutory documents for the reporting year were submitted as per deadlines.

Key Areas of Discussions with Stakeholders

A large number of customer engagements took place, including strategic and operational meetings. Engagements with uMngeni-uThukela Water’s customers focused on performance with respect to bulk supply agreements, service delivery needs, infrastructure plans, status of water resources and water conservation and demand management. Events that were either hosted by uMngeni-uThukela Water or in which the entity participated were:

• Presentation of uMngeni-uThukela Water 2022/2023 annual performance to stakeholders;

• Presentation of the Capital Expenditure Programme and explanation of the workings of Enterprise Development to the Black Business Federation, with whom uMngeni-uThukela Water has signed a Memorandum of Agreement;

• Various inter-governmental platforms to discuss strategies and plans to ensure future water security in support of business development;
• A signing ceremony to formalise off-take agreements for the uMkhomazi Dam between uMngeni-uThukela Water and the Harry Gwala District, Ugu District, eThekwini Metropolitan, Msunduzi and uMgungundlovu District Municipalities;
• Information sharing session with Overberg Water; and
• Information sharing session with a delegation by Royal Eswatini Sugar.

uMngeni-uThukela Water is aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy internal pulse. In this regard, engagements took place with employees and the organised labour formation, represented by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union and the South African Municipal Workers Union.

This included visits to sites to interact with staff members, commemoration of special days in the year, the introduction of the new Board, induction of new employees and communiqués designed to inform employees of events, Ministerial and Board announcements and speeches.