In pipeline: R100bn is what fixing supply will cost you

South Africa is faced with massive water scarcity but it is on course to address this with 14 major national water infrastructure projects to the value of R100 billion designed to secure supply.

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

The projects were announced yesterday by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina during a colloquium organised by the Progressive Business Forum as part of the ANC's 113th birthday anniversary celebrations in Cape Town.

According to Majodina, the giant infrastructure projects included the R42 billion second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project to supply additional water to Gauteng and other provinces. They are scheduled to be completed around 2029.

Another is a R28 billion construction of a new dam and transfer tunnel on the uMkhomazi River in KwaZulu-Natal to supply additional water to eThekwini and surrounding municipalities.

Another is a R6.5 billion project to raise the wall of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape and R750 million to raise the wall of the Tzaneen Dam in Limpopo.

Her statement came as a series of community protests demanding water swept through the country.