Portfolio committee to investigate R28bn uMkhomazi water project

IN a move aimed at safeguarding the integrity of water governance, the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation is set to investigate the stalled R28 billion uMkhomazi Water Project.

- SIPHO JACK

This decision comes after a series of governance issues linked to the project, raising serious concerns about the credibility of the water utility in its bid for external funding for crucial infrastructure initiatives.

Acting committee Chairperson Sello Dithebe emphasised the urgency of expediting the investigation during an oversight visit to the construction site on Wednesday.

“Water plays a vital role in driving socioeconomic development, and the governance of water entities must be beyond reproach,” he asserted, highlighting the critical need for transparency within the sector.

Dithebe sought to quell rumours surrounding the potential removal of the Chairperson of uMngeni Water, stemming from troubling incidents involving board fees and the sponsorship of a staff member to the New York Marathon. He reiterated the importance of governance mechanisms, stating that “the committee would not be seeking to preempt the outcomes of the proposed investigation”.

Initially launched by then Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, the uMkhomazi Water Project includes the construction of an 81-metre high dam at Smithfield on the uMkhomazi River.