A three-fold intervention is being implemented in addressing the water issue in the Mpofana Local Municipality.
1. MISA Intervention
In the current financial year (2018/19), the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is developing a Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Plan for Umgungundlovu District, which is a fundamental step towards water use efficiency and addressing Non Revenue Water.
The Umgungundlovu Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Plan will be finalised on the 19th March 2019 and includes:
2. Joint Program between UMgungundlovu DM, Mpofana LM and Umgeni Water
Umgungundlovu District Municipality is aware of the issue of inconsistent supply of water to certain areas in Mpofana, including concerns about water quality. A joint strategy to overcome water challenges for Mpofana Local Municipality has been developed by a team consisting of Mpofana LM, UMgungundlovu DM and Umgeni Water representatives.
This joint programme seeks to minimise the risks of water supply interruptions to Mpofana Local Municipality, whilst the municipality is implementing the bulk water scheme and other projects that will bring will bring relief to the constrained water supply in Mpofana.
The strategy lists the long medium and short term interventions to ensure consistent water supply to the area of Mpofana and is attached as Annexure “A’’ for ease of reference.
3. Section 139 (b) Intervention to Mpofana Local Municipality
On the 08th December 2017 the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council resolved to intervene at Mpofana Municipality using section 139 (1)(b) of the constitution, due to service delivery and financial management challenges faced by the municipality. The Intervention Steering Committee which comprise of KZN CoGTA, COGTA National, MISA, SALGA, Provincial Treasury, the Municipality and other sector departments meet monthly to track the progress in addressing challenges faced by the municipality which are captured in the Sec 139 Intervention Recovery Plan. The Intervention Recovery Plan aims to address the challenges identified in the five Back to Basics Pillars i.e. Institutional Transformation and Development, Good Governance and Public Participation, Municipal Financial Viability and Management as well as Local Economic Development. The intervention is still in effect.
The uMgungundlovu District Municipality (UMDM) is one of the ten district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the water service authority (WSA) and water service provider (WSP) to six of its seven local municipalities i.e. uMshwati, uMngeni, Mpofana, Mkhambathini, Impendle and Richmond Local Municipalities. The Msunduzi Municipality, has its own WSA status and does not form part of the strategy as it is not the responsibility of the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.
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