Minister Mchunu forges ahead with the reconfiguration of Umgeni and Mhlathuze Water
The Minister for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, is forging ahead with the reconfiguration of the two water entities in KwaZulu-Natal, Umgeni and Mhlathuze Water, to accelerate the provision of bulk water in the province
Mhlathuze Water is being disestablished effective on Friday, 30 June 2023 and will be merged with Umgeni Water, with all its staff, assets and liabilities to be transferred to Umgeni, effective on 01 July 2023, in terms of Section 46 of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997). This will then result in a single water entity, uMngeni - uThukela Water.
An advert has since been published with an aim of getting public nominations for members who will be appointed to serve on the uMngeni - uThukela Water Board for a period of four-year-term.
The Board members will be mandated to provide an oversight role as non-executive members of the uMngeni - uThukela Water Board and to support the executive management to deliver value-added services and business confidence in discharging their roles and responsibilities commensurable to a leading bulk water services utility in South Africa.
Meanwhile, from 01 July 2023, an interim Board of Umgeni Water will oversee the governance of uMngeni - uThukela Water until a new Board is appointed.
Mhlathuze Water was established in 1980 and predominantly operated in the uMkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo and Zululand District Municipalities. The reconfiguration comes amid plans by the Department of Water and Sanitation to have a single water entity operating in each province.
Public nominations and/or applications may be submitted electronically to boardnominations2023@umgeni.co.za(link sends e-mail) or hand delivered to 310 Burgers Street, Pietrmaritzburg 3200 for attention of the Acting Chief Executive: uMngeni-uThukela Water, Dr Sipho Manana.
Minister Mchunu has wished the outgoing Mhlathuze interim Board well and looks forward to working with the new Board members who will be appointed.
“Our expectations are quite high. We are looking for people who will want to contribute their knowledge and expertise in the sector, and not just want to improve their pockets. I will not hesitate to shut anyone out who has no intention of working to improve the provision of water in the province, and ultimately, the whole country,” said Mchunu.
Source: Government of South Africa