Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, supported by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, concluded a two-day service delivery programme that delivered 420 dignified household sanitation facilities and three decentralised water supply systems across Rand West City Local Municipality in Gauteng and Victor Khanye Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, significantly expanding access to safe water and sanitation for communities that have long experienced service backlogs.

The interventions were implemented through the Department’s entities, Rand Water and the Rand Water Foundation, highlighting the critical role the entities continue to play in accelerating government’s service delivery programme and delivering practical water and sanitation solutions in underserved communities.

On 10 August 2026, Minister Majodina handed over 150 low-flush sanitation systems in Zenzele and OR Tambo informal settlements in Rand West City, Gauteng. The latest phase of the programme has benefited approximately 1,000 community members, while the broader intervention implemented by the Rand Water Foundation since 2023 has delivered 430 lowflush sanitation systems in the two settlements.

On the same day, the Minister also handed over a decentralised water supply system at Lukhanyo High School in Mohlakeng Township, which is expected to provide reliable water access for approximately 1,400 learners and improve sanitation and learning conditions at the school.

On 11 August 2026, the Minister continued the programme in Victor Khanye Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, where 270 low-flush sanitation systems were handed over in Mimosa Township. Two additional decentralised water supply systems were also officially handed over in Brakfontein Village and Savanna Ward 7, providing immediate access to safe drinking water for approximately 450 households.

Throughout the two-day programme, the Department, through Rand Water and the Rand Water Foundation, delivered a total of 420 household sanitation facilities and three decentralised water supply systems, providing practical relief to communities affected by inadequate sanitation infrastructure, intermittent water supply and water security challenges.

These interventions form part of the Rand Water Foundation’s Adequate and Dignified Sanitation Programme, which is providing sustainable sanitation solutions in communities where conventional sewer infrastructure remains limited. The programme coincided with the commemoration of 70 Years of the Women’s March, reinforcing government’s commitment to improving the safety, dignity and well-being of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by inadequate water and sanitation services.

Following the official handovers on 10 and 11 August, Minister Majodina, together with the Boards of Rand Water and the Rand Water Foundation, held a series of community engagements with residents in both municipalities. The engagements provided community members with an opportunity to raise concerns, ask questions and interact directly with government leaders and the entities responsible for implementing the projects.

The engagements formed an important part of the programme by strengthening accountability, building trust between communities and government and encouraging local ownership of the infrastructure. They also enabled the Department and its entities to receive direct feedback from beneficiaries, promote responsible use and maintenance of the facilities, and ensure that the interventions continue to respond to the needs of the communities they are intended to serve.

Minister Majodina said the programme demonstrates how government institutions can work together to translate policy commitments into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

“Water is life, and sanitation is dignity. These interventions are restoring dignity to families, improving conditions in schools and communities, and ensuring that women, children and vulnerable households are no longer left behind,” said Minister Majodina.

The Minister added that sustainable service delivery requires ongoing engagement with communities beyond the completion of infrastructure projects. The Department of Water and Sanitation, together with Rand Water and the Rand Water Foundation, will continue to expand innovative water and sanitation interventions that strengthen water security, improve public health and restore dignity in communities across South Africa.