WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Local Government will allocate R40.5 million towards municipal water resilience projects in the 2026/27 financial year. This was announced today by Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell.
“Climate change, population growth and economic growth continue to challenge municipalities in delivering basic services to our residents. This is especially true in the case of water security.
"Proactive planning to build resilience through long-term investment in the development of water sources and associated infrastructure is therefore essential,” Bredell said.
The investment aligns with targets outlined in the Western Cape Water Resilience Strategy (2025-2035), which aims to secure an additional 350 million m³ of water supply by 2035.
Province aims to achieve this through a combination of augmentation, conservation, infrastructure development and improved governance initiatives.
The proposed projects for the 2026/27 financial year include:
- Testing and equipping eight boreholes in Beaufort West at a cost of R4.34 million.
- Construction of a new reservoir (Phase 1) in Eendekuil in the Bergrivier Municipality at a cost of R1 million.
- Support for Bitou Municipality with R800 000 for new membranes at the desalination plant in Plettenberg Bay, as well as a R1 million contribution towards a new pipeline from the Keurbooms River to the Roodefontein Dam in Plettenberg Bay.
- Development of a prefabricated balancing reservoir (R1.75 million) at the Citrusdal water treatment works in the Cederberg Municipality, along with Phase 3 of a wellfield development in Lamberts Bay (R2 million).
- R2 million for a deep borehole project in Calitzdorp and R3 million for borehole refurbishments in Ladismith in the Kannaland Municipality.
- R1.75 million for the refurbishment of the Akkerkloof, Charlesford/Eastford, Gouna and Glebe Dam pump stations (Phase B) in Knysna.
- R1 million towards a feasibility study in Laingsburg on options to secure water from the Floriskraal Dam or to purify water from current approved boreholes.
- R1.83 million towards raising the Dassieshoek Dam wall in the Langeberg Municipality.
- R1.7 million for the refurbishment of the Vredendal water treatment works, R1.5 million for a pipe bridge in Vanrhynsdorp, and R1.5 million to equip two boreholes in Klawer in the Matzikama Municipality.
- R2.4 million to develop new boreholes in Swellendam.
- R415 000 to improve telemetry systems, including the installation of additional bulk water meters, in the Witzenberg Municipality.
In addition, the department will invest R7.5 million in the procurement of large potable water tankers for the West Coast, Central Karoo, Cape Winelands, Overberg and Garden Route district municipalities.
A further R5 million will be set aside as a contingency fund to respond to unforeseen emergencies.
The announcement forms part of the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen water security across the Western Cape amid growing pressures from climate variability and increasing demand.
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