Mhlathuze Water final report as an entity
FORMER Mhlathuze Water stakeholders and customers in the region should remain optimistic for a continuation of excellent services following the merger which resulted last year in the formation of uMngeni-uThukela Water.
This was revealed during the water entity's 2022/23 annual report presentation held at the Richards Bay Bon Hotel on Thursday. Welcoming the distinguished guests, clients and stakeholders, board chairperson Adv Vusi Khuzwayo said he was delighted to present the former Mhlathuze Water annual report for the financial year ended 2023.
This was not only an account of their performance but also gave an update of their strategic direction, governance issues and the threads of opportunities endemic to the water board operation environment.
Khuzwayo said the report was meant to shed more light on innovative solutions, to ensure the provision of bulk water and wastewater disposal services in a sustainable manner to municipalities and industries across the region.
“For an industrial hub like this, water remains a core necessity. We are happy to report that we inherited a viable business in Mhlathuze Water, with no liabilities. And this region in terms of workforce has all the ingredients to ensure that there is the quality of water supply,” said Khuzwayo.
Khuzwayo further retaliated that the board was in the latest steps of finalising the appointment of the newly amalgamated single water board for the province's permanent CEO.
Delivering the financial performances for the entity acting CEO, Thamsanqa Mkhwanazi said he considers their performance very positive under the circumstances under which they had to perform their functions.
Having obtained an unqualified audit opinion from the Auditor General (AG) for the financial year under review, Mkhwanazi said MW performed well against all of its financial performance targets, with the AG identifying only one material irregularity since the implementation of the material irregularity process.
Speaking about the business opportunities for the local SMMEs already in the market and the pipeline, Mkwanazi said the Nsezi Water Treatment Plant upgrade has set aside 30 per cent for the smaller businesses through their Contract Participation Goals (CPG) programme with the focus to empower the previously disadvantaged, particularly women, youth and disabled individuals businesses.
“Secondly we have the Inyaza project and TGS scheme where we will be investing about R500 000 for each and above that the minister has requested us to assist with projects that will give people of uMkhanyakude access to water through various projects besides water works. There we are looking at things like boreholes and small schemes' rehabilitations,” said Mkhwanazi.
He further stated that the minister had written to them with a notice of R1.3-billion to assist the residents of uMkhanyakhude to have access to water.