Natasha Odendaal
Natasha Odendaal is Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.
Proposed water amendments needed, but inconsistencies, enforcement need to be fixed
14th February 2024 While some of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) recently proposed water amendments, which have significant implications for water... →
Waning perceptions of drinking water quality underline need for urgent intervention
9th February 2024 While the majority of South Africans perceive their water to be safe to drink, their confidence in water services and quality has been... →
DWS, Salga, Cogta to review water service delivery mechanisms in municipalities
5th February 2024 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the South African Local... →
Eskom to implement planned maintenance at Zuikerbosch
17th January 2024 State-owned power utility Eskom is preparing to embark on an eight-hour planned maintenance on the transformers that supply power at water utility... →
Water consumption exceeds metros’ targets
11th December 2023 Water consumption across Gauteng’s metropolitans has exceeded set targets, with Rand Water once again warning that the water systems are... →
Rand Water concerned by escalating municipal water debt, reaches stalemate
8th December 2023 Rand Water on Friday called on municipalities to urgently pay their water debt as the amount owing to the water utility escalates and threatens its... →
Country’s water quality deteriorates since 2014, nonrevenue water rockets - Blue, No, Green Drop reports
5th December 2023 The latest full Blue and No Drop reports, along with the Green Drop progress assessment report, released by the Department of Water and Sanitation... →
Gauteng e-tolls debt proposal to be submitted by mid-December
28th November 2023 The Gauteng provincial government (GPG) will table a “concrete proposal” to national government by December 15 outlining plans to pay off the... →
Crisis looms with inadequately treated sewage
15th November 2023 While South Africa’s drinking water largely meets the minimum requirements, the country’s sewage treatment ecosystem is heading toward a state of... →
Rand Water reports stabilising bulk system
9th November 2023 Bulk water supplier Rand Water on Thursday reported a recovering and stabilising bulk water system, as critical reservoirs start improving to... →
Rand Water continues to over-abstract, nonrevenue municipal water a concern
3rd November 2023 Water utility Rand Water continues to over-abstract from the Integrated Vaal River System as it works with municipalities to help them reduce... →
Rand Water, Johannesburg Water urge water use reduction as demand exceeds supply
18th September 2023 Rand Water and Johannesburg Water have issued a joint statement warning consumers to use water sparingly as demand is outstripping supply. The... →
Gauteng economy to get private sector boost
11th September 2023 A major private-sector-led initiative, in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Treasury, has been launched to unlock significant private sector... →
South Africa’s nonrevenue water rising to worrying levels
25th August 2023 South Africa’s nonrevenue water (NRW) is rising to unsustainable levels, with nearly half the water piped through the country’s infrastructure... →
Gauteng on track to establish State-owned bank, pharmaceutical company
13th July 2023 The due diligences on the establishment of a State-owned bank and a State-owned pharmaceutical company have been finalised, marking a step forward... →
Rand Water weighed down by municipalities, electricity
5th July 2023 Despite all efforts, Rand Water remains challenged by the nonpayment of municipalities for water provided and the ongoing power outages and... →
Municipalities owe Rand Water nearly R5bn
2nd June 2023 Municipalities across Gauteng owe water utility provider Rand Water just under R5-billion for water. While some municipalities have responded to... →
Rooiwal set for R4bn upgrade, DBSA selected as implementing agent
1st June 2023 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the City of Tshwane (CoT) have embarked on a partnership that will see the Development Bank of... →
Gauteng treasury tables R818m budget, seeks to bolster financial management
23rd May 2023 The Gauteng Provincial Treasury on Tuesday tabled a budget of just over R818-million for the 2023/24 financial year, which it aims to use to ensure... →
Ten technical advisers appointed to support Gauteng municipalities
14th April 2023 The Gauteng Provincial Treasury (GPT) has appointed ten technical advisers to be deployed across various municipalities to enhance the financial... →
Gauteng tables R493bn budget to support social services, township economy, energy crisis
9th March 2023 The largest share of Gauteng’s R493.4-billion over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) is set to support social services, the township... →
Reconfiguration of water entities meant to improve water provision to communities, says Mchunu
1st February 2023 The efforts of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to reconfigure South Africa’s water boards, and ensure the provision of water and... →
Rand Water lifts restrictions
2nd November 2022 Water agency Rand Water has lifted its level two water restrictions after the recovery of its reservoirs. In October, high water consumption and... →
Rand Water cautions on overuse of water as demand surges
21st October 2022 As Rand Water increases its abstraction of water beyond its licence, it is pleading with consumers to use water wisely as the water it is currently... →
Joburg Water, City Power work to mitigate power-related water supply challenges
19th October 2022 Johannesburg Water’s Commando system is set to be prioritised after several setbacks over the past few weeks. Despite a rapid same-day resolution... →
DWS increases Rand Water allocation amid water restrictions
17th October 2022 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is temporarily increasing Rand Water’s bulk water allocation as an emergency measure to address water... →
South Africa will not run out of water, Minister assures
29th September 2022 There is no need for citizens to be alarmed over South Africa’s water scarcity, as a total water outage will not happen in the near future, assures... →
City of Cape Town establishes an independent advisory panel for water reuse
19th August 2022 The City of Cape Town has embarked on a new water programme that will increase available supply capacity by an additional 300-million litres of... →
Information Regulator establishes enforcement committee
4th August 2022 The Information Regulator has established an Enforcement Committee to tackle matters related to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA)... →
Dam levels need public support to inch upwards
2nd August 2022 After a relatively dry start to the rain season, the dam levels are significantly lower than the same time last year, says Western Cape Local... →
Five provinces fully migrated to digital broadcasting
24th June 2022 The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will, by July 1, have access to the high demand spectrum from the five provinces... →
Nelson Mandela Bay needs new approach amid water crisis
27th May 2022 With the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality (NMBM) experiencing a severe drought that could leave it without water by the end of June, a new approach... →
Green Drop report released, showing decline in Green Drop certifications
1st April 2022 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has published the long-awaited Green Drop Certification Programme Report, awarding just 23 wastewater... →
Vaal dam water levels improve
20th January 2022 The water levels of the Vaal dam have improved 3.3%, reaching 110.5% as rainfall continues inland. The latest information released by the... →
Busa, IQbusiness launch of SAtion ecosystem to boost economic recovery
14th June 2021 IQbusiness and Business Unity South Africa (Busa) have launched an initiative aimed at moving South Africa into economic recovery and digital... →
Icasa nears ‘spectrum impasse breakthrough’
14th June 2021 The outlook of the negotiations surrounding the current impasse over high-demand spectrum is encouraging, with the Independent Communications... →
Telkom launches new whistleblowing channels
4th May 2021 Telecommunications group Telkom has unveiled a new platform for the public to report any acts or suspected acts of fraud, corruption and irregular... →
Icasa to oppose the High Court application filed by MTN
29th January 2021 The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa plans to oppose the High Court application filed by telecommunications giant MTN.... →
Minerals Council develops mining-focused water conservation tool
15th July 2020 The Minerals Council South Africa has developed a user-friendly water conservation and water demand management (WC/WDM) tool for the mining sector.... →
Vodacom zero rates what3words website
28th May 2020 Telecommunications group Vodacom has zero-rated the emergency location tracker platform ‘what3words’ for its more than 43-million subscribers... →
Gauteng adds more hospital beds and wards in Covid-19 prep
7th May 2020 In line with plans to get Gauteng’s health system ready for an expected surge in Covid-19 cases, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure... →
