DELMAS – Residents of Mimosa informal settlement in Eloff are receiving improved access to sanitation and water following the handover of 100 completed low-flush household sanitation systems as part of a broader intervention in Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
The sanitation systems were handed over during a ministerial visit led by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. The intervention, implemented through the Rand Water Foundation, prioritises vulnerable households, including women, the elderly, child-headed households and people with disabilities.
For Sindiswa Nkala of Mimosa Township, receiving a proper toilet means more than improved sanitation. She said it would restore her dignity and improve her quality of life.
“God is always present at all times. I am grateful for the help I have received and for those who came to my assistance. I am deeply thankful that Rand Water is bringing a toilet to my home. This means so much to me and will restore my dignity. Thank you very much,” Nkala told Highveld Chronicle.
The sanitation handover forms part of a wider intervention aimed at improving access to basic services in communities facing socio-economic challenges.
Victor Khanye Executive Mayor Vusi Buda welcomed the support from Rand Water and the Rand Water Foundation, saying the projects would make a meaningful difference to residents affected by unemployment and the decline of industries that have historically supported the local economy.
Buda said the municipality appreciated the investment in local communities and the focus on the most vulnerable residents.
Majodina said access to water and sanitation was fundamental to development and human dignity, particularly for women, who often carry the greatest burden when communities lack reliable water supplies.
“Women often bear the greatest burden when communities lack reliable access to water. Water is a catalyst for development, and sustainable human settlements cannot be built without adequate water and sanitation services,” Majodina said.
The Minister also officially handed over decentralised water supply systems at Brakfontein and Savanna Ward 7 as part of Phase 1 of the intervention.
At Brakfontein, an equipped decentralised water treatment system, together with storage facilities and communal taps, is expected to benefit about 200 people, while the system in Savanna Ward 7 will provide water to about 250 community members.
According to the Rand Water Foundation, 270 low-flush sanitation systems were completed during the 2025/26 financial year, benefiting about 500 residents, including 140 women-headed households.
The intervention has also created local employment opportunities and supported small, medium and micro enterprises.
For residents such as Nkala, the projects represent more than new infrastructure, providing access to basic services while restoring dignity to households that have faced long-standing sanitation and water challenges.
