MIDDELBURG – Executive Mayor Thomas Ngwenya said the Nkangala District Municipality invested R1,8 billion in capital infrastructure over the past five years while delivering the 2026 State of the District Address (SoDA) at the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality on 05 August 2026.
He said the investment is aimed at improving service delivery, addressing infrastructure backlogs and supporting the district’s six local municipalities.
Delivering his final SoDA under the current council elected in November 2021, Ngwenya said this year’s theme, ‘The Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government and Transform the Economy’, calls for agility, resilience and stronger partnerships to accelerate service delivery.
He said the administration remains committed to delivering reliable services, building safer communities, growing local economies and rooting out corruption.
Water infrastructure remains a major challenge
Ngwenya said municipalities are currently supplying 315,83 megalitres of water per day against a demand of 453,99 megalitres, leaving a daily shortfall of 138,16 megalitres. Thembisile Hani, eMalahleni and Dr JS Moroka remain the worst-affected municipalities.
To reduce the backlog, the district has implemented several bulk water projects. The flagship Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme in Thembisile Hani has a total budget of approximately R1,675 billion, of which R1,134 billion has already been spent. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2026. However, Ngwenya said the installation of an electricity line to the water treatment plant remains a challenge and has now been deferred to 2027.
Other completed projects include the Siyathuthuka water reticulation project in eMakhazeni at a cost of R4,247 million, the Moripe Gardens and Madubaduba Water Supply Project in Dr JS Moroka valued at R8,495 million, and the refurbishment of bulk water valves in eMalahleni at a cost of R3,218 million.
The district has also allocated R1,3 million to refurbish dysfunctional boreholes in wards 23 to 31 in Dr JS Moroka.
Ngwenya said while water tanks and boreholes continue to provide emergency relief, they cannot replace permanent infrastructure.
“They must not become permanent substitutes for sustainable bulk-water treatment, storage and reticulation infrastructure.”
Sanitation and refuse removal improve
Ngwenya also highlighted progress in improving sanitation infrastructure. Completed projects include sewer reticulation in eMakhazeni at a cost of R4,588 million, the Siyathuthuka outfall sewer line valued at R5,295 million and the upgrading and refurbishment of the Victor Khanye Wastewater Treatment Works at a cost of R11,869 million.
The district also completed the suction and desludging of VIP toilets and septic tanks in eMalahleni and Dr JS Moroka, while planning and design work for sewer connections at hostels in eMalahleni has been completed.
Access to refuse removal improved from 48,3% in 2011 to 58,5% in 2022, Ngwenya said.
Road backlogs put pressure on municipalities
The district purchased road maintenance equipment, including a Jet Patcher truck for Thembisile Hani, a motor grader, tipper truck and compactor for Dr JS Moroka, and a TLB and dozer for eMakhazeni.
Despite these investments, Ngwenya acknowledged that major challenges remain.
Thembisile Hani alone has approximately 2 071km of roads requiring surfacing. He attributed project delays to poor contractor performance and the late payment of workers, calling for stricter monitoring of contractors’ cash flow and labour payments.
Energy and infrastructure investment continues
The district invested R10,184 million in solar power at municipal offices to reduce the impact of electricity supply interruptions and spent R23,384 million on electricity and energy programmes during the 2023/24 financial year.
For the 2026/27 financial year, the district has budgeted R723,557 million for operating expenditure, R3,157 million for capital expenditure and R308,944 million for transfers and subsidies.
Technical Services will manage infrastructure projects worth R282,424 million, including the refurbishment of bulk water infrastructure in eMalahleni, continued work on the Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme, the refurbishment of the Delmas Wastewater Treatment Works in Victor Khanye, and district-wide Jet Patcher and Rural Road Asset Management programmes.
Clean audit and municipal support
Ngwenya said the district continues to support all six local municipalities through information and communication technology (ICT) and supply chain management audit support.
To ensure uninterrupted service delivery where recruitment has been delayed, the district has seconded staff to the Finance, Technical Services, Corporate Services and Community Development departments.
He also announced that the district received a clean audit outcome for the 2023/24 financial year.
Land development and spatial planning
On land development and spatial planning, Ngwenya said 56 land development applications were received during the 2023/24 financial year, with 27 approved.
Completed projects include the establishment of a township in Kwa-Phaahla Village in Dr JS Moroka, the formalisation of Mabhoko Village in Thembisile Hani and the establishment of a cemetery in eNtokozweni in eMakhazeni.
Investing in youth development
Youth development remains a key priority for the district. Through the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA), 500 unemployed young people were recruited for learnerships in building, plumbing, welding and roadworks, with 360 successfully completing the programme.
The district also appointed 121 interns and reservists, of whom 32 secured permanent employment. A further 415 officials received training through the Workplace Skills Plan.
Ngwenya said a caring municipality is measured by how it protects children, supports women and combats gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.
Marking Women’s Month, he honoured the women of the 1956 Women’s March and quoted Charlotte Maxeke:
“If you can rise, bring someone with you.”
Decisive action to improve residents’ lives
Ngwenya said the District Development Model places the district at the centre of integrated planning, although stakeholder participation remains a challenge. With National and Provincial Champions now appointed, he expects additional resources to be mobilised to support the district’s “one plan, one budget” approach.
“Infrastructure gives development its physical form, but people give development its purpose,” he said.
Concluding his address, Ngwenya challenged the next council to ensure residents experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives.
“By the next State of the District Address, residents must feel the difference in their taps, their toilets, their streets, and their jobs.”
