North West Business 2021-22

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Magalies Water responds to urgent water needs Infrastructure expansion projects will bring relief to Rustenburg and the Royal Bafokeng Administration. Even though the local economy of Rustenburg has faced many challenges, mainly due to the protracted mining sector industrial actions the demand for bulkwater in Rustenburg and the surrounding areas has been on a steady rise. Mining, which is the economic backbone of the town, also relies on the availability of water for operations which run on a 24-hour cycle. Allied to this is the region’s expanding population growth which increases through rural-to-urban migration as people come to Rustenburg in search for economic opportunities. Small-to-medium scale farming and industries have also been identified as some of the major activities that influence migration of people to Rustenburg. This movement of people has a direct bearing on the municipality’s ability to provide clean drinking water to all communities. All of this contributes to making Rustenburg the economic hub of the province. The Rustenburg Local Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) reflects an urgent need for intervention on water augmentation.

Magalies Water Chief Executive, Sandile Mkhize

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Rolling out Phase 2 Magalies Water Chief Executive, Sandile Psychology Mkhize, says that Phase 2 of the Pilanesberg South Bulkwater Supply project will bring relief to Rustenburg and the Royal Bafokeng Administration (RBA). Phase 1 of the Pilanesberg project was completed in 2016. He continued, “The proposed bulkwater scheme is also in line with Magalies Water’s regional bulkwater master planning and the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Water Services Development Plan. As part of its Bulk Infrastructure Capital Expenditure Programme, Magalies Water has identified numerous extensions to the existing

agalies Water, which is one of South Africa’s nine water boards, has proved to be a worthy contributor in the water sector. The water utility, which services local municipalities in the North West, Limpopo and Gauteng, also supplies bulkwater to mining operations within its area of service as well as other industries. The Rustenburg-based state-owned entity has over the last few years made an intentional and targeted effort to address the bulkwater supply challenges plaguing Rustenburg, the hub of industry in the North West.

NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2021/22

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