Natasha Odendaal
Natasha Odendaal is Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.
Johannesburg not at Day Zero, CoJ says
11th February 2026 The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has assured that, despite the widespread water challenges being experienced across the region, there is no ‘Day... →
Rand Water to throttle supply amid high demand
9th February 2026 Water utility Rand Water is reducing water supply to high-consuming metropolitans as demand is stretching its system. In a statement issued over... →
Water consumption in Gauteng declines from levels seen last week
6th February 2026 There has been a significant reduction in water use across Gauteng’s metropolitans, the latest data from water utility Rand Water shows. Combined,... →
Rand Water overstretching assets to meet high demand
3rd February 2026 Water utility Rand Water on Tuesday raised concern over persistent high water demand. The utility said in a statement that it is overstretching its... →
Greater water supply resilience needed across Gauteng
30th January 2026 There is a need for greater resilience in Gauteng’s water supply system, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said on Friday. The comments... →
Gauteng water demand surges
30th January 2026 Gauteng’s three metropolitan municipalities are consuming water well above its agreed quotas with water utility Rand Water. Combined, the cities of... →
Rand Water stations pumping at full load after temporary shutdown
29th January 2026 Rand Water on Thursday reported that all stations are pumping at full load after an explosion of a motor connected to one of the pumps at... →
UK-FCDO, Nepad Business Foundation partner to strengthen municipal water security
27th January 2026 The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) Business Foundation (NBF) has entered into a strategic partnership with the UK government’s... →
Rand Water assures tap water safe to drink
26th January 2026 Bulk water services provider Rand Water has assured that the water it supplies is safe to consume, categorically dismissing claims suggesting... →
UN calls for reset as world enters era of global water bankruptcy
21st January 2026 The world has entered an era of global water bankruptcy, as many societies have overspent their yearly renewable water ‘income’ from rivers, soils... →
Emergency relief funds committed to assist Knysna to alleviate water challenges
20th January 2026 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) plans to avail an emergency relief allocation of R20-million from reprioritised water services... →
Despite delays, Hammanskraal water project progress
16th January 2026 A package plant aimed at securing water supply for Hammanskraal residents is currently 88% complete. Forming part of the Department of Water and... →
Major water infrastructure commissioned to secure supply for Rustenburg, Thabazimbi
9th January 2026 Critical upgraded water infrastructure has been commissioned to significantly improve water security for the residents of the Rustenburg local... →
Magalies Water, Glencore and the Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community launch water pipeline project
8th January 2026 Magalies Water, Glencore and the Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community, along with the Rustenburg local municipality, have jointly launched Phase 1 of the... →
DWS investigating possible dam failure at Thabo’s dam
12th December 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has sent a team of engineers to investigate a possible dam failure on a farm along the R568 road near... →
Water Research Commission launches water-saving campaign
9th December 2025 As South Africa risks its water demand outstripping water supply, the Water Research Commission (WRC) has launched a new water-saving campaign to... →
Cape Town’s new water projects receive in-principle approval for PPP model
5th December 2025 The procurement phase for the Faure New Water Scheme (FNWS) and Paarden Eiland Desalination Plant (PEDP) is set to start in 2026, after the City of... →
More sluice gates closed at Vaal
2nd December 2025 Four sluice gates at the Vaal dam remain open after the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) closed two more on Tuesday. The first gate was... →
Water security key to economic stability, reflects Rand Water chairperson
2nd December 2025 Sustainable water management is not just an environmental concern, but an economic, developmental and moral imperative, with water security... →
DWS closes another two Vaal dam sluice gates
1st December 2025 Two more sluice gates have been closed at the Vaal dam to reduce outflows as water inflows into the dam decrease. The Department of Water and... →
Two sluice gates closed at Vaal dam, outflow increased at Bloemhof dam
1st December 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) closed two sluice gates at the Vaal dam over the weekend to reduce outflow. Eight sluice gates will... →
Vaal sluice gates to remain open, Bloemhof outflow increased
28th November 2025 Ten sluice gates at the Vaal dam will remain open on Friday, as the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) maintains the status quo. By Friday,... →
DWS opens three more Vaal sluice gates, 10 gates now open
27th November 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is opening up three more sluice gates at the Vaal dam on Thursday to manage rising inflows at... →
Rate cuts positive turn for South Africa households, however financial strain remains
26th November 2025 Despite some interest rate relief for South African households during the first half of 2025, financial pressures remain. While the Altron FinTech... →
Three sluice gates remain open at Vaal
25th November 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is keeping three sluice gates open at the Vaal dam. As rainfall resumed this this week, the department... →
DWS closes two Vaal sluice gates
24th November 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has closed two sluice gates at the Vaal dam, reducing water outflow. Over the past week, the... →
South African Human Rights Commission calls for resolution of Gauteng water crisis
21st November 2025 The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday called on all stakeholders to act with urgency to address the water crisis in Gauteng.... →
DWS to open five sluice gates at Vaal dam
17th November 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has opened five sluice gates at the Vaal dam on Monday following heavy rainfall in Gauteng. The gates... →
Vodacom, Starlink partner for Africa connectivity
12th November 2025 Telecommunications company Vodacom Group has entered into a pivotal agreement with satellite broadband provider Starlink to deliver high-speed,... →
Rand Water’s Water Wise launches outreach initiative to tackle community water shortages
28th October 2025 Water utility Rand Water’s Water Wise is launching the ‘Drop-by-Drop Water Conservation Outreach’, calling for urgent and united community action... →
Wits launches research centre to tackle South Africa’s water challenges
18th September 2025 The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has launched its flagship water research centre, Wits:H₂O, in response to South Africa’s deepening water... →
DWS, Awsisa ink landmark agreement to advance water security, sanitation
18th August 2025 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Association of Water and Sanitation Institutions of South Africa (Awsisa) have signed an... →
More than $10bn committed during Water Investment Summit
18th August 2025 More than $10-billion has been committed for priority water projects across dozens of countries during a three-day inaugural African Union-Africa... →
Vaal dam water levels edge up
14th August 2025 The water storage levels of the Vaal dam increased week-on-week from 106.3% last week to 107.3% this week. The dam, a vital component of the... →
Cabinet green-lights water Bills
8th August 2025 South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) Water Services Amendment Bill and National Water Amendment... →
Water storage levels hold steady, DWS to maintain Vaal dam above capacity
7th August 2025 The water storage levels of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) is currently at a healthy 101%, reflecting only a slight dip from the previous... →
Constitutional Court upholds Vodacom appeal in Please Call Me matter
31st July 2025 South Africa’s Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld an appeal by telecommunications group Vodacom against a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA)... →
Rand Water talks medium-term infrastructure plans, notes maintenance disruption frustrations
29th July 2025 Water utility Rand Water’s extensive months-long maintenance from May to July was a necessary disruption to increase capacity and resilience, while... →
Rand Water supply free of ARV traces
18th July 2025 Water utility Rand Water on Friday assured that no ARV traces are in the water it supplies. The bulk water services provider, which has been... →
DWS assures ARV traces in water harmless
18th July 2025 Following a study that has found traces of anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in water samples taken from rivers and potable water sources, the Department of... →
City of Tshwane welcomes court ruling setting aside 2019 Rooiwal tender
27th June 2025 The City of Tshwane on Friday welcomed the North Gauteng High Court’s judgment declaring invalid the city’s 2019 decision to award a tender for the... →
