Water management crucial for Kangra

Water management crucial for Kangra

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine

Kangra Coal is located near the town of eMkhondo in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, close to the border of Eswatini, and forms part of an important ecological region. The responsible and sustainable management of its water resources is extremely important to ensure the long-term longevity of not only the entire hydrological system, but also the long-term functioning of Kangra’s coal mine.

The sustainable management of water resources include access to fresh water for surrounding communities, something which has been absent in the eMkhondo region for a long time.

According to Paul Redelinghuys, General Manager at Kangra, the company is committed to striking a balance between operational demands, water conservation and ecological responsibility.

Sustainable water use practices 

“Effective water management is of great importance to Kangra. We don’t only address and focus on the present challenges of water supply, demand, usage and quality, but we also strive to implement sustainable water use practices,” Redelinghuys tells WhyAfrica during a recent site visit.

Kangra has implemented several measures to ensure the sustainable use of its available water source. This includes the efficient design of water management systems to prevent water losses. The mine uses a very efficient closed loop water system underground while maximizing the use of dirty water, for example in dust suppression on the haul roads, and then also limiting the use of clean water.

“We have specialists who continuously assess our water use to make sure we have a sustainable supply of water, while at the same time protecting nearby sensitive ecosystems and the source of our resource,” says Redelinghuys.

Water treatment systems           

According to Redelinghuys the mine uses passive and active water treatment systems to improve water quality, reduce water consumption on site, and to reduce operational costs.

“Wastewater from the operation requires treatment to meet the effluent discharge criteria as per Water Use License conditions,” he adds. The environmental team undertakes regular internal and external inspections including audits, monthly surface monitoring as well as quarterly groundwater and aquatic biomonitoring during low and high flow seasons.

Kangra has recently embarked on a project to provide the local communities with drinking water, which forms part of their sustainable water management programme.

The Donkerhoek project

The project aims to provide tap water to eight farms in Donkerhoek, part of Ward 2, before the end of 2026. With an average of about 30 households per farm, this initiative will ultimately benefit approximately 240 households, ensuring they have tap water directly in their yards.

Phase 1 of the project began in 2023. Taps were installed for all 30 households under the Yende Farmer’s Trust concluding the first phase of the project. Recently, a meeting was held with stakeholders to connect three additional farms: Thuthukani CPA, Witbank, and Jagdrift.

According to Redelinghuys the construction date for Phase 2 of the project was mid-October 2024 when three new farms would be connected. February 2025 is the expected completion date – by which 50% of the project would be complete.

The project will conclude with Phase 3 where water infrastructure will be installed on the remaining farms.

Project Components

There are two components to the project: it will utilise several identified natural spring sources to supply water to JoJo tanks and then the water will be distributed from the JoJo tanks to the different farms and, subsequently, to individual households.

Community Impact

In addition to enabling communities to access clean, drinkable water, the project also has other knock-on positive impacts. A local black-owned business from Donkerhoek is among the stakeholders involved in the project – creating a minimum of 10 jobs in the local community.

Skills development is another positive impact that has come from the project. Eight individuals have received plumbing training through the Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Community Work Programme (CWP), ensuring skill transfer and local capacity building. Once complete, the project will be handed over to Mkhondo Local Municipality and will be maintained through the CWP.

Water from the river

Redelinghuys says that community members currently rely on nearby river water for all their needs, including drinking, laundry, and cooking.

“To access the river, many households must travel for almost a kilometer. While the river water is considered clean, residents must collect it before 6:00 AM to avoid contamination from cattle,” he says.

The decision to pursue this water project arose from community engagement and alignment with Kangra’s social license to operate (SLO) principles. It was identified as a priority through Integrated Development Plan (IDP) documents, emphasising the right to access clean water. The decision involved collaboration among Kangra, community representatives, traditional leaders, and local government officials.

This project represents a significant step toward improving the quality of life for residents in Donkerhoek by ensuring access to clean drinking water and fostering community engagement and job creation.

Water management crucial for Kangra