Mogale City’s Water Services has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting and sustaining the investment made in the refurbishment of the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), following an inspection visit by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
Minister Majodina, accompanied by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo and Acting Executive Mayor Cllr Lwando Resha, visited the facility as part of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) ongoing efforts to address ageing water and sanitation infrastructure, improve wastewater treatment services and ensure that public investment in critical infrastructure delivers lasting benefits.
The refurbishment of Percy Stewart WWTW was funded through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and included upgrades to the inlet works, humus system, sludge management facilities and chemical dosing systems, as well as the construction of a new treatment module. The upgraded facility is expected to provide more reliable wastewater treatment services to approximately 33,000 households.
Over the years, Percy Stewart WWTW experienced deterioration due to ageing infrastructure, theft and vandalism, increasing population demands and limited resources for ongoing maintenance. These challenges affected the quality of treated effluent discharged into the environment and contributed to pollution of local watercourses.
Minister Majodina welcomed the progress made at the facility and commended the quality of the refurbishment works. She emphasised, however, that the investment must be supported by robust risk management, effective operations and maintenance, and measures to protect the infrastructure from theft, vandalism and other risks.
Mogale City welcomed the department’s assessment and acknowledged that the success of the intervention will ultimately be measured by the sustained performance of the plant, improved effluent quality and the municipality’s ability to consistently meet the required minimum water quality standards.
While DWS will continue monitoring the performance and sustainability of the refurbished facility and provide support where necessary, the municipality will focus on protecting the gains achieved through the refurbishment by strengthening security, preventative maintenance, operational monitoring and the timely resolution of infrastructure and operational challenges.