Over R20 million is being poured into a transformative initiative to improve water and sanitation services in the communities of Dannhauser and Durnacol, promising significant benefits for residents.

According to the Amajuba District Municipality, this forms part of its commitment to ensure its communities have reliable access to essential services.
Spearheading this effort is the District Municipality’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Thembelihle Mthembu, who also chairs the Engineering Portfolio Committee. Cllr Mthembu is accelerating the rollout of several crucial water provision and sanitation projects across the district.
One of these pivotal projects was officially launched on Tuesday, 20 August 2024, at the Durnacol Sports Complex. The event saw Cllr Mthembu and a group of councillors from the Amajuba District Municipality introduce Eplazini (Pty) Ltd and Amagwala Trading (Pty) Ltd, the two contractors tasked with the formidable challenge of refurbishing the local sanitation infrastructure.
According to the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit, the primary goal of this project is to urgently repair critical sections of the existing sewerage systems in the Durnacol and Dannhauser areas.
“The project involves the refurbishment and restoration of specific segments of the current Dannhauser wastewater system, where the state of the sewer pipelines and manholes has gotten so bad that immediate action is necessary,” explained the Communications Unit.



The extensive scope of work includes refurbishing dry sludge beds, clarifiers, chemical systems, mechanical screens, inlet works, new pipes and valves, recycling pumps, barraged iron, testing and report submission, and landscaping and grassing. Moreover, the Communications Unit also highlighted the municipality’s financial commitment to the initiative, revealing that the refurbishment and construction of Dannhauser’s water and sanitation infrastructure would cost R11 300 000.00, while the maintenance business plan project is valued at R9 324 252.48.
The rehabilitation effort also encompasses:
- The rehabilitation of pumps and raising of the housing chamber walls at Durnacol Water Treatment Works/Taiwan.
- The reconstruction of a DN75 HDPE pipe to a DN80 steel pipe.
- The construction of concrete pipe pedestals across river crossings, including necessary steelwork at Durnacol/Taiwan.
- The rehabilitation of two pumps outside the gas room, a clarifier, a palisade fence, and a sewer manhole leading to the inlet of treatment works at Durnacol Wastewater Treatment.
Furthermore, the sanitation upgrade is already underway and is slated for completion in November 2024.
“Our objective with these projects is to provide the community with clean, drinkable water. Today, we are here to introduce the contractors who have already begun their work. We acknowledge that this community has faced water shortages over the years, leading to frustration,” remarked the Deputy Mayor.

The Communications Unit added that approximately 17 workers are currently involved in the project, with an additional 40 labourers set to receive temporary job opportunities. As millions are being invested into revitalising infrastructure in Dannhauser and Durnacol, we invite you to share your thoughts on these developments in the comment section below.
Comments 1
Yet Newcastle has sewage literally flowing into the road and stormwater drainage in most places….