Access to safe, reliable drinking water is fundamental to health, dignity and daily life. In South Africa, this access remains uneven, with rural communities most affected.

According to Statistics South Africa’s 2024 General Household Survey, only 36.7 per cent of South Africa’s rural population has access to safely managed drinking water. A further 44.2 per cent rely on basic services that fall short of the national targets for universal coverage. 

The Tshipi manganese mine’s approach
The Tshipi manganese mine operates within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape, South Africa. In 2024, consultation with municipal officials and village leadership identified inadequate access to clean water as a priority issue in Manyeding Village. 

Residents highlighted long walking distances to collect water, as well as the ongoing impact of earlier infrastructure initiatives that had been poorly executed. This had reduced community trust and continued to affect daily living conditions.

Consultation was led by municipal representatives and village leaders, mine representatives, community liaison officers and social facilitators. The process focused on understanding the community’s experiences, infrastructure constraints and the lessons learnt from previous initiatives to inform the project’s design.  

Improving water infrastructure
Manyeding Village is home to approximately 415 households and 1,583 residents. An initial phase of the Water Supply Project was completed in 2017 however many homes remained beyond the recommended 200 metre distance from communal water points. 

In 2021, heavy rainfall and flooding further damaged existing infrastructure, disabling boreholes, damaging concrete slabs and rendering key equipment inoperable, significantly limiting access to safe water.

Tshipi committed to fully funding and delivering the final phase of the Water Supply Project, completing a comprehensive upgrade of the village’s water reticulation system. The project was delivered in line with national water quality requirements, occupational health and safety standards and the National Water Act.

Supporting healthier communities 
At completion, the project delivered 47 new communal standpipes, improving access to potable water by bringing it closer to residents’ homes and supporting better hygiene and public health outcomes, particularly for children and older residents.

Local employment formed an important part of the project, with approximately 60 per cent of the workforce drawn from local youth, providing employment opportunities and supporting skills development within the community.

Through regular engagement with village leadership and transparent implementation, the project has contributed to building trust and strengthening relationships between Tshipi and the Manyeding Village community.