VANDERBIJLPARK.- The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, officially launched the new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) on Friday at the Emerald Tsogo Casino in Vanderbijlpark.

National water supplier, Rand Water, joined key government, private sector, and civil society partners at the launch of the new Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) SPV dedicated to accelerating the financing of water and sanitation infrastructure.

This is said to be a decisive step toward restoring reliable water and sanitation services in ELM.

Formed through a partnership between Rand Water Services (Pty) Ltd and Emfuleni’s Metsi-a-Lekwa water and sanitation unit, this independent entity will now take full responsibility for managing and maintaining all water and sanitation systems across the municipality. Its mandate is to deliver sustainable, efficient, and accountable services to every resident and stakeholder in Emfuleni.

During the launch, Mahlobo issued a stern warning against vandalism and criminality targeting water infrastructure, emphasising that such acts directly undermine progress and community wellbeing.

The SPV has been established to unlock capital for high-impact water and sanitation projects, strengthen service delivery, and build confidence in long-term public–private collaboration.

“The SPV channels capital into high-impact water and sanitation infrastructure — improving lives, safeguarding ecosystems, and offering stable returns through long-term public-private partnerships.”

Attendees included government agencies, NGOs in the water and sanitation sector, media, public and private sector partners, Emfuleni leadership structures, the Rand Water Board, Rand Water Services Board, and Rand Water management.

The event concluded with a media briefing, marking an important step toward strengthening infrastructure development, improving community wellbeing, and ensuring sustainable investment in the water sector.