Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has announced a bold push to blacklist companies linked to controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, following their abandonment of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade—a failed project now implicated in the 2023 cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal that claimed over 20 lives.
The upgrade project, valued at R250–295 million, was awarded in 2019 to NJR Projects and Blackhead Consulting, both associated with Sodi. However, it was terminated in 2022 after long-standing delays and what the city has called “substandard workmanship.”
⚠️ Public Health Disaster and Corruption Fallout
The incomplete upgrades to the Rooiwal facility have been cited as a key factor in Tshwane’s ongoing water quality crisis, including the fatal cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal—an event that exposed deep-rooted governance and infrastructure failures.
Mayor Moya said the city is now actively pursuing the blacklisting of the involved contractors to prevent them from securing future government tenders.
“This is not just about corruption or bad service delivery. It’s about lives lost,” Moya said during an oversight visit.
📑 National Treasury Review Underway
Although the city’s initial blacklisting efforts were flagged for procedural issues by National Treasury, Mayor Moya confirmed that corrected documentation has been resubmitted, and Tshwane is now awaiting a final decision.
🛠️ Progress and Promises
In the meantime, new contractors have been appointed, with Phase 1A of the project completed ahead of schedule. Remaining phases are expected to be finalized by mid-2025, aiming to restore clean and consistent water supply to affected communities.
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, who joined Moya on the visit, echoed the mayor’s commitment to accountability, promising a full investigation and transparency moving forward.
🗣️ “No One Will Be Shielded”
Mayor Moya made it clear that no one involved in the failure of Rooiwal will be shielded:
“We are sending a clear message: those who neglect their responsibilities and jeopardize public health will face consequences.”
From corruption to cholera, the Rooiwal scandal has become a symbol of the dangerous intersection between failed service delivery and compromised governance. The city’s renewed efforts offer a glimmer of hope for justice—and clean water—for the people of Tshwane.
🧼 Accountability begins with action. Tshwane is turning the taps on transparency.
