Eastern Cape water utility, Amatola Water, has appointed a new board which will come into effect when the current board’s term ends at the end of February.

Led by Nothemba Mlonzi, who is also an Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) board member, the new board will take over a utility which has recorded a 184% growth in revenue in the last four years. Its revenue grew from R88 million in 2006 to R250 million last year.

“The new board is faced with the task of emulating and improving on the successful outgoing board which has presided over a period of continued growth in its primary business of providing bulk potable water. Its secondary business includes maintenance and operations.

“It will have to ensure that the growth in efficiencies, quality and quantity of water and of the Amatola Water footprint across the province is maintained and improved on,” says Mlonzi.

Mlonzi says the new board will have to ensure that it performs above board on corporate governance to ensure that the financial and professional integrity of the board is maintained.

Over the last four years the water utility has maintained the quality of water from its plants at 99,6% which is above the 96% national SANS 1 water quality standards. It has also been able to provide more water from 16 million kilolitres in 1999 to 32 million kilolitres to date. It has consistently maintained water losses through its network at the minimum between 4,99% and 5,37%.

“This is because we have been able to improve our efficiencies across all our production facilities,” explains Mlonzi.

Currently servicing the Amathole District Municipality (ADM), Buffalo City Municipality (BCM), Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM), and parts of Ukhahlamba and OR Tambo district municipalities, the new board will be responsible to roll out the expansion of utility to cover the entire province.

The water utility has been earmarked by the Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to take over the Albany Coast Water Board.

The new board includes six re-appointments which include chairperson Nothemba Mlonzi, ADM executive mayor Sakhumzi Somyo, BCM councilor Mhleli Matika, Rhodes University head of management sciences Professor Lynette Louw, CHDM councilor Mxolisi Koyo and regional employee program manager at the South African Port Operation in Port Elizabeth and East London Zikhona Ramncwana.

The new four appointments are the chief executive of Hluma Development Agency Simphiwe Dzengwa, former superintendent general of the Eastern Cape Department of Education Bea Hackula, techinal advisor for the German Technical Cooperation Ntombenhle Rulumeni and chief Sizakele Ngwekazi of the Rharhabe kingdom.