Hillside Aluminium to provide access to clean water in the King Cetshwayo District

Water is a vital, shared resource we can’t live without, essential to the wellbeing and livelihoods of communities.

While access to safe drinking water is an internationally recognised human right, it isn’t always readily available in areas that experience water scarcity.

That’s why recently, Hillside Aluminium partnered with the King Cetshwayo District Municipality (KCD) to provide approximately 10,000 local households with reliable access to clean water.

The project, due for completion in June 2024, will bring clean water to numerous areas in the KCD through construction of boreholes and installation of handpumps, water storage tanks and galvanised stands.

Speaking at an event to mark the start of the project, Vice President Operations, Calvin Mkhabela said he hoped the project would help transform the lives of thousands of families in the KCD community.

“Access to clean water instils a sense of hope for many, so we hope this project will make a difference to the community, now and for generations to come,” he said.

Calvin added that everyone had a role to play in conserving water resources.

“Water is a precious resource, so it’s important we all work together to protect, conserve, and use it responsibly,” he said.

Water stewardship at South32

We recognise that water is a vital shared resource with high social, cultural, spiritual, environmental, and economic value. But water is scarce in many of the areas where we operate, and in excess in other regions. We aim to work towards sustainably managing water resources within our operations and to help address the shared water challenges in the catchments where we operate.

You can learn more about Our Approach to Water Stewardship here.