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WWF ZA06370C Smallholder CRA and water provision Milestone 4 2nd project report

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WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
1
WWF-MDF_ID1854-ZA06370C_Water stewardship in
the upper uThukela: Smallholder climate resilient
agriculture and water provision
Milestone 4: 2ndProject report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Between January andJune 2023, the following broad activities have been undertaken:
1.Spring protection: Vimbukhalo finalisation of localised scheme (borehole refurbishment and reticulation for
multipurpose use)for53 Households. Followup meetings re management and maintenance have been held with
the water committee. Follow-up meetings and maintenance activities in Stulwane undertaken for the protected spring
and reticulation system (11 extra Households now included). A total of 2 700Kl of water access per annum (1 908Kl
in Vimbukhalo and 792Kl in Stulwane) has been provided.Drinking waterquality tests (SANS241)have been
undertaken for these systems.
2.CRA implementation: 25 collaboratively managed trials (CMTs across 6 villages plus 99 participants crop growth
monitoring (124 participants in total) with a total of 9,3 ha of CA trials and 27,9ha of CA fields in total.
3.Runoff and rainfall results compiled for 8 participants.Water infiltrated in CA fields (reduced runoff) of 240000l/ha.
Thus, avolumetric gain of 6696Kl of water.
4.Soil samples (17 CMTs and 5 other participants) analysed.
5.Bulk density and WP undertaken for 8 participants (Sampling in May’23). Fodder supplementation trials planted and
monitored for 9 participants.
6.Fodder biomass and feed quality analysis done. Fodder supplementation experimentation for 7 participants. Fodder
supplementation w/s for planning and review planned in June/July
7.Crop diversity and marketing: Introduction of different varieties of maize (generic hybrids and short season maize),
beans, cover crops (sorghum, Sun hemp sunflower), fodder crops (turnips, cowpeas) into the system.
8.Meetings and stakeholder engagement:
a.Attendance of the Bergville LM Extravaganza -6 Dec 2022
b.Maloti-Drakensberg dragon heritage indaba 11-14 Dec 2022
c.Bergville regenerative agriculture farmers’ open day – 23 February 2023 (focus on CC and water)
d.UKZN-ESS: Adaptive planning for water and resource conservation in Stulwane and Ezibomvini: 28,29 March 2023.
e.uThukela Water Partnership (11 April-core group, 23 May)
9.WWF monitoring and evaluation framework developed and completed for Mahlathini indicators in Annexure 1
NARRATIVE REPORT
PROJECT DETAILS
Assessment: The
project is going well
and is on track to
finish by the set date
On track to achieve outcomes
1
Yes
Concern about progress
2
Did not achieve outcomes
3
Project No and Title
WWF-MDF_ID1854-ZA06370.C_Water stewardship in the upper uThukela: Smallholder climate
resilient agriculture and water provision
Date of approval
6thOctober 2020
Start and end date
1stJuly2022- 30 April 2024
Project value
R1285 000
Contractor’s name
Mahlathini Development Foundation
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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Project objectives
106 farmers across 5-8 villages improve on CA in their farming system (20ha's). A volumetric
water benefit (VWB)for reduced runoff(~500 0001lha/annum) and reduced consumption (~7
million l/ha) are assumed and measured.
Spring protection (v box)with limited reticulation to header tanks and taps for 20 households
which is community owned and managed is implemented in at least 1 village with full involvement
of institutional stakeholders to explore governance and stewardship options.
Project outcomes
1.3.2. Monitoring and measurement of VWB of Conservation Agriculture and livestock integration
practices in the upper uThukela for smallholder farmer communities
1.3.2.1 Development of CA farmer level trials for a minimum 75 participants with measurement
of run-off, rainfall, bulk density, evapotranspiration and water productivity for around 8-12
participants.
a.5 Members of 5 CRA learning groups plan, layout and plan CA collaboratively
managed trials (CMT’s). Run-off pans installed for 8-12 participantsfor round 1
b.Crop growth monitoringfor 25CMTs, run-off and rainfall results compiled, bulk
density and water productivity sampling undertaken and analysed,and yield
measurements undertaken for round 1
c.5 Members of5 CRA learning groups plan, layout and plan CA collaboratively
managed trials (CMT’s). Run-off pans installed for 8-12 participants for round 2
d.Crop growth monitoringfor 25 CMTs, run-off and rainfall results compiled, bulk
density and water productivity sampling undertaken and analysed and yield
measurements undertaken for round 2
1.3.3 Improved crop diversity, yields, and marketing for three local value chains leading to
improved livelihood and incomes for smallholder farmers in the upper uThukela
1.3.3.1 Inclusion of a range of options for cropping different varieties of maize, legumes and cover
crops for 110 CA participants undertaking CA farmer level experimentation. Measurement of
cropping areas, crop growth and yield for a minimum of 75 participants.
a.CA trials set up for 110participants across 5 CRA learning groups in the
Emmaus area. Planning meetings, demonstration and learning workshop and
planting support. Cropping areas measured.Round 1
b.Monitoring for a minimum of 20% of 110farmer level CA trials. Yield
measurements done.Round 1
c.CA trials set up for 110participants across 5 CRA learning groups in the
Emmaus area. Planning meetings, demonstration and learning workshop and
planting support. Cropping areas measured.Round
d.Monitoring for a minimum of 20% of 110farmer level CA trials. Yield
measurements done.Round 2
1.3.4 Improved livestock management through fodder supplementation and production awa
rangeland management practices
1.3.4.1Fodder supplementation farmer level experiments undertaken for a minimum of 11
participants with monitoring of growth, yield and animal condition scoring
a.Planning for fodder supplementation trials across 5 CRA learning groups.
Participants outline their trials, are provided with layout and logistical support and
start planting.Round 1
b.Monitoring of 11fodder trials, planning for winter fodder supplementation.
Planning for fodder supplementation. Round 1
c.Planning for fodder supplementation trialsacross 5 CRA learning groups.
Participants outline their trials, are provided with layout and logistical support and
start planting.Round 2
d.Monitoring of 11fodder trials, planning for winter fodder supplementation.
Planning for fodder supplementation. Round 2
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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1.3.5 Improved access to water at household level for both consumption and farming through
community owned water provision projects.
1.3.5.1 Water committeesand external service providers plan and implement a local water supply
scheme through protection of at least 1 spring and reticulation to ~20 households
a.Meetings with water committees, walkabouts and local surveys, engineering
support for layouts and scenarios, planning for local water provision options,
implementation initiated.
b.Local water provision implementation completed. Meetings with water
committees re maintenance, operations and conflict resolution
1.3.6 Improved governance and water stewardship in the communal tenure areas of the upper
uThukela through multiple stakeholder engagement activities with the CRA learning groups.
1.3.6.1 CRA learning groups undertake meetings for planning, analysis and review and also undertake
cluster meetings to jointly exploreand share information and options. They participate in multistakeholder
level activities and liaise and negotiate with relevant role players such as the uThukela District Municipality,
councillors, and Traditional Authorities
a.Reviewand planning meetings held with a min of 2 CRA learning groups, Cluster
meetings held around specific thematic issues. 2 Workshops to discuss water and
resource stewardship and management. Attendance of 1-2 multistakeholder events
Reporting period
July-December 2022
Significant approved
changes
Beneficiary numbers for CA changed from 250 to 110, with concomitant reduction in hectares to
15,8 ha.25 Fodder supplementation trials reduced to 11.
Changes in capacity
to deliver outcomes
None
Milestone 4: Progress in Activities 1-5
1.1.3.2.1.(b) Crop growth monitoring for 25 CMTs, run-off and rainfall results compiled, bulk density and water
productivity sampling undertaken and analysed(analysis still in progress), and yield measurements undertaken
for round 1(Yield measurements still in progress)
2.1.3.3.1 (b) Monitoring for a minimum of 20% of 110 farmer level CA trials. Yield measurements to be completed
in June 2023. Round 1.
3.1.3.4.1 (b) Monitoring of 9 fodder trials, planning for winter fodder supplementation. Planning for fodder
supplementation. Round 1
4.1.3.5.1 (b)Local water provision implementation completed.Meetings with water committees re maintenance,
operations and conflict resolution
5.1.3.6.1(a) Review and planning meetings held with a min of 2 CRA learning groups, Cluster meetings held around
specific thematic issues. 2 Workshops to discuss water and resource stewardship and management. Attendance
of 1-2 multistakeholder events
1PROGRESS PER OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME
Table 1: Progress against specific outcomes and activities for the period January- May 2023
Outcome
Activities
CA with VWB for
reduced runoff and water
productivity
Development ofCA farmer level
trials for a minimum 25
participants with measurement of
run-off, rainfall, bulk density,
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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evapotranspiration and water
productivity for around 8-12
participants.
Inclusion of a range of options for
cropping different varieties of
maize, legumes and cover crops.
Measurementof cropping areas,
crop growth and yield for a
minimum of 75 participants
Fodder supplementation farmer
level experiments undertaken for
a minimum of11 participants with
monitoring of growth, yield and
animal condition scoring
Improved access to
water at household level
for both consumption
and farming through
community owned water
provision projects.
Water committees and external
service providers plan and
implement a local water supply
scheme through protection of at
least 1 spring and reticulation to
~20 households
Improved governance
and water stewardshipin
the communal tenure
areas of the upper
uThukela through
multiple stakeholder
engagement activities
with the CRA learning
groups
CRA learning groups undertake
meetingsand stakeholder
engagement
CAWITH VWBFOR REDUCED RUNOFF AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY
!"##$%"&$'()*#+,-$.$/*0,'&($#1,2!3415,
Participants have the following CA treatments: strip cropping, cover crops, different maize varieties, use of 2 row tractor
drawn planters and annual and perennial livestock fodder species. Crop growth monitoring has been conducted for all CMTs
in Bergville
The table below outlines the CMT participants(22 participants)with associated activities such as runoff pansand rain
gauges(8 participants), soil sampling(25 participants), lime application(7 participants), specific trials in stover retention/
fencing(3 participants) and remediation of plots (3 participants). The latter is for participants who have practices CA for a
minimum of 3 years, but due to poor soil conditions have made little progress.3 Participants started this process, but only 1
planted this plot – due to difficulties in accessing tractors for ploughing and lime application.
Table 2: CMTsand associated activitiesoutlined for 28 participants: May2023
Village
Name and Surname
CMTs
Fenced
500 m2
Reme
dial
trial
Runoff
pans
(3/field)
Soil
sample
results
Lime
Fodder
(sampling,
exp)
1
Ezimbovini
Phumelele Hlongwane
2
Landiwe Dlamini
3
Zodwa Zikode
4
Nombono Dladla
5
Mantombi Mabizela
6
Cabangani Hlongwane
7
Vi
mb
uk
hal
o
Sbongile Mpulo
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
5
8
Zweni Ndaba
9
Bukisiwe Mpulo
10
ZiboneleSithole
11
Sindisiwe Makhathini
12
Eqeleni
Thulani Dlamini
Veld hay
13
Ntombakhe Zikode
4,5t/ha
(9bags)
14
Sthabiso Manyathi
Veld
hay,SCC
15
Thulile Zikode
3-9t/ha
(5bags)
16
Nah Khumalo
17
Nomavila Ndaba
18
Lungile Dladla
Beans, veld
hay
19
Stulwane
Nelisiwe Msele
0 – 3t/ha
(4bags)
20
Dombi Ntshingila /Dlamini
21
Nothile Zondi
Veld hay,
lespedeza
22
Thulani Dlamini (Danger)
1,5-
6t/ha
(4bags)
Veld hay
23
Khulekani Dladla
0-4t/ha
(8bags)
Veld hay,
lespedeza,
SCC
24
Nondomiso Zondi
25
Madakane
ni
Xolile Gambu
4,5t/ha
(9bags)
26
Nokuthula Mabaso
27
Emahl
athini
Buyisiwe Sithebe/ Ndaba
Veld hay
28
Buyisiwe Hlongwane
Note: Cells in red denote participants who have lost their trials due to a heavy hailstorm on the 1stFebruary 2023.
Figure 1: Above Hail damage for CMTs in Ezibomvini Left: Zodwa Zikode and Right: Nombono Dladla
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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6"(#,1$-7#(./,$.0,1"(#,8*&'(#('+,$.$#+1(1,
Soil samples were taken for the participants in the CA programme undertaking the collaboratively managed trials (CMT’s).
Samples were taken prior to planting, in October 2022. Of the 27 participantsearmarked for Soil fertility analysis, samples
were taken for 20 participants. Existing results were compiled for 4 of the participants and no samples were taken for 3
participants as shown in the table below.
Table 3: Soil fertility analysis samples for Bergville: December 2022
Sample ID
Name
Surname
Village
Year of
sample
Control
Trial
1.Landiwe
Dlamini
Ezibomvini
2022
1
1
2.Zodwa
Zikode
Ezibomvini
2019
2
2
3.Nombono
Dladla
Ezibomvini
-
4.Mantombi
Mabizela
Ezibomvini
2022
4
4
5.Phumelele
Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
2019
5
5
6.Sbongile
Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
2022
6
6
7.Zweni
Ndaba
Vimbukhalo
2022
7
7
8.Bukisiwe
Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
2022
8
8
9.Zibonelo
Sithole
VImbukhalo
-
10.Thulani
Dlamini
Eqeleni
2022
10
10
11.Ntombakhe
Zikode
Eqeleni
2022
11
11
12.Nah
Khumalo
Eqeleni
2022
12
12
13.Sthabiso
Manyathi
Eqeleni
2022
13
13
14.Thulisile
Zikode
Eqeleni
2022
14
14
15.Nelisiwe
Msele
Stulwane
2019
15
15
16.Dombi
Ntshingila
Stulwane
-
17.Nothile
Zondi
Stulwane
2022
17
17
18.Thulani
Dlamini
Stulwane
2019
18
18
19.Khulekani
Dladla
Stulwane
2022
19
19
20.Xolile
Gambu
Madakaneni
2022
20
20
21.Thembi
Hadebe
Ezinyonyane
2022
21
21
22.Mthokozisi
Shange
Ezinyonyane
2022
22
22
23.Nondomiso
Sikhosana/Zondi
Stulwane
2022
23
23
24.Cabangani
Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
2022
24
24
25.Buyisiwe
Hlongwane
Emahlathini
2022
26
26
26.Buyisiwe
Ndaba
Emahlathini
2022
27
27
27.Sindisiwe
Makhathini
Vimbukhalo
2022
28
28
Samples were taken as composites across fields, using a zigzag sampling pattern with a minimum 9 subsamples that were
combined and analysed through the Soil laboratory at the CEDARA Research station of the KZN Department of Agriculture.
Two samples were taken for each participant:
ØCA trial: A composite of the 1000m2trial plot consisting of intercropping and crop rotation of a number of crops –
maize, beans, cowpeas, pumpkins and a summer cover crop mixture (SCC) and
ØCA control: A composite of the CA control plot planted consecutively to a monocrop of maize.
ØResults have been summarized into the table below.
Table 4: Soil fertility sample results for Bergville: 2022
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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Name and surname
Area
Org.
C %
N %
pH
Clay
%
Acid
sat
(%)
N
Required
(kg/ha)
P
required
(kg/ha)
Lime
req
t/ha
Zinc
MAP
(Bags/ha)
LAN of
MAP
Bags/ha
CA control
Landiwe Dlamini
Ezibomvini
4,17
21
5
60
60
0
0
5,5
2,1
CA trial
Landiwe Dlamini
Ezibomvini
1,6
0,14
4,47
28
1
80
20
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Mantombi Mabizela
Ezibomvini
4,44
20
1
60
50
0
0
4,2
2,5
CA trial
Mantombi Mabizela
Ezibomvini
1,6
0,1
4,74
50
1
80
60
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Cabangani Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
1,4
0,13
4,6
31
0
80
60
0
0
5,5
7,9
CA trial
Cabangani Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
1,6
0,15
4,9
27
0
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Sibongile Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
4,23
4
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA trial
Sibongile Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
1,9
0,16
4,44
27
3
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Zweni Ndaba
Vimbukhalo
3,98
18
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA trial
Zweni Ndaba
Vimbukhalo
2,5
0,19
4,41
39
4
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Bukisuwe Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
3,89
37
60
20
4
0
1,8
3,6
CA trial
Bukisuwe Mpulo
Vimbukhalo
2
0,15
4,12
48
8
60
20
0
0
1,8
7,9
CA control
Sindiswe Makhathini
Vimbukhalo
0,8
0,1
4,12
24
10
80
60
0
0
1,8
5
CA trial
Sindiswe Makhathini
Vimbukhalo
1
0,1
3,11
20
9
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Thulani Dlamini
Eqeleni
4,02
8
60
60
0
0
5,5
2,1
CA trial
Thulani Dlamini
Eqeleni
1,7
0,15
4,17
33
4
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Ntombakhe Zikode
Eqeleni
1,4
0,12
4,04
34
15
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA trial
Ntombakhe Zikode
Eqeleni
1,5
0,09
4,74
42
1
80
20
0
0
1,8
5
CA control
Nah Khumalo
Eqeleni
3,6
0,26
4,18
41
5
60
60
0
0
5,5
2,1
CA trial
Nah Khumalo
Eqeleni
2,7
0,19
4,48
46
2
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Sthabiso Manyathi
Eqeleni
1,6
0,06
3,9
46
18
80
45
0
0
4,1
4,1
CA trial
Sthabiso Manyathi
Eqeleni
1,5
0,09
4,05
39
10
80
25
0
0
2,3
4,8
CA control
Thulisile Zikode
Eqeleni
1,6
0,13
4,84
48
0
80
20
0
0
1,8
5
CA trial
Thulisile Zikode
Eqeleni
1,8
0,17
4,52
35
1
80
20
0
0
1,8
5
CA control
Nothile Zondi
Stulwane
2,4
0,11
3,86
49
42
60
20
6,5
0
1,8
3,8
CA trial
Nothile Zondi
Stulwane
2,9
0,19
3,92
44
34
60
45
4
0
4,1
2,7
CA control
Khulekani Dladla
Stulwane
2,8
0,19
4,3
52
3
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA trial
Khulekani Dladla
Stulwane
2,6
0,2
4,69
49
1
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Nondomiso Zondi
Stulwane
2,5
0,14
3,9
52
59
60
60
8
0
5,5
2,1
CA trial
Nondomiso Zondi
Stulwane
2,8
0,18
3,91
50
41
60
60
5,5
0
5,5
2,1
CA control
Xolile Gambu
Madakaneni
1,3
0,08
4,14
32
8
80
60
0
0
5,3
3,6
CA trial
Xolile Gambu
Madakaneni
1,3
0,07
4,05
38
14
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Thembi Hadebe
Ezinyonynae
0,9
0,09
4,15
25
5
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA trial
Thembi Hadebe
Ezinyonynae
1,1
0,11
4,23
26
4
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA control
Mthokozisi Shange
Ezinyonynae
2,6
0,14
3,99
49
17
60
60
0
0
5,5
2,1
CA trial
Mthokozisi Shange
Ezinyonynae
2,1
0,13
3,99
48
17
60
60
0
0
5,5
2,1
CA control
Buyisiwe Hlongwane
Emahlathini
1,5
0,08
3,98
37
18
80
60
0
0
5,5
3,6
CA trial
Buyisiwe Hlongwane
Emahlathini
1,7
0,08
3,76
46
49
80
20
7
0
1,8
5
CA control
Buyisiwe Ndaba
Emahlathini
2,2
0,15
3,87
47
26
60
40
1,5
0
5,5
3,6
CA trial
Buyisiwe Ndaba
Emahlathini
2,4
0,16
3,75
50
47
60
20
5,5
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Nelisiwe Msele
Stulwane
2,9
0,25
4,19
43
13
60
45
0
0
4,1
2,7
CA trial
Nelisiwe Msele
Stulwane
2,8
0,27
4,48
40
1
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
CA control
Phumelele Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
1,5
0,17
5,4
35
1
80
20
0
0
1,8
5,0
CA trial
Phumelele Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
2
0,19
5,1
43
1
60
20
0
0
1,8
3,6
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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A comparison of thefertilizer requirements (kg/ha0 as well as the% organic carbon (%Org C) and % nitrogen (%N) in the
soil was made for the CA trial and CA control samples, to see whether the difference in these values could be considered
significant. Higher average and mean values for %Org C and %N are recorded for the CA trialsas are lower P-fertilizer
requirements. These values are however not statistically significant.
The graph below indicates the values for the CA trial and CA control plots averaged across the sevenvillages where
samples were taken. From the graph the differences seem quite small, although there appears to be a trend of increased
%Org C for the CA trial plots when compared to the CA control plots.
Figure 2: Average %OrgC and %N values for CA control and trial plots across 7 villages in Bergville, 2022.
Analysis of means, medians and a Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, using all participants (N=27) show that the differences are
not statistically significant, given thatp =0,801.
N
41
Org. C % by Sample
N
Mean
Mean SE*
SD
CA control
17
2,006
0,1700
0,819
CA trial
24
1,983
0,1431
0,606
Pooled
41
0,701
CA controlCA trial
Average ofOrg. C %2.0 2.0
Average ofN %0.1 0.2
Average ofN Required (kg/ha)67.8 70.0
Average ofP required (kg/ha)43.5 36.3
Average ofLime req t/ha0.9 1.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
Bergville 2022 N=25 Soil fertility results for CA control and CA trial samples across 7 villages
CA trial
Zodwa Zikode
Ezibomvini
1,4
0,16
5,2
25
1
80
20
0
0
1,8
5,0
CA control
Thulani Dlamini
Stulwane
3,1
0,29
3,99
55
21
60
20
1
1
1,8
3,6
CA trial
Thulani Dlamini
Stulwane
3,1
0,24
3,92
51
28
60
60
2
0
5,5
2,1
AVERAGES for CA trials
1,9
0,15
4,09
38
13
67
37
1,1
0
3,4
3,6
AVEERAGES for CA controls
1,5
0,11
4,18
32
15
68
43
0,9
0,04
3,9
3,6
Average kg of fertilizer required per 1000m@trial plot
16,8
17,9
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*Standard error of the mean based on the pooled sample variance.
N
41
Org. C %
by Sample
Minimum
1st
Quartile
Median
95% CI
3rd Quartile
Maximum
CA control
0,80
1,40
1,60
1,40
to 2,60
2,667
3,60
CA trial
1,00
1,54
1,85
1,60
to 2,50
2,558
3,10
Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test
Hypothesized difference
0
Org. C % by Sample
N
Rank
sum
Mean
rank
CA trial
24
513,5
21,40
CA control
17
347,5
20,44
W statistic
513,50
Z approximation
0,25
p-value
0,8011
H0: Δ = 0 The shift in location between the distributions of the populations is equal to 0.
H1: Δ≠ 0 The shift in location between the distributions of the populations is not equal to 0.
The other interesting difference between the CA trial and CA control samples is the difference in P-requirement between the
two sets of samples, with the control samples on average needing 43kg/ha and the trial samples 37kg/ha. The amount of
phosphate required depends on soil types (%clay), organic matter and acidity, as well as soil amelioration strategies
employed. The pH doesn’t vary much between the control and trial samples, but there is some difference in % acid
saturation.
Figure 3: Comparison of P requirements for CA trial and control samples in Bergville 2022
The question of how much each of these factors (pH, %clay, acid saturation and % Org C) influence the P-requirement was
explored using a correlation matrix (Pearson’s-r). The results below indicate moderate to weak correlation for all 4 these
CA controlCA trial
Average ofP required (kg/ha)43.5 36.3
Average ofClay %39.0 39.3
Average ofpH4.2 4.3
Average ofAcid sat(%)14.5 11.8
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
Berville 2022. N=25. Comparison of P requirements across CA trial and CA
control samples, linked to clay% and acidity
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10
components. It can thus be hypothesised that the difference in P requirement has to do with better nutrient provision and
management for the CA trails than the control plots.
Correlation
Pearson's r
P required
Acid sat
Clay %
pH
Org. C %
P required
-
0,128
-0,232
-0,379
-0,199
Acid sat
0,128
-
0,486
-0,631
0,314
Clay %
-0,232
0,486
-
-0,157
0,697
pH
-0,379
-0,631
-0,157
-
-0,128
Org. C %
-0,199
0,314
0,697
-0,128
-
A yield chart from the previous season (2020-2021) for a similar group of farmers in Bergville indicates however a significant
difference in yields for the CA trial vs CA control plots: A result due primarily to the improved soil fertility management
regime in the CA trial plots consisting of judicious use of fertilizer, multi cropping and crop rotation.
Figure 4: Difference in yields between Ca trial and control Plots Bergville 2020-2021 n=25.
Fertilizer requirements for the 2022 planting season have been averaged for all participants and the average amount has
been provided as a recommendation, namely 16,8kg of MAP and 17,9 Kg of LAN per 1000m2trial plot. The practice of
using MAP and LAN, to reduce the acidification impact ofthe fertilizer on the soil has been continued.
9:;,8"&,&*0<=*0,&<."88,$.0,>$'*&,7&"0<='()('+,
16% 9%
-83%
78%
-140%
-468%
-172%
136%
-43%
170%
-90%
143%
294%
159%
-71%
-146%
143%
557%
519%
290%
502%
173%
703%
725%
238%
-600%
-400%
-200%
0%
200%
400%
600%
800%
KhulekaniDladla
Winile Mabaso
Buyisiwe Ndaba
Cabangani Hlongwane
Sayinile Hadebe
Bangeni Ndaba
Gubeleni Hlongwane
Zibonele Sithole
Thoko Hlatshwayo
Sthabiso Manyathi
Nana Ngcobo
Landiwe Dlamini
HlulekileNdlangisa
NothileZondi
ThulaniDlamini
Nokwaliwa Hlongwane
Sibongile Mpulo
Phumelele Hlongwane
Kanyangane Gumede
Nombono Dladla
Thulile Zikode
Dombi Ntshingila
Zweni Ndaba
Nelisiwe Msele
Bukisiwe Mpulo
Difference in Yield (%)
Significant increase in yield per site of 146 % ( p** = 0.0094, T = 76, n = 25 Wilcoxin Sign Paired test)
Median Yield Conservation Agriculture 3.13 t/ha (max yield = 9.58 t/ha,upper quartile 6.81 t/ha )
Median Yield Controll 2.10 t/ha (max yield = 7.2 t/ha, upper quartile 7.20 t/ha)
On average 146% increase in yield for Conservation Agriculture
Cattle got into CA maize and ate most of crop, retained in these analyses
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
11
Participant farmers have been provided with monitoring sheets to record rainfall events and run-off for their CA trials and
their control plots. Averages have been calculated for monthly rainfall and runoff for each area as recorded by the participant
farmers. The table below indicates the records for the 8 Bergville participants. Zodwa Zikode form Ezibomvini did not keep
records after November 2022 and her results have not been included.
Table 5: Summary of rainfall and runoff measurements for 7 participants in Bergville (October 2022-March2023)
Village
Name
Rainfall
runoff Control
runoff CA
Eqeleni
Sthabiso Manyathi
240,8
26,7
28,5
ThulisileZikode
930,0
42,1
41,6
Ezibomvini
Zodwa Zikode
524,0
25,7
35,3
Phumelele Hlongwane
721,5
49,9
47,4
Stulwane
Nelisiwe Msele
828,7
46,8
41,0
Nothile Zondi
733,4
80,4
92,2
Vimbukhalo
Sibongile Mpulo
590,5
26,3
17,3
Zweni Ndaba
505,5
16,1
21,8
Average
634,3
39,22
40,6
P-value (Wilcoxin)
0,63
Percentage rainfall conversion
6,2%
6,4%
Control plots were either ploughed and planted to mono- cropped maize or were a CA mono-cropped maize plot. The CA
trial plots were averaged for a maize and bean intercropped plot and a maize only plot within the trial plot layout.
Difference in runoff between the plots were not statistically significant. The average runoff for the Ca trial plots this season
was slightly higher than the control plots., leading to a loss of 0,24Kl/ha. This is considered to be a result of the extreme
weather conditions, including, high rainfall, intense storms, hail, and heatwaves.
The following figure compares the runoff results between 2019/2020 and 2022/2023. This indicates on average a 31% lower
runoff percentage for the CA trial plots when compared to the control plots. This equates to a saving of water through
reduced runoff for the CA trial plots of 0,24Kl/ha/ annum, on average. For the 9,3ha of CA trials this isa saving o
2,232Kl/annum.
Figure 5: Comparison of average runoff from CA trial and control plots between 2019 and 2023, for 9 participants in Bergville
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IB@5@J/K($$#;
Right:
Installa'on
of run-off
pans in a CA
trial plot.
Measurements Runoff –Pans in CA experimental and control plots in cropping fields
Runoff control
plot (L)
Runoff CA
trial plot (L)
% Rainfall conversion to
runoff
(N=8)
L
7
C
7
@M6I
K@M@M
66
7
N
7
@M@M
K@M@6
L
7
A
7
@M@6
K@M@@
N
B@7
N
BC7
@M@@
K@M@5
7
,8%
5
,4 %
Average
24 Liter /m2now in the soil.
That is
240000 L/haon average,
peryear, more water in the
soil and available tocrops
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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The graph below compares the average monthly rainfall with the runoff results for each month.
Figure 6: Comparison of monthly rainfall and runoff results for Bergville participants (N=8) between October 2022 and March2023
Rainfall this season has shown a trend of late onset, with low monthly averages for October and November and substantial
rainfall in December. This is similar to the trends for the last three years. What is different, is that rainfall for January has
been extremely low this season, providing a marked mid-season drought effect.
The SAWS definition of a heat waveisthree consecutive daysof max temperature at least 5ᵒC warmer than the mean max
of hottest month.The number of heatwaves are increasing over time as shown in the graph below.
RainfallRunoff CARunoff cont
Average ofOctober68.01 5.074.56
Average ofNovember115.99 5.725.35
Average ofDecember197.27 16.9615.55
Average ofJanuary90.92 3.153.16
Average ofFebruary180.50 13.6113.76
Average ofMarch98.83 3.234.04
0.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
Rainfall and runoff measruements for 8 participants in Bergville, 2022-2023
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Figure 7: Annual heatwaves as recorded at the Mikes Pass weather stations1948-2023.
The average temperatures of these heatwaves are normalising and increasing over time
Figure 8: Normalised average temperature of heatwavesat the Mike’s Pass meteorological stations 1948-2023
In January 2023, weexperienced aheat wave, one day below the threshold, followed by a four-day heat wave. The max
temperature during the Jan 2023 heat wave at Mike's Pass did not exceed 30ᵒ
By late January, in Bergville, the majority of participants’ maize were showing signs of drought stress. A few of the lead
farmers, such as Phumelele Hlongwane, in Ezibomvini however were spared and crops remained vibrant. The two
photographs below were both taken on the 24thJanuary 2023. Cabangani Hlongwane and Phumelele Hlongwane’s
homesteads are right next to each other and their fields are separated by no more than 50m. Both farmers have been
practising CA since 2014.
These two photographs are indicative both of the positive impact of CA on the soil for farmers focused on improving their
soil health and on the importance of this aspect to reap the benefits of improved organic matter and soil moisture possible
with CA.
A quick comparison of soil characteristics for these two farmers indicates a higher percentage clay for Phumelele’s soil –
which is a benefit for water holding, but only in conjunction with the higher organic carbon %, Nitrogen percentage and pH
that characterises her soils.
Farmers – Ezibomvini (Jan2023)
Org. C %
N %
pH
Clay %
Cabangani Hlongwane
1,6
0,15
4,9
27
Phumelele Hlongwane
2
0,19
5,1
43
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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Figure 9: Above: Maize showing heat stress in CabanganiHlongwane’s CA plot and Below: Maize and cover crops looking vibrant with
good canopy cover in Phumelele Hlongwane’s field. Pictures were taken on the same day and fields are in very close proximity.
The heat wave was
followed by a few
decimating hailstorms
that swept across
some of the villages.
Ezibomvini was the
hardest hit of the
participating villages
in this programme and
participants lost
between 30-100% of
their crops.
Figure 10: Right and Far
Right Nombono Dladla
from Ezibomvini in her
CA trial plot one week
before and one week
after a severe hailstorm
swept across their area.
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!&"7,/&">'?,-".('"&(./,8"&,!341@,$.0,"'?*&,7$&'(=(7$.'1,
PROGRESS SUMMARY
The small table below outlines all the farmers who have planted CA trial and control plots in Bergville for the 2022-2023
planting season. A total of 124 participants are involved. 40 Participants planted 400m2CA trial and control plots and 84
participants planted 1000m2CA trial and control plots.
Village
Farmers
Control
Tractor Ploughed
CA Control
Ezibomvini
23
0
23
Eqeleni
15
0
15
Estulwane
29
12
17
Emadakaneni
15
5
10
Ezinyonyana
7
0
7
KwaVimbukhalo
35
14
21
Grand Total
124
31
93
Focused trials include the following three aspects:
•Remedial trials (1000m2): ploughing in of lime, contouring, cover crops
•Fenced trials (500m2): fenced trials for collection of stover over time- zero grazing allowed)
•Fodder trials (1000m2); 6-8 strips of fodder (perennial and annual) maize and late season beans
•Remedial trials
Participants: Khulekani Dladla (Stulwane), Ntombakhe Zikode (Eqeleni) and Xolile Gambu (Emadakaneni). Of the three
only the trial for Khulekani Dladla has thus far been implemented. Ntombakhe Zikode in Eqeleni has received her lime but is
struggling with finding a tractor to plough her field, as is Mrs Gambu in Emadakaneni. The municipal tractors are not being
used at this time of year and both ladies cannot find a local contractor to assist.
Khulekani Dladla
His field was sprayed with Roundup in the 2nd week of November, ploughed with an addition of 4t/ha of lime/gypsum in the
first week of December 2022, after rains finally came and planted on the 15thDecember (plots 1-5) and the 9thJanuary 2023
(plots 6-10). No fertilizer was added.
He also planted a ‘new’ CM trial plot of 1000m2with the prescribed layout, to act as a control to this remedial trail once he
again plants the standard layout next season.
The brief to plant the whole plot to a high density of a 6-crop cover crop mix (Sun hemp, sunflower, Sorghum, turnips,
pumpkin, cowpeas), was misinterpreted to still be a process of planting in plots.
Plot1
M+Pk
Plot2
Pumpkin(Pk)
Plot3
Turnip
Plot4
SCC
Plot5
Pk
Plot6
Cowpea
(Cp)
Plot7
SCC
Plot8
CP
Plot9
Pk
Plot10
Turnip
Below are a few indicative pictures.
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Figure 11: Khulekani Dladla- Stulwane-Remedial trial.
Top left: Plot 4 -SCC. Note the swale made on the
contour running from left to right across the plot. Top
Right: Plot3- turnip, taken on 6thJan 2023. Bottom: Plot
1-M+Pk, taken on the 24thJan 2023
Mr Dladla mentioned that he has seen the swales collect
sediment and that they have reduced the runoff in his plot
substantially. He also mentioned that he fixed the swales
where there was breakthrough runoff.
•Fodder trials
In Bergville the following 10 learning group members have volunteered for the fodder trials. The practise is to plant these
towards the end of January, when CMTs are well established and top dressed, so that they do not interfere with food
production.
Name
Surname
Village
Planting Date
1
Sulubha
Mkhwanazi
Vimbukhalo
27thJan 2023
2
Nonhlanhla
Hlongwane
Vimbukhalo
28thJan 2023
3
Mrs T
Madondo
Emahlathini
1stFeb 2023
4
Mr
Phakathi
Emahlathini
2ndfeb 2023
5
Thulani
Dlamini
Eqeleni
26thJan 2023
6
Thulani
Dlamini
Stulwane
18thJan 2023
7
Khulekani
Dladla
Stulwane
15thDec 2022
8
Nothile
Zondi
Stulwane
19thJan 2023
9
Phumelele
Hlongwane
Ezibomvini
25thJan 2023
10
Zodwa
Zikode
Ezibomvini
31stJan 2023
Layout and planting of the fodder trials are still in progress. For the three farmers in Stulwane, these have been designed
around existing strips of Lespedeza which were planted 2-3 seasons ago.
Figure 8:
Khulekani’s
Fodder trial
plots with
existing
Lespedeza
strips,
planted on
17thJan
2023
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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The layout of the fodder trial is as follows:
Plot1
Lespedeza
Plot2
SS maize
Plot3
Lespedeza
Plot4
SS maize
Plot5
Lespedeza
Plot6
SS maize
Plot7
Beans
Plot8
Lespedeza
Plot9
Tall fescue
Plot10
SS maize
Note: SSmaize; PAN5A190 (yellow – short season), beans; Gadra
Mr Dladla mentioned that he cuts and dries the Lespedeza to feed cattle with supplements in winter (SS33). He also allows
them into the field to graze- cattle do browse the Lespedeza but do notprefer this option.
•Fenced trials.
These have been undertaken for learning group members who have suffered repeatedly from livestock invasions in their
fields: Sindisiwe Makhathini (Vimbukhalo), Cabangani Hlongwane (Ezibomvini) and Nodumiso Skosana (Stulwane).
Below are pictures and short descriptions for each of these participants.
Figure 12: Sindisiwe Makhathini in
her trial plot 500m2of which was
fenced and 500m2not. She is
standing in her plot outside the
fenced area.
ForMrs Makhathini, her fenced
plots have performed a lot better
than her unfenced plots in terms
of germination and growth. Behind
her in the photograph, is a plot
that looks smaller and yellow – this is the SCC plot (Sun hemp, sunflower and sorghum) which was planted without being
fertilized. She is standing in the unfence SCC plot, with zero germination. It is likely that seeds and newly germinated crops
were predated by crows and goats in her unfenced plots. There is also some evidence of waterlogging towards the bottom
of her field
She is in her 3rdyear of CA implementation and observed that she has been able to produce more food, better maize yields
and improved water holding compared to other fields.
Mrs Cabangani Hlongwane form Ezibomvinihas been implementing CA for 7years. She has struggled to improve her soil
quality and has difficulty with highly
compacted, low organic matter clay
soils.
Figure 13: Right: Cabangani
standing next to her 500m2fenced
trial. Farright top: A view of her
SCC plot inside her fenced trial plot
and Far right bottom: A view of her
maize only plot inside her fenced
plot
Cabangani has a CA control plot
planted, as well as a 10002m block
trial with the prescribed layout, of
which 500m2 is now fenced. The
mid-season dry spell alongside
extreme heat has affected her maize
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18
and beans have all but died out. She feels that she needs to move her plot to an area with better soils. It was explained to
her that the soil cover she is to build up in her fenced plot, should help with ameliorating this problem by improving soil
organic matter and water in her soil. To illustrate this point, her neighbour Phumelele Hlongwane’s trial, photographed on
the same day (24thJan 23), showed zero heat stress andwas growing extremely well.
Farmers have generally not yet fully made the connection between their long-term soil management practices and the ability
of the CA practices to provide resilience to stresses such as heat and mid-season dry spells.
Nondumiso Skosana from Stulwane, has fenced a 500m2portion of her 1000m2trial plot. She subsequently bought more
fencing herslef from her savings group share out to start with the fnecing of the rest of her field.
Figure 14: Nondumiso
Skosana’s 1000m2trial of
which 500m2has been
fenced. In the foreground is
the SCC plot, which did not
germinate. Generally,
growth of crops inside her
fenced area has been a lot
better than outside.
•Bergville CMTs
Written by Lungelo Buthelezi
Below, a few case studies are provided for farmers outlining the CA trials they have undertaken. CMT’s have been planted
for 22 participants, as outlined in table 4 above.
Phumelele Hlongwanehas been involved in CA and other CRA activites, including savings and loan associations since
2014. She also has an intensive vegetable gardens, a micro layer unit and undertakes fodder supplementation for her
livestock. Livestock now consists only of 1 goat, as other livestock have been stolen. She resides in Ezibomvini village in
Bergville with her 6 children, 3 girls and 3 boys and she is the head of a house now as she lost her husband in 2021. She
makes a living through CA cropping, gardening, poultry, and her farmer centre and makes around R4000 a month,inclusive
of social grants.
She presently undertakes three different CA trials :
Ø1000m210x10m blocks (Planted on15th Nov 2022):
The CA block trial has been planted otthis exact layout since 2021 – thus now for the third year. Varieties planted are as
follows: Mazie-PAN53, beans – PAN148, SCC – sunflower, Sun hemp and fodder sorghum and pumpkin- Flat white boer.
Ø1 131m2strip cropping trial – with the same crops, but planted in 5 strips and
1.M
2.M+B
3.SCC
4.M
5.M+B
10. M+PK
9. SCC
8. M+B
7. M
6.SCC
1.M
2.B
3.M
4.Scc
5.M+pk
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Ø1000m2fodder trails; consisting of alternate strip of short season maize and fodder (lespedeza and Tall fescue)
(Planted on 30th Jan 2023)
She also has as CA control plot (15x93m) which is planted to PAN53 maize and is intercropped with pumpkins. Crop growth
in all trials and control plots looked good, with early weeding evident.
Figure 15: showing
Phumele Left :CA
maize and Beans
plot and Right: Strip
plot: 5 strips (13m x
87m)
Figure 16: showing
Phumelele ‘s SCC which are taller than her
She has red soils, which are well drained and have good structure. She
uses Roundup as pre-planting herbicide and uses a hand hoe for
weeding, which she has done 3 times between December and January
2023. She continues to use micro dosing for her fertilizer (with MAP as a
basal application and LAN for top dressing). She also applies manure in
her rows at a rate of around 10g per plant, She detected stalk borer and
applied stalk borer granules to control this infestation.
Growth has been good, with around 98% germination for maize, 80% for
beans and 90% for SCC. Maize was hammered by a hailstorm at kernel
development at the end of January 2023, but will likely recover enough to
produce well.
Thulani Dlamini (54)from Eqeleni started CA in 2020, after having seen
the positive impact of CA implementation in neighbouring fields. He lives
with his wife and 3 children, living primarily of grant money and
occasional day labour, which provides around R800/month. He has
traditional chickens, cows, goats and a vegetable garden. The rest of his
income is made form farming.
1.M
2.B
3.M
4.Lespedeza
5.M
6.Tall fescue
7.M
8.B
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
20
He planted his CA strips plot as one of the CMT participants working together with Enviro- champs and MDF members. He
is a very active farmer and has a large field of maize besides his CA trial and control plots. The field is irrigated using a
pump from the stream below his house and sprinklers.
Figure 17: Left: Thulani Dlamini in his maize only strip plot Centre: in his bean strip plot and Right in his CA control plot
He used Roundup as a pre-planting herbicide, which worked well this season, but he also sprayed 2,4 D (30ml x 16L) x2 to
remove black jack and grasses on the 15thof January 2023 in his CA control plot and large field.
He planted PAN 53 maize in his trial plots, beans PAN 148- beans , mix summer cover crops (SCC) and PAN5A-190 in his
control plot as well traditional maize in his large field. He also added a fodder plot (20m x 50m) planted to short season
maize PAN4A-128, Tall fescue and Lespedeza in strips. He applied MAP and LAN fertilizer using micro-dosing in rows with
spacing of 50cm in maize and beans and 25cm in SCC.
Crops have grown well with germination of around 90% for maize, 60% for beans and 60% for SCC. His crops have grown
well, but showed signs of heat stress in late January during the mid-season drought/heatwave.
Figure 18: Left: Thulani Dlamini in
his SCC CA strip plot and Right:
Beans starting to pod, at the ned of
January 2023.
There was some evidence of stalk
borer in his fields, but Mr Dlamini
sprayed Kemprin (2mx16l
knapsack) on the 27thDecember
2022, which provided good
protection. He weeded twice on the
17thof Dec 20222 and 4thJan 2023
respectively. The SCC showed
some evidence of yellowing, as no
fertilizer was added to these strips.
A"00*&,7&"0<='(".B,1<77#*-*.'$'(".,$.0,8**0,$.$#+1(1,
The following slide summarises the feed nutrient analysis that has been undertaken as part of the fodder production and
supplementation process. This will now be ppackaged and usedi n community level workshops to plan an expnded fodder
production exptimernation process for the coming planting season as well as the specifics of the winter supplementation
regime.
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Figure 19: The nutrient analysis summary for different fodder options including veld grass hay, lespedeza, summer cover crop stover and
bean stover. April 2023.
WATER ACCESS
9(-%<C?$#",%"&*?"#*,&*8<&%(1?-*.',$.0,&*'(=<#$'(".,
The Vimbukhalo borehole scheme was finalised in the second week of December 2022. The scheme consists of:
1.The borehole pump box, linked to the homestead electricity supply of Mrs Fiasani Mpulo
2.The main 5000 l header tank with 1 tapclose to the tank and 4 taps toward the bottom.
3.A 2nd2500l header tank higher up with 1 tap.
Fat%
Protein
%
ADF
%
NDF %
Moisture
%
Location
Name
Species
Sample ID
3,20
12,19
46,63
58,72
75,21
Eqeleni
Nomavila Ndaba
Beans
NN beans
2,04
21,26
26,34
34,08
41,32
Eqeleni
Lungile Dladla
Beans
LD Beans
2,96
8,95
54,88
65,18
38,56
Stulwane
Khulekani Dladla
Lespedeza
KD
-
Fodder
2,97
11,67
54,30
69,07
39,48
Stulwane
NothileZondi
Lespedeza
NZ Fodder
2,51
5,53
44,51
78,59
49,25
Stulwane
NothileZondi
Veld
NZ Veld
2,65
4,80
47,03
80,65
48,48
Stulwane
Thulani
Dlamini_Stulwan
e
Veld
TDS Veld
2,66
4,91
44,96
77,04
57,91
Eqeleni
Thulani
Dlamini_Eqeleni
Veld
TD Veld
2,72
7,35
36,23
59,68
59,74
Eqeleni
Sthabiso
Manyathi
SCC
SMSCC
2,96
10,46
32,91
54,35
48,81
Eqeleni
Ntombakhe
Zikode
SCC
NZ SCC
2,47
13,67
40,54
63,25
53,66
Stulwane
Nelisiwe Msele
SCC
NM SCC
Veld nutrient and protein availability is too low
for maintenance of condition in livestock
SCC nutrient and protein availability is good
for both growing and lactating animals
Lespedeza provides high protein but is not that
palatable
Bean stover has the best protein content and
potential nutrient availability
Measurements Fodder nutrientanalysis for veld, and stover (beans, SCCand Lesepdeza)
April2023
Further analysisand
community level
workshops to follow
in June-July 2023
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
22
Figure 20: The map outlining the water sources in Vimbukhalo and the proposed scenarios for refurbishment of the borehole.The
households that can receive water from these developments are numbered and marked in blue and green respectively.
The scheme services a total of 53 households. A community meeting was called on the 21stof January 2023, to finalised
participants’ financial contributions. Each participant household is to pay R200 to become a member of the water committee.
These monies are to be held in an account for maintenance and labourrelated to the system. Each household also pays
R10/ month for water provision to pay for electricity for pumping. Two people who were chosen to take money and record
payments; one records payments from people below the road, the other records payments from people above the road.
In January around R210 was collected for pumping and in February the amount was R430. To start,the pump was left on
throughout. Every 2ndday the valve is opened to fill the top tank – it is left open for a day and then closed again for a day.
Issues that arose were primarily around erratic electricity supply in the villageas well asto loadshedding.Fiansai Mpulo has
also requested assistance with opening and closing the valve for the top tank as it isn’t close to her and sometimes, she
forgets or is not around.
Some suggestions made to alleviate the challenges were:
1.That Mrs FisaniMpulo needs to get a new, separate prepaid electricity box for the borehole pump, to separate this
from her personal usage and
2.To request that the councillor assists with a solar electricity for the pump to alleviate the present supply difficulties.
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Figure 21: Above Left to Right: the Pump connection, attached to MrsFisani Mpulo’shomestead electricity supply, the 5000l header tank
with tap and the top 2500l header tank with tap.
During the community deliberations in Feb-March2023, the system was struck
by lightning – requiring an assessment of the whole system and replacement of
the electricity box, with lightning protection now included. In addition, the pipes
servicing the two header tanks were also replaced with better quality, slightly
larger pipes as the water pressure from this pumping system was too high for
the initial pipes used.
Figure 22: The Midlands pumps work team repairing the electrical system and replacing
input pipes for the header tanks in Vimbukhalo, with the water committee members
looking on– end March 2023
SYSTEM INFORMATION
Previously electricity has just been added to the homesteads pre-paid
arrangement for pumping, but in the present case community members haven’t
done the required calculations to understand whether this is still working and
understandably some of the participants felt that maybe some of the electricity
was going to household use. Mrs Fisani Mpulo,the pump operator mentioned
that she never had to separate electricity as it was not an issue before.
Thus, a combined process with the Mahlathini
facilitators was undertaken to do the calculations; a
process complicated considerably by the rolling
loadshedding in the area.
Figure 23: Community members present in the
Vimbukhalo water meeting to discuss access and
participation – 7thMarch 2023
The meeting identified households who fetch from
each tap as follows:
-Tap 1 (up at the smaller tank): 7 HH fetch
-Tap 2 (below Mpulo/ near the borehole): 5
HH
-Tap 3 (Below Bukisiwe Mpulo’s HH): 6 HH
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-Tap 4 (just below the road opp tuckshop): 11 HH
-Tap 5 (in the middle, below the road): 16 HH
-Tap 6 (near Sbongile Mpulo’s HH): 8 HH
To sum up, 13households get water from the smaller tank at the top, and the big tank feeds water to 40 households, totalling
53 households. 3 households do not pay the R10. From the 27thof January 2023 to the 22ndof February 2023, R430 worth of
electricity was used. From this, R430/27days = R15,92 a day, which provides an average, but is not a fully reliable
representation as the amount of electricity used per day may vary and is affected by how much water was used/how often
water was fetched each day. Pumping has been sporadic duetoboth payment and loadshedding, but on average the tanks
are now beingfilled every 2ndday.
The small table below summarises the water use for the two header tanks. This indicates that households can access 100l of
water per day.
Tank(L)
No of HH
L/hh/day
Monthly water use (L/mth)
Annual water use (L/yr)
2500
13
96
37 440
5000
40
62,5
75 000
TOTALS
53
112 440
1 349 280
Averaging
53
100
159 000
1 908 000
At the end of the meeting, the participants agreed upon the following:
-Paying dates(R10): 9thand 10thof every month
-Those who are in the savings groups can pay(R10) at the savings meeting which is usually on the 10thof every
month.
-The meeting participants committed themselves to pass on these decisions to the absent members.
A NOTE ON GOVERNANCE
These water committeesare informal ad hoc localised groupings in the villages, usuallywith representation from the ward
committees of the Traditional Authorities and the formal water committee representatives for the local Municipal Council. In
Vimbukhalo this person is Mr Mkhize.
Two strategies exist for formalising the localised water committees – one of intensive upfront organisationalstructuring,
election of office bearers and development of constitution and rules. The second is to developthis process over time, based
on the experiences and motivation of the group. Mahlathini has opted for the second approach, as this allows the members
of the informal groups to slowly formalize their institution as required by circumstance also provides weight to the decisions
made in a participatory way. Governance improved over time. Although this process primarily works through resolution of
conflict and instituting rules to avoid specific circumstance from occurring again, it is much more participatory and inclusive
than the first strategy and generally leads to a more sustainable outcome.
6'<#>$.*,17&(./,7&"'*='(".,$.0,&*'(=<#$'(".,1=?*-*,
This localised community owned system, was initiated prior to the commencement of this project. A similar community level
process of allowing the community to frame their request and start the process by setting up a water committee and doing
Pumping details:The tanks had to be emptied and timed to fill up using a specific amount of money.
Calculations showed thatit cost R16,50 to fill both tanks (7500L). This equals R0,32/hh/pumping x 15=
R4,70/month, thus needing around R250/month if pumping is done every 2ndday.
MrsFisani Mpulowould like to leave the pump on, to avoid having to check all the time and risk empty tanks
and annoyance from participants. The original specifications by the engineers however stipulated that
pumping should not be done for more than 8hrs a day, to avoid over pumping the borehole. To fill both tanks
(7500l) took 5hrs 30 min. This means the tanks can be filled once per day and overall, this will cost
R500/month
It also means that each household can collect 2x50l buckets of water per day
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
25
the initial ‘water walks” and surveys was use. Here a spring in a wetland was protected and reticulate d to 5000l header
tankswith 4 taps downstream(one added a little later by participants themselves. As it is a gravity fed system, ongoing
financial contributions are not required. 28 Households have been supported.
The spring supplies around 10 000l/24hrs.Thus for the 17 hh below the spring around 500l/day at a distance of 200-400m
for one of three taps. If those who are nearby, but without easy access to taps are also included, as well as the participants
linked to the 4thtap, the number of householdsgoes up to 28with an allocation of ~200l - 380/day.
Here, they decided to elect a spring committee:
Name and Surname
Contact details
Baba Dubanzane
0826282627
Mxholisi Mkhize
0760790738
Nelisiwe Msele
0731504405
Hloniphile Sishi
0728158921
Phekelaphi Nyoka
0828697437
Roles of committee members:
•Responsible for any issues arising with the water scheme
•Fix problems with any people not following the rules
•Allocate the use of water and ensure everyone who is eligible gets
•Check regularly that the system is working and used properly
•Open a bank account for the financial contributions and undertake small maintenance activities.
•Call meetings with membership to report on usage, maintenance issues and get permission to use funds for
specific activities.
•Communicate with the community level water committee and also the Traditional Authority and councilor.
•Request assistance from community level water committee for issues they cannot solve.
This scheme has been in operation sinceMay2022. A document outlining the full process is provided in Annexure 2.
(“Stulwanecommittee spring protection and reticulation overall process including operation and maintenance”).
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26
Figure 24: Right and Far right: A view of the
spring when ithe v-box was constructed in
may’22 and more recently in Feb’23, showing
also that the spring was subsequently fenced.
Figure 25: Below Left and Right: The 2 x5000l
header tanks at installation and recently in
Feb’23 – also fenced.
A conflict arose in January 2023, where a few households closest to the protected spring became unhappy with their lack of
easy access to the spring and to water. It was decided then to add two more taps to the scheme(one at the spring and one
at the header tanks,to allow reticulate access to these households (4). They werepreviouslyexpected to collect water from
the spring itself and from the header tank overflows but were not happy with this arrangement. These small changes were
supported through this project.
In a workshop on water and resourceconservation mapping and action planning in April 2023, the issue of water provision
for the rest of the Stulwane community was raised. Further spring protection and reticulation of the borehole close to the dip
tank are to be considered.
A NOTE ON GOVERNANCE
The spring committee in Stulwane has bene functioning well and has been actively supported by the traditional ward
councilor, Mrs Hlongwane. To date all participants have followed the broad instructions and have also assisted in ensuring
that people do not come from outside the village to use this water. In the beginning people came from eMadakaneni and
Eqeleni with bakkies to load up with water. All participants in this scheme are satisfied with the scheme and with their access
to water.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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The spring committee has been very active. The small conflict around taps however did indicate that for some levels of
conflict and decision making still require a respected 3rdparty with ‘authority” in this case Mahlathini, may still be required to
make decisions and ensure positive actions and outcomes.
:$'*&,D<$#('+,'*1'(./,
Community members have been trained in using E coli testing kits (procured from Praecautiolaboratories in Hilton) to
assess the quality of water in their water schemes. The eco champs (youth employed part time to undertake resource
conservation work in the communities) have been responsible for administering these tests.
Water samples are incubated in pre-preparedtest tubes in a “hotbox” for 24 hours. Colour reactions indicate the presence of
coliforms (brown) or E coli (green).
Figure 26: Right: An example of three E coli tests taken in the Stulwnae spring protection
scheme in 2022/ These have turned green indicating the presence of E coli.
After the contamination of the spring and water system in March 2022, the
community undertook to build a swale above the spring in the wetland, as
they noticed that urn-off from the surrounding areas flowed into the spring
intake area and felt that this is what caused the contamination.
Subsequently the tests have all been clear.
Full drinking water quality tests (SANS241) have been undertaken by
Umgeni water (8 May 2023).
Samples were taken and kept at 4Degrees Celsius for 2 days prior to
analysis, which could affect E coli and Coliform counts. As these counts
should be 0 and <10 respectively. It was not considered to be problematic,
although values recorded would bemarginally higher than if the tests were
done within 24hours of sampling.
The result was generally favourable expect that:
•E coli counts were 54 iso 0
•Coliform counts were 1203 iso <10 and
•Heterotrophic plate counts were>1000.
Treatment of water for household use will be required. Chemical
disinfectant is to be added to the header tanks of this system on a daily
basis – Chlorine addition at a rate of 1l/5000l tank.
Stulwane
E Coli test results
Date
Time
Place
Colour
2022/02/17
12:03
S2
Clear
2022/02/17
12:11
S1
Clear
2022/02/17
12:56
E
Clear
2022/02/24
10:00
S2
Clear
2022/02/24
10:13
S1
Clear
2022/02/24
10:20
E
Clear
2022/03/04
09:13
S2
Green
2022/03/04
09:17
S1
Green
2022/03/04
09:22
E
Green
2022/03/10
09:22
S2
Clear
2022/03/10
09:27
S1
Clear
2022/03/10
09:56
E
Clear
2022/04/21
09:07
S1
Clear
2022/04/21
09:15
S2
Clear
2022/04/21
09:20
E
Clear
2022/06/16
08:06
E
Clear
2022/06/16
08:15
S1
Clear
2022/06/16
08:29
S2
Clear
2022/06/23
09:10
E
Clear
2022/06/23
09:25
S1
Clear
2022/06/23
09:32
S2
Clear
2022/09/14
09:56
E
Clear
2022/09/14
09:59
S1
Clear
2022/09/14
10:03
S2
Clear
2022/12/05
09:15
S2
Clear
2022/12/05
09:18
S1
Clear
2022/12/05
08:25
E
Clear
2023/03/03
09:54
S2
Clear
2023/03/03
10:01
S1
Clear
2023/03/03
10:05
E
Clear
KEY:
S1- is the protected spring with
V-box
S2- is the spring lower down
E– are the header tanks of the
protected spring
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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GOVERNANCE AND WATER STEWARDSHIP
3<#'(1'$C*?"#0*&,*)*.'1,
OKHAHLAMBA AGRICULTURE AND LAND SUMMIT_6 DECEMBER 2022
Mahlathini presented our work with smallholder farmers in the area under the heading of CbCCA in Northern Drakensberg
enhances resilience of smallholder farmers and also had a table with produce from farmers on display and for sale.
Stakeholders mainly were from government departments and the municipality outlining projects and programmes being
undertaken in the area.
Figure 27: Above Left and Right: the Bergville Extravaganza showing the hall and the MDF farmer’s table and stall for sale
of produce.
MALOTI DRAKENSBERG PROECTING AND SAFEGAURDING OF THE DRAGON HERITAGE INDABA AND
WORKSHOP – 11-14 December 2022
The workshop was organised by the
Peaks Foundation in association with
GLOMOS and the Afromontane
Research Unit (UFS), with funding
kindly granted by the German
Embassy Climate Fund. The goal
was “To enhance the growth of an
African-based research ‘Community
of Practice’ of high excellence, to
identify and develop solutions at the
local level to contribute to the
protection and preservation of the
Maloti-Drakensberg”. 53 Participants
form a diverse range of stakeholders
from both South Africa and Lesotho
attended, including academics,
government representatives, civil society and traditional leadership. Continued collaboration between the members of the
newly formed Community of Practice (CoP) is a primary outcome of the workshop, in which all parties agreed that there are
gaps between research, implementation and policy, and that these gaps can only be bridged by breaking down walls
between individual silos and continuing to engage on an ongoing basis.
BERGVILLE REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE SMALLHOLDER FARMERS OPEN DAY– 23rdFEBRURAY 2023
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
29
This event was held to showcase the conservation agriculture work in relation to climate change resilience and integrated
water management. Stakeholder present included Asset Research, the Agricultural Research Council, the WildTrust, KZN
Wildlife, uThukelaDevelopment Agency, Okahlamba Local Municipality, AGT Foods and PANNAR Seeds, and around 180
smallholder farmers, with around 20 farmers visiting from Ozwathini and Gobizembe in the Midlands.
The event consisted of presentations and discussions at the Emmaus Hallfollowed by field trial visits in 4 villages.
Figure 28: The Bergville farmers’ open day (23rdFeb 2023) showing a packed Emmaus hall with over 200 participants in the
event
Figure 29: Field visits were undertaken during the open day, to CA trial plots using participants’ vehicles- here the group is
viewing a Lespedeza plot in Mr Khulekani Dladla’s fodder trial in Stulwane,
There have been a number of relationships built and improved upon between government department officials, and the
learning groups. These include:
•Closer cooperation between the local councillor Mr Dladla and the communities, specifically in Vimbukhalo
•Closer cooperation with the KZNDARD extension officer Mr Kubone and 4 of the groups starting cooperatives
•A strong collaborative arrangement between the Marketing committees, MDF staff and uThukela Development
Agency, which is providing support to the marketing in a number of ways – facilitating setting up stalls in Bergville,
offering of transportation of produce to markets, joint marketing days at government events to advertise the work
of these groups and negotiations related to improved livestock auctions for these communities.
•A close relationship with the LED unit of the Okahlamba Local Municipality and the municipal manager Mr
Malinga.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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E"=$#,/")*&.$.=*,F,$0$7'()*,7#$..(./,F,="--<.('+,#*)*#,
(-7#*-*.'$'(".,
In association with the Centre for Water Resources Research at UKZN, and under the auspices of the Water Research
Commission a social-ecological mapping of land use patches, including a technical mapping of ecological and water
resources as well as a veld assessment was undertaken. This participatory approach is now being developed into resource
management adaptive planning process with the CRA learning groups and village-basedmanagement structures.
The table below summarises this planning for Stulwane and Ezibomvini.
Table 6: Local resource management plans for village based CRA platforms: March 2023
Local resource management areas for improved eco system services- Community defined
Key Area
Management required
Notes
Grazing areas
(Amadlelo)
-Livestock feed
and water,
firewood, medicinal
plants,
Restoration and management.
-Clear Lantana and use poison after cutting to stop regrowth
-Rotational grazing
-Control wildfires and make firebreaks. Storage drums for
emergencies with fire one can use
-Explore financial benefit– grant/incentive mechanisms
-Monitor and manage nutrition of veld (erosion control,
overgrazing control, removal of poisonous weeds, re-seed of
palatable species)
-Awareness raising in the community and for livestock
owners.
-Eco-champs to do clearing
-Dip tank committees and livestock associations
-Better community collaboration with dip tank
committee as well as TA and councillors
-Community workdays
Wetlands
(Amacaphuza),
-Reeds (incema)
-Food and water
for cattle, also in
winter
-Medicinal plants
-Fire retardant
-Runoff and flood
water management
-Improved water
quality
-Fertile soils with
earthworms
Small management changes to manage condition of
wetlands.
-Fencing to ensure good condition and make drinking
troughs for livestock
-Awareness raising on wetlands functions and services
-Replanting important species into wetlands; then someone
needs to police this and ensure people don’t just harvest
everything
-Protection and restoration ofimportant medicinal species
for sale: Stop people with big bags who come in and take for
selling
-Avoid pigs coming in as they mess things up
-Avoid fires and burning
-Livestock inclusion managed e.g. –allow them in at certain
times only. Or maybe make camps and move them. Or allow
them to graze on the edges. Or cut and carry feed.
-TA involvement and ‘landowners’ in wetland
areas to outline rules and responsibilities
-Community as a whole to follow these
-Local water and land use committees to
undertake specific actions related to water
access and management
-Issues around rights around use of water and
important medicinal plants need further
interventions
-Suggestion: talk to livestock association then
bring their comments and suggestions to the
water committee to continue the conversation
and include all
Erosion control
-To ensure
availability and
quality of water
and soil resources
Restoration
-Awareness raising and outline of responsible actions to
enforce
-Avoid expanding of minor erosion into dongas.
-Prevent siltation and pollution.
-Allow re-vegetation, naturally or through re-seeding
-Prevent run-off
-Check dams, brush packs, stone packs,
-Prevent livestock from causing further damage
-Control wildfire- make fire breaks
Storage drums for emergencies with fire one can use
-TA and livestock committees to undertake
some actions
-Eco champs to assists
-Some actions and contributions from
community as a whole (e.g. loan of tractors,
small financial contributions
-External support
-Continued support from UKZN and MDF in
mapping, planning, proposal development,
community structures and management
Alien trees
-Eucalyptus,
poplar, and wattle
plantations, and
patches
Small changes
-Promote better management by ‘owners’
-Cut down and poison lantana and encroaching poplars
-Ensure management of wattle patches
-Remove trees from water sources and streams in all cases
-TA, Nkosi and ‘owners” encouraged to
undertake management activities as trees are
useful in the community and cannot just be
cleared.
Springs and
streams
-Water provision
for drinking,
laundry, irrigation,
Protection, restoration, and management – must protect the
water sources to ensure supply.
- Should protect water so that livestock don’t disturb the
sources
-TA, local municipality, water committees and
localised groups of people using specific water
sources to work together on access and
management plans and implementation
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
31
construction and
livestock
-Water quality and
quantity -Issues
are floods,
livestock trampling,
children use as
toilet, litter
-Protect the springs; with fencing and the ditches above to
avoid water from flowing in overland and contaminating
these springs.
-Check water quality.
-Remove eutrophication.
-Check springs regularly.
-Drinking spots for livestock
-Community awareness and education – and for children
-Maintain the water infrastructure that is there.
-Avoid doing laundry in the water sources and keeping them
clean, no pampers, no urination, no use as toilet, no
dumping of dead animals.
-Protect springs with pipes to be able to irrigate the gardens
(reticulation to taps)
-Also use grey water for irrigation.
- water harvesting and use.
-Make sure children don’t play around the water sources…
or pollute them
-WATER ACCESS:-Big issue
-Community must come together and make
rules and regulations re hygiene and water
-Those that are involved should talk to others
and ensure they also learn - involve the TA
councillors and Nkosi….
-Asking Mahlathini to help with fencing and
funding for water access
-Day to day activities of cleaning springs,
digging furrows to reduce contamination to be
done by locals
-Dig refuse pits for disposal of waste – in each
locality
-Awareness raising and communications
-Involve schools
-Eco champs to assist with spring protection
and management and schools’ interventions
Figure 30: The Adaptative planning session undertaken in Stulwane, 29thMarch 2023
Figure 31: Above: Pictures of the brush packing and grass re-seeding activities undertaken by the young Eco=champs in Stulwane..
2GAPS AND CONSTRAINTS
Ongoing weather variability has hit smallholder farmers hard – floods and heavy rainfall in December, followed by a heatwave
in January 2023, followed closely by extreme hailstormswhich completely decimated the crops of around 6 CMT participants.
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32
These extreme weather conditions have also impacted the outcomes of both the run-off and water productivity results. Given
the high level of run-off for 2-3 months of the summer season, run-off results have been high and not much difference can be
seen between trial and control plots, due to saturation of the soil profile with water and thus increased runoff throughout.
Differences in water productivity have also been masked for the same reason.
Generally the project has been proceeding according to plan and all activities are on track.
3COMMENT ON FINANCIAL REPORT
Table 3: Summary of expenditure on CRA activities: December-May2023
Cost breakdown
Apr-23
Remainder (2022-2024)
Budget (2022-
2024)
Inputs for Conservation Agriculture
R145 704,30
R104 295,70
R250 000,00
Spring Protection
R114 721,23
R103 278,77
R218 000,00
Engineering fees
R70 433,82
R26 013,18
R96 447,00
R330 859,35
R233 587,65
R564 447,00
Total 2022-2023
0,59
59%
From the above table the project team have thus far used R330859,35of the funding available for implementation of
activities, which is 59% of the budget available for 2022-2024. This means expenditure is on track in relation to the overall
budget. As the spring protection work to date has used roughly 50% of that budget,a further spring protection activity is to
be undertaken in 2023-2024.
NOTES ON EXPENDITURE
Expenditure has been compiled up until the 30thApril 2023
1.A disbursement of R556500 was received on the 27thJuly 2022and a further disbursements of R180000 was
received on the 12thDecember 2022
2.A total of R888 184,14has been spent between December 2022 and April 2023
3.Expenditure is on track, with a slight under expenditure thus far on capital assets (spring protection), and over
expenditure oninputs for CAtravel and subsistence.The latter is due to the substantial and unforeseen increase in
fuel prices and related hikes in prices of agricultural inputs.
Below is a summary of the financial report.
4FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report excel sheet isattached as a separate document:”WWF-ZA06370C-Smallholder CRA and Water
Provision_MDF_ Financialreporting template_Milestone 4_20230601”Documentation for explaining full expenditure
summaries is available on request.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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5SIGNIFICANT PLANNED ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT MILESTONE
•CA implementation: finalisation of yields and water productivity data for round 1. Reviews and re-planning for round
2 of the implementation and initiation of the 124 CA trails for round 2
•Protection of one more spring in Stulwane, specifically for irrigation purposes
6LIST OF ANNEXURES
Complementary information, including photographs.
ANNEXURES:
Annexure 1: Northern Drakensberg Monitoring and Evaluation plan
Annexure 2: Stulwane spring protection and reticulation planning and implementation November 2021-May 2022
Annexure 3: Umgeni water test results
Project number and Name:WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Mahlathini
Completed by:Erna Kruger
DescriptionTotal Project Budget
CurrentYear
budget
Previously
Reported
Actuals
CurrentYear
Actuals
Reporting PeriodMay 2022-April 2024May2022-June 2023
May 2022-
December2022
(1 Aug2022-20
November2022)
Decebmer
2022-April
2023
A - OPENING BALANCER 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 736 500,00R 0,00
Approved WWFIncomeR 1 285 000,00R 0,00R 556 500,00R 556 500,00R 0,00R 728 500,00
B - TOTAL income+ o/balanceR 1 285 000,00R 0,00R 556 500,00R 0,00R 556 500,00R 736 500,00R 728 500,00
EXPENDITUREby code
1Staff costsR 432000R 216000R 162 000,00R 162 000,00R 324 000,00R 54 000,00R 108000,00
2Third party feesR 96 447R 48 000R 44 180,17R 26 253,65R 70 433,82R 21 746,35R 26 013,18
3Travel and SubsistenceR 211770R 109350R 105 645,29R 84 600,00R 190 245,29R 24 750,00R 21 524,71
4CapitalAssetcostsR 218000R 109000R 75 995,34R 38 725,89R 114 721,23R 70 274,11R 103 278,77
5Operating expensesR 250000R 125000R 115 809,38R 29 894,92R 145 704,30R 95 105,08R 104 295,70
6Meetings/ Education / TrainingR 20 533R 10 267R 0,00R 10 267,00R 10 267,00-R0,50R 10 265,50
7
ProjectPromotion/Communication/
Printing/Publication
R 56 250R 28 125R 21 093,75R 11 718,75R 32 812,50R 16 406,25R 23 437,50
C - TOTAL EXPENDITURER 1 284 999,50R 645 741,50R 524 723,93R 363 460,21R 888 184,14R 282 281,29R 396815,36
D – CLOSING BALANCER 1 284 999,50R 645 741,50R 396 815,36
ESTIMATES
Code
Total Actuals
to date
Total Current
Year Budget
minus Current
Year Actuals (D-
G = I)
ACTUALS
Total Project
Budgetminus
Total Actuals to
date (Variance)
C - H = J
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PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN
PARTNERS
PROJECT OUTCOME
PROJECT
INDICATORS
OVERALL GUIDING QUESTIONS
#
What is your
project outcome?
#
What do you
want to
measure
through your
monitoring and
evaluation?
#
What specific question
would you want answered
through your monitoring
and evaluation?
Project values for Mahlathini
Development Foundation
Mahlathini
Development
Foundation
1.
Job creation
through
ecological
infrastructure
restoration.
(Target 1.3)
1.1
Number and
nature of jobs
created within
communities
1.1.1
What is the total number of
jobs created, annually?
8
1.1.2
What type ofjobs have
been created?
Part time youth eco-champs
1.1.3
From which communities
are these employees?
Stulwane and Ezibomvini
villages, Bergville
1.1.4
How many women are
employed?
62,50%
1.1.5
How many youth are
employed?
100%
1.2
Increased socio-
economic
benefits
1.2.1
How many days has each
person worked per month?
10
1.2.2
What is the work (technical
and professional/role) with
which people are
engaged?
Spring protection and water
access, erosion control and
resource conservation, alien
clearing
1.2.3
For how many and by how
much has household
income increased, as a
result of these jobs?
Increase of R1
600/month/householdfor 8
households
1.2.4
What additional social
value has participation in
the project yielded for
individuals and
households?
Eco-champs have gained
training and on the job
experience in a number of
fields. They have gained
recognition in their villages
and households for their
contributions
2.
Agro-ecological
practices of 106
farmers increase
productivity and
food security.
2.1
Number and
type of farmers
implementing
agro-ecological
practices
2.1.1
How many villages /
communities are
implementing agro-
ecological practices?
5 villages
2.1.2
How many farmers are in
these villages /
communities?
1200 smallholder farming
households
2.1.3
How many farmers are
implementing agro-
ecological practices?
124 farmers implementing
Conservation Agriculture
and fodder production
2.1.4
In which strategic water
source area are these
farmers?
2.1.5
Which crops are grown in
the participating villages /
communities and in
controlled sites?
Maize, dry beans,pumpkins
sorghum, sunflowers, Sun
hemp, Lespedeza, tall
fescueand turnips in
controlled sites.
Generally only maize is
grown in the communities.
2.1.7
What agro-ecological
practices are being
implemented?
Conservation agriculture,
intercropping, crop rotation,
diversification, livestock
integration,soil and water
conservation
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2.2
Increased
productivity and
food security
2.2.1
What is the net yield on
agroecology fields versus
the control fields?
Still to be calculated. In the
past an increase of 30-100%
2.2.2
How is produce used by
households and / or
community?
For food and sale locally
2.2.3
Does and how does this
production yield support
food security and
livelihoods.
Food security is improved.
Around 33% of households
have enough food for the
entire year and the other
66% produce enough for
between 50-100% of
household needs.
1.2
Access through
spring
protection
1.2.1
How many springs
are being restored?
1 spring (Stulwane
village),1 borehole
(Vimbukhalo village)
1.2.2
To what extent has
the flow rate
increased within
these springs? How
much water in Kl is
used from the
spring / piped to the
homestead
storage? / How
many community
members /
households access
water from the
homestead
storage?
Stuwlane spring:
792Kl/annum, 11
households.
Vimbukhalo borehole:
1908Kl/annum , 53
households
1.2.3
How many farmers
access how much
water from springs
for agro-ecological
practices?
Stulwane - 11
farmers,(200-380l/day)
Vimbukhalo- 53 farmers
(100l/day)
1.2.4
What is the
distance between
farms and the
springs?Howmuch
time is saved
through homestead
storage?
Local standpipes,
maximum distance from
homesteads 200m,have
been installed. Saves
young women between 2
to 4 hours daily.
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36
Annexure 2:Stulwane spring protection and reticulation
planning and implementation November 2021-May 2022
1.BACKGROUND
The Stulwane community is located near Emmaus in the Drakensberg region and falls under the Okhahlamba Local
Municipality within the Uthukela District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. Stulwane is approximately 8km and 25km travel
distance from the centres of Emmaus and Winterton respectively.
Due to the more mountainous terrain the community is separated into a number of sections. Two of these sections form part
of the project area being considered and comprise approximately 90 rural homesteads in total.
There is currently no reticulated municipal water supply in the area. Current water sources accessed by the community
include:
•one municipal borehole and tank providing communal water access to one section (installed in Nov 2021)
•a spring fed tank and communal tap located away from any cluster of homesteads (installed in `2017)
•a community borehole with handpump (near the cattle dipping tank, installed in`2017)
•supply by water tanker
•a number of undeveloped springs
A number of potential water sources within, or surrounding, the project area were investigated and mapped by a
hydrological team from UKZNin association with community members and the Stulwane Water Committee. These were
narrowed down, due to various factors such as access, location and strength of supply, to a few sources for further
investigation. These identified supplies include the borehole situated next to the dipping tank, the undeveloped springs
(referred to as springs 1, 2 and 3) and the existing developed spring (spring 4).
Right:'Map'indicating'
the'undeveloped'springs'
with'potential'for'
reticulation'
A further technical
investigation was
undertaken inNovember
2021, by an agricultural
Engineer, Mr Alain
Marechal, who joined the
UKZN team and the water
committee to assess thetechnicalpotential for developing and reticulating these identified sources.
The outcomes are briefly summarized below
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GH;"&*?"#*,>('?,?$.07<-7,,.*I','",0(77(./,'$.C,2E"=$'(".J,KLM,NN@,OPHQR6B,KSM,
KK@,TOHORU5,
The borehole situated next to the cattle dipping tank is equipped with a handpump and is operational. This is a community
borehole and would be available to develop further. It is situated away from the main groupings of homesteads but at an
elevation that would allow gravity reticulation to one or two sections of the project area. The borehole would need to be
pump tested to determine its sustainable yield and whether it is feasible to install an electric pump. On the day of the site
visit water samples were taken to get an indication of any issues with the water quality. One concern is the proximity of the
cattle dipping tank to the borehole and any possible contamination of the groundwater.
K,,67&(./,G,2E"=$'(".J,KLM,NQ@,NPHPR6B,KSM,KK@,TPHPRU5,,
The spring referred to as “spring 1” is situated upstream of, and close to, springs 2 and 3. Of the three springs this one has
the stronger flow and has two upwelling “eyes” evident. Indications from community representatives are that water is
available all year round from the spring. There has been no
development of this spring apart from a steel drum placed over
one eye, and cattle and other livestock are able to access the
water. A rough flow measurement was taken on the day of the
site visit and indicates a possibility of being able to access at
least 10 litres a minute. Water samples were taken to check
the e-coli levels in the water.Right:'View'of'spring'1
Spring 1 has a flow rate of 10 litres per minute. Reducing this
to 7 litres per minute, as a more conservative figure, would give
the possibility of accessing 10000l per 24 hours. This equates
to an amount of 500l per household on 17-20 households in
the area of coverage below the spring.
NOTE: This is the spring that was chosen for development.
3 Spring2 (Location: 28° 54’ 55.7”S, 29° 22’
10.8”E)
Spring 2 is situated slightly downstream of spring 1 and has
a lower flow. A makeshift barrier / fence has been erected
around this spring and a steel drum placed around the eye.
Water samples were taken to check the e-coli levels in the
water.
Tight: Spring 2
Q,,67&(./O,
2E"=$'(".J,KLM,NQ@,
QSHPR6B,KSM,KG@,NLHLRU5,,
Spring three is situated further downstream of springs 1 and 2. A
steel drum has been placed around the eye but no further
development of the source has been done. A rough flow
measurement taken indicates a possibility of accessing
approximately 6-7 litres a minute. Water samples were taken to
check the e-coli levels in the water.
Right: Spring 3
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N,,,,,67&(./Q,2E"=$'(".J,KLM,NQ@,OOHVR6B,KSM,KK@,TPHPRU5,,
Spring 4 has been developed by the community and consists of two covered chambers (brick and concrete) built around two
spring seeps / eyes. Water is piped from the collection chambers to two 2400l tanks that then feed a community standpipe.
At the time of inspection the tanks were overflowing but the community representatives did indicate that when used the
tanks do fill very slowly. A repair is
required to a hole in one tank and
fitting of float valves and
replacement tank lids.
Right: Tanksfed form the spring and
community standpipe
2.PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS
Discussions were held with the
community representatives
regarding the five water sources and
possible development and use of each source to supply water to various areas of the community. Due to the lower elevation
of springs 1, 2 and 3 within the project area it would be necessary to consider an additional source at higher elevation (the
borehole or spring 4) in order to supply water to the higher lying sections. The outcome of these discussions was that the
borehole and one of the undeveloped springs (1, 2 or 3) could be considered for the project. Spring 4 was to be excluded at
this stage due its low flow. It was further recommended that only one of the undeveloped springs should be developed in
order to avoid any community issues should the development result in damage and loss of water at the spring eyes.
The project team decided to consider further testing and equipping of the borehole (budget allowing) and protection of one
of the springs (1, 2 or 3). Further to developing the water supplies three scenarios would be considered for supplying or
reticulating water to the community:
•Scenario 1: Store water in (header) tanks and reticulate to smaller drums fitted with float valves at individual
households.
•Scenario 2: Store water in (header) tanks and reticulate water to a number of communal standpipes placed
around the community.
•Scenario 3: Store water in (header) tanks and feed centrally placed communal tanks within clusters of
households.
For purposes of this report the following will be used to refer to the different areas / sections of the community being
supplied:
•Section1:Area of supply coverage below and to the northeast of the borehole
(Comprising approximately 17 households)
•Section2: Area of supply coverage below and to the north of the borehole
(Comprising approximately 33 households)
•Section3: Area of supply coverage below the spring
(Comprising approximately 38 households)
It should be noted that the layouts presented below showing the various reticulation options and extent of coverage are
provisional and for planning purposes. The final layouts, including pipeline routes, number of households to be supplied, tap
and/or tank positions, will only be determinedduring the design phase. These would need to take into consideration, among
other factors, the actual amount of water available from the developed sources, community input to positioning of tanks
and/or standpipes, and proofing of the proposed pipeline routes.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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3.DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
A meeting was held with the water committee (Nelisie Msele,
Dombi Dlamini, Nothile Zondi, Khulekani Dladla, Danger
Khumalo and Thulani Dlamini, with 3 enviro champs present on
20thJanuary 2022, to discuss process and decision making
regarding the water access scenarios developed.
Right: Nothile, Nelisiwe and 2 of the enviro champs at the water
committee meeting in Stulwane
Below is a summary of the main questions and decisions
1.Involvement+of+community+
It was decided that a full community meeting be called to outline
the reasoning for starting with the spring protection. Working with
the borehole requires a pump flow test to ascertain strength which costs around 30K and due to distances from
homesteads, the pump will need to be solar, also adding considerably to costs. There is around 50K in the WRC-ESS
research budget that can be used for community implementation and with community contributions will be enough to protect
spring 1 or 2, provide 2 header tanks and pipelines with 2-3 standpipes with taps.
The community will need to agree to the fact that there isn’t presently funding to continue after the spring protection is done
and so some people will benefit, and some will not. The spring cannot provide enoughwater for everyone, so the whole
community cannot fetch water there.
Even the spring protection and the borehole if both can work and be implemented will not be able to provide water for the
whole community.
•No Access: ~17 Households
•Borehole Section 1:NE.~17 Households
•Borehole Section 2: N. ~ 33 Households
•Spring 1 (Scenario 2: OPTION 3): 10000l/24hrs.~30 Households Thus for the 17 hh below the spring around
500l/day at a distance of 200-400m for one of three taps. If those who are nearby, but withouteasy access to taps
are also included, the no of hh goes up to around 28 and then around 210l/ day.
The committee decided on option three of the spring protection scenarios, as those households close to the spring also
need access.
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After the committee meeting and the full community meeting, the group who can benefit from the spring protection need to
have a meeting to discuss access, payment, labour contributions, a committee of their own, decisions, and ongoing water
management. There will need to be daily opening and closing of valves and checking of water availability and decisions
regarding maintenance etc will also be ongoing.
A map with pins for households was used
with the group to make a list of those who
would be involved.This map was updated
again after implmentation to take into
account the addition of newcomers nad
removal of some inactive households. The
list as at May 2022 is shown below
Above Left: the committee working on
naming the homesteads shown on the small
map
Table 7: Final list of participants involved and
where the collect water (23 households), May
2022
Pin no
Name and Surname
Access arrangement
48
Mzwandile Khumalo
Fetch from V-box
49
Thembeni Dubazane
Removed – no involvement
50
Sipho Msele
Tap
51
Mthethwa Mpinga
Tap
52
Baskiti Dubazane
Removed – people not around
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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53
Yaka Gumede
Tap
54
Nelisiwe Msele
Tap
55
Mr Dubazane
Tap
56
Hlaleleni Duma
Tap
57
Baloza Dlamini
Tap
58
Thembi Mpinga
Tap
59
Ntombenhle Mkhize
Tap
60
Eunice Khumalo
Tap
61
Zakhele Nyoka
Tap
62
Mwelase
Tap
63
Zikode
Tap
?
Robert Mpinga
Tap – joined later when relaized water would be close
64
Leliwe Hlongwane
Tap
66
Mlamula Khumalo
Tap
67
P Nyoka
Tap
68
S’nothi Mazibuko
Tap
69
Maminya Msele
Tap
70
Dubula Msele
Tap
71
Dumisani Msele
Reomved- inactive
72
DelaniDuma
Fetch from V-box
73
Reserve Msele
Fetch from header tanks
74
Soleni Khumal
Fetch from V-box
W&"'*='(".,"8,67&(./,G,"&,K,
The committee discussed the issues of closing off a spring, both for cultural reasons and also for individuals to have access
at the source. They felt that as people and livestock can still access water from the other springs in the wetland and the
wetland itself, it would be okay for everyone. They did say that spring 2 is much more reliable than spring 1, which does dry
out sometimes. Although there wasn’t agreement – some members felt that the spring just goes mainly underground in drier
months.
The following two suggesitons made were taken inton acocunt in the implmentation:
1.Need a standpipe nad tap at the spring which will not affect the filling of the header tanks
2.Lay the pipe in a way that will make it easy to swap to spring 2 if needed.
XUYZU[,4Y\]6,Y\Z,64Y\ZW^WU6,
The committee likes the idea of the 2 header tanks next to the road. There should be no access at these tanks. There was a
lot of discussion around other people coming in and stealing water and the committee are aware of the possibilities of abuse
of taps and the difficulties with this.They finally suggested 3-4 taps, close ot homesteads where they can be wathced nad
monitored.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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E_`^64^!YE,^66aU6,A_[,Z^6!a66^_\,
Mr Marechal also supplied a number of issues for discussion. These are summarized below.
For discussion:
1. Suitability of the central position proposed for the tank/s. This
position is near the village main access road but finalisation depending
on land ownership and suitable positioning (advised by community).
Note: The pipeline to the tanks drops from the spring but then starts to
rise again from roughly midway along the route. The tank position is
showing on Google Earth as lower than the spring but we can't really
position it any higher than where currently shown.
Yes, suitable. Next to the road. Close to
Nelisiwe Msele’s homestead. No taps at
header tanks
2.Pipeline route from spring to be confirmed on site taking into
account homesteads, cultivated fields, terrain etc
Yes, seems fine, Participants have agreed,
that pipes can cross fields etc, but will need
to discuss on the ground as well
3. Option 1: Tanks and access point in one central position. Most
housholds around this point are within 400m of the tank position.
Household by spring and lower households by bridge are around 600m
fromthis point.
Option 2: Tank position same as in option 1. Water reticulated to two
access points (or more) to reduce walking distance. The layout shown
reduces walking distance to the households to be served to within
400m
Option 3: Would be similar tooption 2 with a third access point to
reduce walking distance to within 200m (water supply guideline).
Yes, this includes most people – but maybe
not taps, but tanks, or lockable taps…
The spring proposed for development is the larger of the three.
Perhaps some more discussion around community issues with use of
this point particularly regarding livestock.
There was some discussion as to whether
this spring dries up during drought years.
Spring 2 definitely the most reliable.
Availability of local rockto fill behind spring protection wall / chamber
Yes, in riverbed. Enviro champs will assist
with labour and building.
2.COMMUNITY MEETING DISCUSSIONS AND AGREEMENTS (27JANUARY 2022)
On the 25thof January a full community meeting (~55 participants) washeld to discuss progress and get the go ahead from
the whole community to focus on protection and reticulation of Spring 1 for the moment only; also with the understanding the
funding for the proposed work on the borehole may or may not materialize. In addition, community agreement needed to be
firmed up, that water access for the spring one system, would only be for members who can benefit from this- not for
everyone in the community and definitely not for people form outside. Spring 2 which is used heavily in the community will
be left as is to ensure open access and livestock can easily access water from the wetland and stream surrounding these
springs. Thus, the spring protection and reticulation does not remove community access but improves infrastructure and
access for those involved who have contributed both with labour and financially.
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For the Spring 1 protection, all community members who could benefit from this gravity fed system were called to a meeting
on 27thJanuary. Here the following issues were discussed and decided upon after introduction of the WRC-ESS process
and progress with planning to date. It was reported that around R50000 could be allocated from this budget for the spring
protection work Community members would need to contribute both financially and with labour to dig the ditches and the
enviro champs would assist with the spring protection and reticulation work as well. It was emphasized that only those 26
people on the list are part of this
process.
Right: Spring protection meeting with
27 community participants and the 9
enviro champs present.
There was a lot of discussion around
people coming in with bakkies to take
water and also people from other parts
of Stulwane and Emadakaneni feeling
that they would also have a right to this
water. Participants felt it would be
difficult to enforce this. It was
emphasized that participants would
need to fetch water at the 3 proposed
taps and not try to connect pipes and hoses to fill tanks at their homes. It was also emphasized that people would need to
do their washing at home and not at the taps. Then it was discussed that the two header tanks would provide 10000l of
water per day. They would need to fill up overnight. This would mean around 380l of water per household per day. Some
households are much larger than others with small units in the homestead so they would have more than one person
collecting water. It was also discussed that the spring committee could provide access to water to people for specific
circumstances such as funerals, but that this water could not be used for irrigation or building.
The following was decided
•Each participating household would pay R230 towards the water scheme. Monies will be placed in a bank account
and used by the committee for small maintenance tasks. Slips of all expenditure are to be kept to be reported to
the membership.
•If larger sums are required for any reason, this will be discussed with the participants and further donations agreed
upon.
•The headertanks and taps are to be place on the road, next to or very close to someone’s homestead, so that
those people can keep an eye on the infrastructure. People thought it would cause trouble to have these in the
households.
•It was agreed that the spring committee and any participants interested would join the engineer and team to
finalize the route of the pipes, to ensure they do not cross fields or property that would become problematic. For
the most part these pipes need to follow the paths and roads.
•It was proposed that there are locks placed on the taps and that each household who has paid their fee, will be
provided with a key for the tap.
•Participants undertook to collect water only during the day to allow the tanks to fill up overnight.
•All householdsundertook to be part of the labour force, or to employ someone who could help with digging if they
were unable themselves.
•Mr Dubazane offered his tractor to start the process of loosening the ground for the digging of the ditches, to make
that process easier.
•It was emphasized that the youth team are not from the Council, but through MDF and the community should not
issue them. They are there to do agreed upon resource conservation tasks, not just anything the community might
need.
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44
•It was also emphasizedthat the committee is made up of volunteers and that everyone should work together and
respect each other – as it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the system works, not just that of the committee.
Here, they decided to elect a spring committee:
Name and Surname
Contact details
Baba Dubanzane
0826282627
Mxholisi Mkhize
0760790738
Nelisiwe Msele
0731504405
Hloniphile Sishi
0728158921
Phekelaphi Nyoka
0828697437
Roles of committee members:
•Responsible for any issues arising with the water scheme
•Fix problems with any people not following the rules
•Allocate the use of water and ensure everyone who is eligible gets
•Check regularly that the system is working and used properly
•Open a bank account for the financial contributions and undertake small maintenance activities.
•Call meetings with membership to report on usage, maintenance issues and get permission to use funds for
specific activities.
•Communicate with the community level water committee and also the Traditional Authority and councilor.
•Request assistance from community level water committee for issues they cannot solve.
A discussion was held about the role of the Nkosi and councilor. The Nkosi has a representative, Mrs Hlongwane in the
village. The Spring committee undertook to inform her of this process and ensure she is onboard. They felt that permission
would not need to be obtained as the TA is only responsible for land and it is a good idea for the community to start setting
up structures themselves, to manage their resources, as neither the TA nor the councilor will do this for them. They felt that
as long as these role players were well informed, they would not object or feel the need to interfere.
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3.SPRING PROTECTION IMPLEMENTATION
This was initiated in March 2022. The engineer, Alain joined the committee on a walk to peg the route of the pipes and make
final decisions around situation of the header tanks and taps. He returned on the 24thMarch with a dumpy level, as there
was some concern
about the pipe
crossing an non-
participant’s field and
it needed to be
moved. A final layout
was agreed upon at a
meeting of the water
committee at a
meeting on the 1st
April.
Right: The alternative
pipeline marked in
green, to avoid
crossing field and
inclusion of 4 taps.
Right: The new
position of the header
tanks close to the
spring and layout of
the mainline also close to spring 2
to allow for inclusion if needed.
4?*,
(-7#*-*.'$'(".,
MrChris Ndlela was brought on board as a foreman and it was decided that the enviro champs team would assist with
building, alongside a number of community
members; Mr Dubazane who offered use of his
tractor for collecting stones and digging of the
trenches, Mr Khulekane Dladla of the after
committee who joined in all operations and Mr
Msele, who assisted with building.
To start the grass around the spring was cut and
channels were dug to direct water away from the
construction site.
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Right and far right: The enviro champs brush cutting around the spring and channels dug for directing water.
Right: Alain Marechal, the water committee and enviro-champs: re-directing
the main pipeline after initial meetings and discussions of the first layout plan
Materials were ordered and delivered, and the enviro-champs team and Mr
Msele worked with Chris Ndlela to start on the v-box construction, while the
community members dug the ditches.
Three meetings with the committee and members were required during
construction (8th, 12thApril and 12thMay). The first two were to ensure that
all households were involved in participating in required labour for collecting
stones and digging of ditches. The 3rdwas due to new community members
wanting to join the process towards the end of construction when it became
clear there would in fact be water close to their homes. For the latter they
were penalized by having to pay R460 instead of the R230 for the initial
participants, as they came in after all the work was done.In this way two
more households were brought on board. Below is a chronology of the implementation in pictures.
Above Left to Right: Pegging the position of the v-box wall with Chris Ndlela (red shirt). Covering the area with collected
rocks and building of the corner collection box and corner of the wall. Finalisation of the wall with the two outlet pipes for
local water access. Digging the ditches for mainline pipe.
Above left to right: Laying of pipe after digging ditches. Building of JoJo tank platform. Connecting of the two JoJo tanks and
linking to the spring. Water is flowing. Constructing the 4 taps in the line.
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There are three ways in which participants can gain access to water; collecting from the V-box, collecting form the overflow
of the JoJo tanks and collecting form the 4 taps. The committee has enforced a rule that participants can only collect water
using buckets and that they can not do any washing, be it clothes or cars at the taps themselves.
Above Left to Right: Water access points at the V-box, the Header tanks and one of the taps.
4.MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Regarding involvement of institutional stakeholders in the process a number of attempts have been made:
•To date, only the Okhahlamba Municipal Manager Mr. Nkosingiphile Malinga hasmanaged to visit the site. He
was impressed with the work that both community and Mahlathini have done and commended the community
effort. He is not directly involved in water provision for the area, but could assist with pulling other stakeholders in.
•The ward councillor Mr. Jeffrey Dladla has been invited to the site on several occasions by both community
members and Mahlathini but he hasn’t found time in his busy schedule to visit the site.
•uThukela Water district officials have been invited on several occasions, committed several officials from the
Superintendent, the local engineer, technicians (Siyabonga Masingemi) and local plumber, but none of them has
ever set foot on site, despite promises and repeated arrangements being made. This is an ongoing effort with the
view to collaboration on future projects.
On the 18thof May, a full water committee and membership meeting (13 members attended) was held to discuss operation
and maintenance of the now completed system. Participants have been collecting water for around 2 weeks already.
Presently the spring is running very strongly and there is a lot of water available.
The membership was very grateful, saying that they never believed it could actually happen and that now collection of water
is easy and takes only 10 minutes. They are very happy to be able to get clean water close to their households. The enviro-
champs noted that they were proud to have been a part of a process that could assistthem and their community in this way.
Already other villages have been asking for similar support.
With regard to the issue of cleanwater, presently the water is being tested on a weekly basis by the enviro-champ team.
Below is a small table of the results, with a photograph alongside
Stulwane
E Coli test results
Date
Time
Place
Colour
2022/02/17
12:03
S2
Clear
2022/02/17
12:11
S1
Clear
2022/02/17
12:56
JT3
Clear
2022/02/24
10:00
S2
Clear
2022/02/24
10:13
S1
Clear
2022/02/24
10:20
JT3
Clear
2022/03/04
09:13
S2
Green
2022/03/04
09:17
S1
Green
S1- is the protected spring with V-box
S2- is the spring lower down
JT3 – are the header tanks of the protected
spring
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2022/03/04
09:22
JT3
Green
2022/03/10
09:22
S2
Clear
2022/03/10
09:27
S1
Clear
2022/03/10
09:56
JT3
Clear
2022/03/21
09:07
S2
Clear
2022/03/21
09:15
S1
Clear
2022/03/21
09:40
JT3
Clear
2022/03/31
13:33
S1
Green
2022/04/04
08:30
S2
clear
2022/04/04
10:10
S1
Brown
2022/04/04
10:35
JT3
Clear
2022/04/11
11:34
S2
Clear
2022/04/11
11:36
S1
Brown
2022/04/11
12:11
JT3
Clear
2022/04/18
09:14
S2
Green
2022/04/18
10:35
S1
Green
2022/04/18
11:14
JT3
Green
2022/04/25
08:15
S2
Clear
2022/04/25
10:15
S1
Clear
2022/04/25
10:40
JT3
Clear
2022/05/02
09:58
S2
Clear
2022/05/02
10:39
S1
Clear
2022/05/02
11:10
JT3
Clear
The team taking the E coli results have interpreted these results to mean that if they take samples the day after a rainfall
event, then the springs are contaminated, either with coliforms (brown), from livestock and or E coli (from humans). Thus,
the suggestion to build a swale above the V-box, to avoid runoff flowing into the spring.
The following decisions were made:
•Re locks for taps: This was initially agreed to, but after heated discussion it was decided not to lock the taps, as
individuals in the village should be able to access water. If this became a problem, then locks would be considered
•People can only collect water in buckets – large collection containers or pipes will not be allowed.
•Households closest to taps are responsible for ensuring thatpeople from outside the community do not abuse this
access and come with vehicles and big drums. They will be supported by the committee in this activity.
•People form higher up in the village without access can be allowed to collect, but those receiving water from the
municipal scheme cannot. For the most part however, those at the top have access to Spring 4 and the borehole,
so it was considered provocative of them to collect water at these taps.
•Monies will be collected on a and hoc basis for maintenance and repairs, rather than charging and annual fee.
•No one will be allowed to sell water collected from this scheme.
•The water committee in time would like to be considered as the water service authority in the area. They want to
be able to manage the water provision in the longer term with support from the Municipality, but do not feel that
handing it over to uThukela Water would be in their interest. They said that already the councilor and others have
been making comments about the water not being fit for human consumption and thus the scheme is not ‘official”.
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A suggestion was made by Mahlathini to ensure that the e coli test results are accessible to the committee and to
other role players, to forestall any further rumors of this nature.
•The committee noted that some community members not part of the scheme did not wat to follow the rules and for
example insisted that they can wash their clothes at the spring, as they have been doing so for some time. Re-
education of the community in good practice around water sources may be needed, although participants felt that
they could be stubborn about this. The rules do exist traditionally, people have just been ignoring them.
4.FURTHER ACTIONS
It was agreed to place a swale above the V-box to ensure that run-off does not contaminate
the spring and to fence the V-Box off from livestock. It was also agreed to construct proper
cement access points for community members at the v-box and the header tanks.
Right: The swale was constructed the following morning by the enviro-champs.
In addition, the new members requested a further extension in the pipeline and one more tap
towards the bottom of the system. This was agreed to, but they would need to get together
themselves (5 households), pay their monies to the committee and dig the ditch, before
Mahlathini could assist with further pipe and a tap.
2 Locks will be bought in the meantime as it is possible that the two lowest taps will have
problems of people coming into the village to try and steal this water. Locks will reduce this
temptation.
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Annexure 3: Umgeni water test results
SampleID
2047799
Uncertainty
of
Measurement
(UoM)
SANS
241:2015
Drinking Water
Standard
Limits
Required
SANS
241:2015
Drinking
Water
Classification
SampleDescription
Stulwane
Bergville
MDF Spring
1
Method
Number
Determinands
Units
Results
1a
Alkalinity*
mgCaCO3/L
19.3
±3.6%
nolimit
-
7
Appearance*
Descriptive
Clear
Colourless
notapplicable
nolimit
-
30
Calcium*
mgCa/L
<5.00
±4.3%
nolimit
-
5a
Chloride(soluble)*
mgCl/L
<1.00
±2.6%
≤300
aesthetic
19
Colour
mgPt-Co/L
<1.00
±7.3%
≤15
aesthetic
Calculation
CombinedNitrate
+ Nitrite Ratio*
-
0.20
notapplicable
≤1
acutehealth
21
Conductivity@
25°C
mS/m
3.27
±1.9%
≤170
aesthetic
121
E.coli
MPN/100mL
54
±8%
0
acutehealth
94
Fluoride
µgF/L
<100
±5.3%
≤1500
chronichealth
30
Iron
mgFe/L
±3.2%
≤0.3
aesthetic
≤2.0
chronichealth
27
TotalHardness*
mgCaCO3/L
<33.3
notapplicable
nolimit
-
80
Heterotrophi
c plate count
@ 37°C
CFU/mL
>1000
±20%
≤1000
operational
30
Potassium*
mgK/L
<5.00
±6.4%
nolimit
-
30
Magnesium*
mgMg/L
<5.00
±3.2%
nolimit
-
30
Manganese
mgMn/L
±2.8%
≤0.1
aesthetic
≤0.4
chronichealth
30
Sodium*
mgNa/L
<5.00
±3.3%
≤200
aesthetic
5a
Nitrite(soluble)*
mgN/L
<0.10
±4.2%
≤0.9
acutehealth
5a
Nitrate(soluble)*
mgN/L
1.03
±6%
≤11
acutehealth
7
Odour*
Descriptive
Nil
notapplicable
Inoffensive
aesthetic
46
pH
pHUnits
5.97
±0.57%
≥5to≤
9.7
operational
5a
Sulphate
(soluble)*
mgSO4/L
±2.9%
≤250
aesthetic
≤500
acutehealth
151
TotalOrganic
Carbon
mgC/L
<1.00
±4.3%
≤10
chronichealth
121
TotalColiforms
MPN/100mL
1203
±6%
≤10
operational
69
Turbidity
NTU
0.
7
±2%
≤1
operational
≤5
aesthetic
LaboratoryComment:Sample 2daysoldwhentestingcommenced.pH,Alkalinity,E.coli,Total
Coliformsand Heterotrophic Plate counts may be affected. Treat results with reserve.
TestReportNumber:2023-0320
PageNumber:2 of 6
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