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WWF ZA06370C_Smallholder CRA and Water Provision Milestone 5 3rd Project Report

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WWF-MDF_ID1854-ZA06370C_Water stewardship in
the upper uThukela: Smallholder climate resilient
agriculture and water provision
Milestone 5: 3rdProject report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Between July and November2023, the following broad activities have been undertaken:
1.Spring protection: Initiation of anewwater access process in Costone/Stulwane forhouseholds from two in stream
springs intheupper catchment.
2.CRA implementation: 2nd round of CA planting for 22 collaboratively managed trials (CMTs across 6 villages) plus
102 participants crop growth monitoring (124 participants in total) with a total of 12,4ha ofCA trials and 37,2ha of
CA fields in total. Annual reviews were undertaken, as well as planning, financial contributions and inputs sourcing
and delivery. Planting commenced in the week of the 5thof November and is ongoing until mid -December.
3.Runoff pans have been installedfor 8 participants, 3 pans per participant.
4.Crop diversity and marketing: Introduction of bird resistant sorghum for this season as well as maize, beans,
cowpeas, pumpkins, summer cover crops (sorghum, Sun hemp sunflowerandfodder crops (turnips,tall fescue)into
the systemfor this season.
5.Meetings and stakeholder engagement:
a.African Climate Development Initiative; Development of guidelines and case studies in community-based climate
adaptation -gender and funding perspectives – 15 and 30 August 2023
b.uThukela Water Partnership -Northen Drakensberg Collaborative(NDC) – Core team meetings and stakeholder field
visit to Costone/Stulwane (23 August-core group,28 September2023)
c.Community level cross-visit to discuss resource conservation implementation and governance considerations from
Ezibomvini-Costone/Stulwane (29 September 2023)
d.Maize Trust/Asset research national CA forum- Bethlehem FS: Meeting and presentation (10 October 2023)
e.UKZN-SAEON – Ecosystem services and resource conservation mapping community workshops and handover-18
October (Ezibomvini and Costone/Stulwane ~55 participants) and 22 November 2023.
FIGURES AT A GLANCE:2023
PROPOSED
ACTUAL
COMMENTS
110 participants
124 participants
Increasednumber of participants across 5 villages
20ha
27,9ha
Increasein area planted
11 fodder trials
11 fodder trials
Runoff replenishment: 500000L/ha
240000L/ha
Lower than expected dee to flooding
Water access: 20 households
64 households
More households involved
Water access quantity:7300kL
2700kL
Lower availability of water – still in progress
Water productivity replenishment: 8 million L
7 million L
Slightly lower than expected – due to flooding
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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
Date of approval
Start and end date
Project value
Contractor’s name
Project objectives
Project outcomes
3
Reporting period
Significant approved
changes
Changes in capacity
to deliver outcomes
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
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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 June-November2023
Outcome
Activities
Progress (Milestone 5)
CA with VWB for reduced runoff
and water productivity
Development of CA farmer level trials
for a minimum 25 participants with
measurement of run-off, rainfall, bulk
density, evapotranspiration and water
productivity for around 8-12
participants.
ü22 CMT’s across 6 villagesplus102participantscrop
growth monitoring(124 participants in total)
üCA trials(12,4ha), CA total (37,2ha), planned and
planted for yr2
üRunoff and rainfall results compiled for 8 participants
(yr1). Installation of runoff pans x 8 for yr 2
Inclusion of a range of options for
cropping different varieties of maize,
legumes and cover crops.
Measurementofcropping areas, crop
growth and yield for a minimum of 75
participants
üRange oftrials including remedial fenced and fodder
trials alongside strip cropping and block trials for
intercropping and crop rotation
Fodder supplementation farmer level
experiments undertaken for a minimum
of 11 participants with monitoring of
growth, yield and animal condition
scoring
üFodder trials for 26 participants planned for yr2, incl.
cowpeas, Dolichos, cover crops, tall fescue and
lespedeza
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 atleast 1 spring and
reticulation to ~20 households
üStulwane/Costone: initiation of new water access
process from 2 in stream springs in upper catchment
for 75 households
Improved governance and water
stewardship in the communal
tenure areas of the upper uThukela
through multiple stakeholder
engagement activities with the
CRA learning groups
CRA learning groups undertake
meetings and stakeholder engagement
üCA annual review sessions for 4 villages (September
2023)
üuThukela Water Partnership -Northen Drakensberg
Collaborative (NDC) – Core team meetings and
stakeholder field visit to Costone/Stulwane (23
August-core group,28 September 2023)
üResource conservation lanning and implementation
meetingsin Ezibomvini and Costone/Stulwane –
September and October 2023)
üCommunity level cross-visit to discuss resource
conservation implementation and governance
considerations from Ezibomvini-Costone/Stulwane
(29 September 2023)
üUKZN-SAEON – Ecosystem services and resource
conservation mapping community workshops and
handover -18 October (Ezibomvini and
Costone/Stulwane ~55 participants)
CAWITH VWBFOR REDUCED RUNOFF AND WATER PRODUCTIVITY
CA#experimentation#process#review#for#the#2022/23#season#
Review and planning sessions were held for all five villages (Emadakaneni, Eqeleni, Ezibomvini, Stulwaneand Vimbukhalo)
in August 2023. Some of the learning and comments from these sessions are summarized below.
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1.The 2022/23 season was characterized by extreme weather events, including extreme heat, heavy rainfall with
flooding and hailstorms. Except for the hailstorms that badly damaged crops, CA was able to protect the farmers’
crops from run-off due to heavy rainfalls, water logging and heat.’
2.Planting of the CA trials together in teams works very well and will be continued as a practise.
3.Clear differences have been noted between the CA trials and the farmers’ control plots with improved maize
growth, fewer weeds, reduced need for pesticides and increased soil quality visible for the CA trial plots.
4.Farmers can see the value of close spacing in their trials through improved soil cover and moisture retention,
despite the increased difficulty of weeding in these plots.
5.Specific improvements have been noticed for quality and yields in maize where it is intercropped with legumes
(beans and cowpeas).
6.Maize yields in the 2022/23 season were generally very good, but bean yields were extremely low.
7.The value of production of cover crops for soil fertility as well as fodder crops is starting to become clear to farmers
and there is an increased interest in trying out these crops.
8.In general, the learning groups have not experienced any problems andthey have managed coordination of
planting as well as care and maintenance of the no-till equipment (hand held and 2 -row planters).
Collaboratively#managed#trials#(CMTs)#
The 2ndseason of CA experimentation included the same CMT’s (22 participants), as the first season, to be able to build on
their results. A few needed to be replaced by other longer term CA trial participants….
A larger emphasis on fodder crop production for this season is seeing 21 participants growing extra plots of fodder crops
including cowpeas, Dolichos, Lespedeza, Tall Fescue and turnips. The total area under fodder crops for CA trials is around
2100m2, over and above the12,4ha of CA trials to be undertaken. Three new villages have been included namely
Emadakaneni, Emajwetha and Ezinyonyane, as considerable interest in implementation of CA was generated through the
open days and multistakeholder processes.
The table below outlines the CMT participantswith associated activities such as runoff pansand rain gauges(8
participants), specific trials in stover retention/ fencing (2 participants) and remediation of plots (2 participants) and the
fodder experimentation trials.
Table 2: CMTsand associated activitiesoutlined for ?? participants; November 2023
Village
Name and Surname
Trial
type
Plot
Size
(msq)
CMTs
Fenced
500 m2
Remedial
trial
Runoff
pans
(3/field)
Fodder:
grasses
Fodder;
Cowpeas
Fodder:
Dolichos
Fodder
SCC
1
Ezimbovini
Phumelele Hlongwane
Strip
1000
2
Blocks
1000
3
Landiwe Dlamini
Blocks
1000
4
Zodwa Zikode
Blocks
1000
5
Nombono Dladla
Blocks
1000
6
Mantombi Mabizela
Blocks
1000
7
Cabangani Hlongwane
Blocks
1000
8
Vimbukhalo
Sbongile Mpulo
Strips
1000
9
Zweni Ndaba
Strips
1000
10
Bukisiwe Mpulo
Strips
1000
11
Balungile Mkhathini
Strips
1000
12
Sindisiwe Makhathini
Blocks
1000
13
Eqeleni
Thulani Dlamini
Strips
1000
14
Ntombakhe Zikode
Strips
1000
15
Sthabiso Manyathi
Strips
1000
16
Thulile Zikode
Strips
1000
17
Nomavila Ndaba
Strips
1000
18
Makosonke Mabizela
Strips
1000
19
Smephi Hlatshwayo
Strips
1000
20
Stulwane
Nelisiwe Msele
Blocks
1000
21
Nothile Zondi
Blocks
1000
22
Thulani/Danger Dlamini
Strips
1000
23
Khulekani Dladla
Strips
1000
24
Nondomiso Zondi
Blocks
1000
6
25
Emajwe
tha
Lungile Dladla
Strips
1000
26
Madakaneni
Xolile Zikode
Strips
1000
27
Sibongile Zikode
Strips
1000
28
Buyisiwe Sithebe/ Ndaba
Strips
1000
29
Buyisiwe Hlongwane
Blocks
1000
28
29
2
1
8
10
5
3
2
Trial plot layouts have been kept the same for the past three seasons, tobe able to clearly and quantitatively measure
trends and changes for the inter cropped plots. This season, 2023/24, the participants have started on rotation of crops and
have also opted to include both cowpeas and Dolichos. Plot layouts are as shown in the diagram below.
Layout(Plots and Strips)
yr1
yr2
yr3
yr 4
Plot 1
M
M
M
M+B
Plot 2
M+B
M+B
M+B
SCC
Plot 3
SCC
M+B
SCC
M
Plot 4
M
M
M
M+B
Plot 5
M+B
M+B
M+B
CP
Plot 6
SCC
M+B
SCC
M
Plot 7
M
M
M
M+B
Plot 8
M+B
M+B
M+B
Dolichos
Plot 9
SCC
M+B
SCC
M+Pk
Plot 10
M+Pk
M+Pk
M+Pk
M
or
M+CP
M+CP
M+CP
M
NOTE: M=maize-PAN53, B=beans-Gadra, CP=cowpeas-Mixed Brown, SCC=summer cover crops- Sun hemp, sunflower
and fodder sorghum, Pk=Pumpkin-Flat White and Dolichos=Lab-Lab beans.
All participants contributed financially towards the procurement of inputs – a
subsidy amount of roughly 30% of the cost of the inputs. These inputs
were delivered and distrusted through the learning group facilitators in
each village during the month of October 2023. The practise is for learning
group members to work together to plant each other’s trials in each of the
villages, to ensure timely planting. Planters and equipment are shared
between the group members.
Figure 1: Inputs for CA trials weighed and packaged for distribution to farmers.
By the 12thNovember 2023 105 of the 124 participants had paid their
subsidies for inputs. The arrangement is that only those who have
contributed receive inputs. Some participants are still expected to pay once
they have had the Savings and loan meetings.
Below are a few indicative photographs for joint planting of the collaboratively managed trials.
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Figure 2: Left: Learning group and MDF team assist mr Sthabiso Manyathi from Eqeleni to pant his strip cropping trial on the 7thNovember
2023 and Right: Learning group and MDF staff assist in planting a 400m2trial for Mrs Frybin Dlalisa in Ezibomvini on the 10thof
November.
WATER ACCESS
Stulwane/Costone:#New#in#stream#spring#protection#initiative#
The project area referred to as Stulwane (or Costone) is located near Emmaus in the Okhahlamba (Drakensberg) region of
KwaZulu-Nataland consists of 99 households.The community here has no access to a reticulated municipal water supply.
In 2021 various water sources within the Stulwane/Corstone area were considered for development as part of a small
community owned water access scheme. These water sources included a number of springs and a borehole. Due to the
area topography, spread of households, and location and strength of the various water sources identified, more than one
water source would likely be required to cover the project area. In 2022 the project developed one of the springs to supply
water to a section of the community(~25 households). In 2023 consideration is being given to developing an additional
water source to extend coverage to some of the remaining village sections.
The water sources considered in this phase of the project are:
•A community borehole with handpump (near the cattle dipping tank)
•A spring fed tank and communal tap (next to the road below the dipping tank)
•Two additional springs (near spring 4) identified by the community.
•Springs situated insmall perennial mountain streams (at higher elevations)
The picture below indicates the sources as well as the already completed spring protection process (in green).
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Figure 3: Local water sources and present local water access(April 2023)
Between April and August of 2023, further discussions were held with the water committee, learning group members and the
community.
Both the dippingtank borehole and small spring protection close to the road below the dippingtank were excluded as
potentials, due to low water availability and low potential for providing water accessto a number of households.The in-
stream springs at higher elevations wereinvestigated.These streams were indicated by the community as perennial.A point
high enough to be away from livestock contamination was viewed. This source (depending on flow during and after the dry
season) does have the potential to supply a larger number of households. The possible off take point is located fairly high up
in the mountain above the village and water would be able to reach all village sections. Water would be abstracted from a
small concrete weir built in the identified stream and piped by gravity to a main storage tank part way down the hill. Water
from this tank (or tanks) would then be split to each village section(Stulwane A and Stulwane B). Another storage tank
would be required above each village section in order to reduce the pressure in the line and serve to provide additional
water storage. Due to the higher elevation of the stream abstraction point water supply can reach all parts of the village
sections. Water quality tests are recommended to be carried out on this source as well.
Somepotentialchallenges of this source are:
•How assured is the supply towards the end of the dry season
•There is evidence of high flow (moving rocks) during downpours. This would mean that maintenance to the
off take may be required during the rainy season every year.
•From Google Earth there is evidence of some livestock activity on top of the mountain and in the drainage
(catchment) area of the stream. This could mean a possibility of the water becoming contaminated.
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Figure 4:PossiblealternativesourcetosupplyCostone/Stulwanevillage.
A meeting was held with the community on the 1stand 2ndof June (60 participants) to discuss the scenarios proposed by
the engineer as well as community level engagement, contributions and organization.
Figure 5: Community meeting to discuss water supply scenarios in June 2023
Despite the present involvement of uThukela Water in the area, community members were adamant that they did not trust
that those schemes would come to fruition. They have had too many bad experiences in the past. In addition, the community
has not been consulted at all regarding the placement of schemes and taps. They were determined that working with
Mahlathini is a much better option as this is then within the community ambit to use and manage. They expressed gratitude
for being involved and a strong commitment to manage the schemes once set up. They specifically mentioned that the water
access has made the lives of women and specifically young women in the households tasked with water collection a lot
easier. Fetching of water can now be done easily and within a short period of time. Access is now also close enough to
allow for limited irrigation of small household gardens.
Financial contributions for maintenance and one-off requirements to set up the scheme were also willingly agreed to.
Agreements made:
•To implement the reticulation option from the small stream above the dippingtank for both Stulwane A (32
households) and Stulwane B (37 households).
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•Two households in Stulwane B initially declined participation due to lack of funds. The water committee has
undertaken to negotiate a payment plan with them to ensure that they aren’t left out (Mrs Msele to undertake this).
•To start with the protection of the source the main header tank and the two pressure tanks for Stulwane A and B
respectively and continue with reticulation until finances are depleted. Presently
there isn’t enough money to complete the whole process. Further funds are being
sought.
•Each household will undertake to provide labour towards the construction of the
infrastructure or pay towards a labourer who can contribute if theycannotdo it
themselves.
•As with the previous process, the 7 eco champs will assist in the whole process.
•Each participating household is to pay R500 towards the scheme and an ongoing
annual fee for maintenance. Those in Stulwane B who have already paid R360
towards the spring protection, but those who will now be served by the bigger
scheme, only need to pay in R140 initially.
•All participating households have been mapped and a list is providedin Annexure
1, inclusive of those who have paid.
(Right: Interns and eco champs finalizing the list and map
positions of participating households)
•Two further water sub committees were initiated to ensure smooth running of the
scheme and also to reduce the pressure on the village level water committee
members, all of whom are volunteering their time.
Stulwane A committee
Stulwane B committee
Gasela Sithole
Mr Dube
Mthozeni Dlamini
Londi Dladla: Cell:0766477657
MamHlokwane Nyaka
Kaflansi Khumalo
Anton Buthelezi
Simo Buthelezi Cell:0673844573
Zandile Msele
MaZondo Skosana
Nondumiso Zondi
•The traditional Authority councilor MrsCyprian Dladla was involved in the decision making and has endorsed the
process for the Traditional Authority.
Subsequently, collections were made from the participating households – and this process is still ongoing. In addition,
placement of taps was refined, and a decision made to allow for two abstraction points in the streams. The maps below
indicate the finalversions of the jointly derived plan towards the end of August 2023.Note the two abstraction points for
Stulwane A and B and the 6 and 9 taps respectively, proposed.
At present there are 67 (of the 75 households) involved.Phases 1 and 2 (weirs and brake pressure tanks, reticulated to
header tanks for both sections) havebeen successfully completed. Prior to completion of phase 3 (reticulation to standpipes
in the village), contributions from all involved community members need to be provided. To date only 15 households have
actually paid the R500 agreed on, while 31 households have attempted to pay but have not finishedpaying. We are
expecting R34 000, and we have managed to Collect R15 710. Community contributions in time and labour have been
impressive. (See Annexure 2 for a progress report on the water access system)
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Figure 6: Stulwane Phase 2: With two abstraction points and reticulation for Stulwane A and B for all 75 participating households.
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It must be noted that a concerted effort was made to liaise with Thukela Water regarding their present water access process,
as a few boreholes were drilled in the Stulwane area. It was eventually found out from the contractors, that none of the
boreholes were considered strong enough to reticulate and that only one would be developed with a hand pump. The other
two, would remain capped and would not be developed. They mentioned also, that due to funding constraints, the
development of the one borehole wasnot likely to happen in the immediate future.
Figure 7: Above Left to right: Construction of the weir and v-box in stream for both Sections A and B. The finalised weir, with shade cloth
and rocks in the inlet chamber and the brake pressure tank 92500l), with pipes connected form the source and towards the header tank –
also for both sections A and B.
Figure 8: Above Left to right: Steel pipe enclosures for main plastic pipes to travers dongas for both Sections A and B and water flowing
from the filled header tanks at the end of Phase 2.
GOVERNANCE AND WATER STEWARDSHIP
Local#governance#–#adaptive#planning#–#community#level#
implementation#
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 was thendeveloped into a resource
management adaptive planning process with the CRA learning groups and village-basedmanagement structures.
Through the efforts of the Livestock association, the CRA learning group and the Water committee in Costone/Stulwane,
community members have been mobilized to work together, in a genuine effort to implement the co-developed community
resources management plan.
The community made an agreement to have community workdays on Thursday every week, or as close to that as possible.
Initially a decision was made to spend two days on each activity and then move on to the next. Later, it was however
decided that if an activity logically requires a bit more time, then the groups would be flexible on the issue. The seven Eco
Champs overseen by Mahlathini and the CRA learning group have been centrally involved in all activities and have provided
skills and information related to what they have already learnt to the community members. Examples include how to do
stone packs and check dams, use of herbicides to reduce regrowth after alien clearing and how to do brush packing.
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Three community workdays in the eroded area above the dip tank have been undertaken. The first day was spent changing
the position of the gate leading into the grazing camp, from the dip tank and fixing the fence line of the main grazing camp
(Figure 5a). This would allow for a reduction of erosion pressure on the paths used by cattle and for erosion control activities
to proceed. For the following two days stones were collected and transported closer to the site and then moved by
community members to the eroded areas for construction of stone lines, stone packs and check dams in heavily eroded
areas (Figure 5b,c).The water committee further organised a river cleaning day as part of their campaign to stop community
members from discarding their waste and nappies in the water courses (Figure 5d). They have also agreed on a few central
sites where pits have been dug for waste disposal.
Figure 9 Costone.a: Grazing management (moving gate and fixing fence line of grazing camp), b-c: erosion control (community members
constructing check dams and stone packs), d: river cleaning (A group of women spent a day collecting waste that was discardedin water
courses in the community).
As a way to include more community members it was decided to start on wattle clearing in the water courses and to allow all
participants in these activities to collect firewood from there. The main patch of wattle that is managed by the Nkosi for
communal use for funerals, was not touched, although there have been discussions around clearing the lantana on this site
and also thinning the stand to allow for regrowth of grass. This will be the next step once river clearing has been completed.
Thus far, two community workdays have been held for wattle clearing. Community members are aware that the seed stock
for these wattles are the big patches high up in the grazing areas. These are however difficult to get to and quite far away
from the village. Community members have opted for an easier initial activity.
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Figure 10: Community members and EcoChamps working together on wattle clearing in one of the larger streams in Costone. The
stumps of felled wattle trees have been treated with herbicide to stop regrowth.
i.Stakeholder engagement in the community level resource conservation activities
This has been undertaken at two levels, starting with a multistakeholder field visit on the 27thSeptember 2023, and followed
the next day by a community level cross visit between the Ezibomvini and Stulwane villages.
Through the SANBI-funded Living Catchments Project, a multi-stakeholder partnership was initiated in the upper uThukela
Catchment in 2021. Building on this, WWF-SA has supported the strengthening and expansion of the partnership to include
other stakeholders within the Northern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area (SWSA). This partnership is now known
as the Northern Drakensberg Collaborative (NDC). Over the last two years, face-to-face and online meetings of partners
have taken place and have allowed for sharing of experiences as well as discussions around the vision and functioning of
the partnership. After the last workshop that took place at Alpine Heath in August 2023, the conveners felt that there would
be value in arranging a field trip to Stulwanecommunity outside Winterton, to allow for some learning and reflection around
real-life cases of spring protection, community action, climate smart agriculture and environmental rehabilitation. One of the
intended outcomes of the fieldtrip was to take thepartnership forward towards establishing themes of communities of
practice that have more focused interactions.
A group of about 45 people met at the community hall in Emmaus on the 27th September 2023. The group comprised
farmers supported by Mahlathini Development Foundation, staff from Ezemvelo, Maluti-Drakensberg Transfrontier
programme, the Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON), Institute of Natural
Resources (INR), Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), African Conservation trust (ACT), Agricultural Research Council (ARC),
WILDTRUST, members of clearing and restoration teams working with WILDTRUST and INR, and a representative of the
local No-till Club – who is a local commercial farmer. The event was hosted by Mahlathini, which is the main organisation
working with the Stulwane community and a presentation was made by Temakholo Mathebula, a Project Officer with
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Mahlathini, to provide a context for the field visit. The participants then travelled through to Stulwane, where community
members, supported by Mahlathini staff, explained their activities to visitors.
Mrs Nelisiwe Msele explained the process that has been taken to protect springs and improve access to water for
households, which is currently being expanded to include additional households. This process is led by the locally elected
water committee and is community driven, managed and owned. Ms Lizzy Dlamini, a young eco-champ from the village,
explained the nature of the restoration activities and how some of the interventions have been taken forward through
community action that is undertaken on a voluntary basis. Back at the home of Mrs Msele, where lunch was served, there
was opportunity for more discussion as well as a demonstration of some the agricultural technologies being promoted by
Mahlathini, such as the two-row minimum tillage planter, the agroecological and water conservation practices and the micro-
tunnels for intensive vegetable production.
Figure 11: A stakeholder visit to the donga rehabilitation and re-grassing site in Costone, a visit to the spring based water supply system
and a farmer explains the climate smart food security system.
15 Members of the village-based learning group in Ezibomvini, visited Costonee on the 28thof September to learn about the
resource conservation activities this group has undertaken in their village. The Costone community showcased their litter
clean-up campaign to keep their rivers and streams clean, showed the gulley reclamation and erosion control work they
have undertaken in their grazing area, the wattle clearing in their riverine systems and their work on digging ditches in
preparation for their most recent local water scheme development. They explained that community workdays were
undertaken every Thursday. Activities are organised through the climate resilient agriculture learning groups, the livestock
association and the traditional authority in thevillage.
The initial push for these activities were undertaken during the winter season and participants benefited from having access
to wood from the cleared wattle in the riverbeds. At the moment, most of these activities are on hold, to allow for the
community’sfield cropping activities.
Some of the learnings shared by the Costone group is that it is good to start with only the few people who initially turn up for
the joint working days and not to try and make sure everyone is there from the start. Other community members will see
them working and will join the activities over time. This is how it worked in Costone. In addition, unity in the community is
very important. When they started, they had different smaller groups doing different activities, as their plan was ambitious
and there is a lot to do. So, one group worked on waster clearing and another on stone packing. This caused a bit of
unhappiness in terms of the division of labour. Thereafter, they worked at a more measured pace with everyone involved in
one activity at a time, which worked much better.
Figure 12: Ezibomvinicross-visit, with group discussing alien clearing at one of the riverine sites in Costone, gulley reclamation at the
stone packs above the dip tank and having a focus group discussion to talk through implementation strategies and plans.
16
The Ezibomvini participants reported the following:
-There is little unity in Ezibomvini and when meetings are called to discuss the resource management issues very
fewpeople come, which makes it hard to pass on messages and start the work.
-After the first meetings in March and June, Mr Nkabinde (Livestock association member) went to have a chat with
the owners of the land where the wetland is, asked for permission and explained to them that there is a plan made
to protect the wetland and replant indigenous vegetation and medicinal plants back to the wetland. The Sibiya
family agreed and gave the community permission, as the wetland falls within their ‘land allocation’ and nominally
belongs to them. He then went to another wetland at the top (above Phumelele Hlongwane’s household), where
there is an abundance of medicinal plants (Kalumuzi and Gobho). The idea is to take root stock from this wetland
to replant in the degraded and over- harvested wetland lower down.
-A decision was made to advertise the community litter clean-up community campaign and the first working day at
the ward council meeting on the 7thof October.
-The community had identified the access road as one of the key areas. They had planned to do some repairing for
vehicles to be able to go into the area. Mr Hlongwane (community ward committee) started by speaking to who
arranged for the Okahlamba Local Municipality to bring their road constructing machinery and some repairs were
undertaken. For the community it was unexpected and very positive that these kinds of requests are actually
heeded by the municipality.
-Phumelele Hlongwane (CRA learning group facilitator) commented that the cross visit has given them ideas of
how to go about implementing their plans.
A suggestion during the discussions was to set up local resource management committees who could assist to provide
some focus and organise the community level working days. The areas are large, and it would be good to have
representation from the different sections to assist in communication. In addition,these committees would have to be
diversified by having youth, women, and men, to encourage men and youth to take part as it is usually the women who take
the lead and participate.
An immediate outcome of this cross-visit was that the Ezibomvini community went back to their area with renewed purpose
and immediately started a litter clean-up campaign for their streams and water sources. They had the additional foresight
and connectionwith the Okahlamba Local Municipality to arrange for this litter to be picked up by the municipal waste
removal truck. This activity also assisted to raise awareness within the community as a whole to ensure that community
members would refrain from discarding their solid waste and used disposable nappies in and around water sources in the
future.
Figure 13: Community
littler clean up days in
different sections of the
village and removal of
this waste by the
Municipal waste removal
truck
ii.Community based resource management review and planning sessions
Workshops were held in both Stulwane (45 participants) and Ezibomvini (52 participants) on the 21stof October, to review
the progress in the resource management planning and implementation.The plans and committees for both areas are briefly
summarized below.
Stulwane local representative members
Group AGroup BGroup C
1.Sabelo Mbhele1. Slindile Mpinga1. Kholiwe Dlamini
2.Thulani Dlamini2. Bonginkosi Dlamini2. Fikelephi Zuma
3.Prisca Mpinga3. Ntombifuthi Buthelezi3. Bangeni Dlamini
17
Actionsplanned:
-Stone packing in gulleys alongside and below the dip tank, just above the low-level bridge and the road is to
be undertaken in February 2024, to ensure that the road remains passable for taxis and local community
members.
-A focus on rotational grazing and setting up of grazing camps is considered important. Mr Thulan Dlamini
(Livestock association) mentioned that a meeting had been held in Bergville where assistance through the
Local Municipality and the department of Agriculture was promised for fencing for grazing camps. Although
the community members are somewhat doubtful that this will materialize, this process will be taken forward
as the only option presently available for funding assistance.
-There was an issue regarding the Mbhorompo, Emahlathini and Emadakane villages, who have been helping
themselves to the cleared wattle for firewood. They are part of the broader Stulwane area and have taken it
as their right to also benefit from this activity. The Costone community want them to work together in the
alien clearing and not just take what they want without managing the wattle. They would like to propose a
meeting with other communities involved to explain the purpose of the clearing and management and also
invite them to work together in this and also practise these activities in their villages. A suggestion was made
to site with the ward councillor and then to jointly have a meeting with the Emahlathini community in this
regard as a starting point. The 31stOctober was set as the date and the community requested MDF’s
involvement.
-Mr Omega Kubone, the local KZNDARD extension officer has also compiled a list of all active gardeners
across the villages working with MDF, to garner further support for these participants in their production and
marketing activities.
It is extremely interesting to note how the communities, and especially the Costone/Stulwanegroup are taking on challenges
that are starting to encompass the broader community and spearheading a process for broader involvement as an organic,
evolutionary step in this process and also how the government stakeholders are slowly being brought on board by the
community themselves to provide the needed support and assistance. The fact that the community has developed enough
confidence to engage stakeholders andask for support it a significant step in their improved agency and in developing
improved governance in their communities.
Ezibomvini progress and planning:
-A decision has been made to undertake resource managementactivities on Thursdays every week, rotating
between the different activities planned and the work was started with the litter clean-up workdays.
-The next planned activity is to do alien clearing above the village, working on clearing the Lantana invasions there.
A request for support with the required herbicide was made. In this regard the existing eco champs will assist the
community in the correct procedures for cutting as well as herbicide application. It was agreed that it is better for
the community themselves to collect small amounts of money for their activities than to wait for assistance form
government and outsiders, which can take a long time to materialize.
-The community has also been cleaning the spring (Above Phumelele Hlongwane’s homestead) that provides them
with water which gets clogged by sediment after heavy rains. They have collected money to buy cement to rebuild
the basin there, to make it easier clean on a more ongoing basis.
-Sharing of knowledge at the schools has been undertaken and they will continue with this activity.
In Ezibomvini the resource management process is not as well developed as Stulwane and the community is not yet ready
to select representatives. Their commitment to maintaining work done in spring protection for the area as well as to continue
some initialclearing work started by the eco champs is a significant step for this village and also a good indication of their
improved social agency toward better governance in the area.
DECISION#SUPPORT#FRAMEWORK##
Introduction
18
The community level learning and decision support process for implementation of CRA practices and improved local
governance, which focuses on capacitating village level learning groups of smallholder farmers in improved agricultural
production, local economic development and natural and water resources management through a systemic innovation
development approach that includes building of social agency in the villages.The CRA learning groups provide a voluntary
platform for community members to explore theimpact of climate change on their resources, their livelihoods and farming
systems, incorporating a wide range of perspectives (scientific, local and traditional). The cyclical process of innovation is
shown below outlining also how the CRA learning groups become the central point for development of further focus areas
and social organization and interact with external stakeholders.
Figure 14: CRA learning groups and relationship building with local and external stakeholders.
The following principles of LLA (Coger, et al., 2022)have been incorporated into this process:
- Devolving decision making to the lowest appropriate level
- Addressing structural inequalities faced by vulnerable and marginalized groups including women, youth, children
and people living with disabilities.
- Providing patient and predictable funding that can be accessed more easily: Supporting long-term development of
local governance processes, capacity, and institutions.
- Investing in local capabilities to leave an institutional legacy for adaptation initiatives over the long term.
- Building a robust understanding of climate risk and uncertainty.
- Flexible programming and learning: Enabling adaptive management.
- Ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Collaborative action and investment.
Community-based initiatives arepromising approaches to lessen the impacts of climate change while empowering people
and bolstering community resilience. Local innovation and agency are critical complements of these programs in fostering
sustained community resilience.
Solutions are developed in contextby integrating indigenous knowledge, scientific information and global experiences.
They focus on supporting livelihood opportunities, and they are governed at the community level, making use of existing
social capital and other complementary programmes.
The processwould include participatory solutions and iterative learning at the local level, complemented by transformative
action at national, regional, and international scales. Monitoring and learning are a key part of the process. The scope would
consider the impacts of climate change alongside poverty, ecological integrity, gender equality, and other development
priorities.
The outcomesinclude proactive planning for maximising Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) attainment and disaster risk
reduction, which allows CCA activities to tap into and find synergies with these cross-cutting imperatives.
19
The methodological process of ensuring knowledge co-creation and innovation development in and beyond these CRA
learning groups entails three broad facilitated interventions: analysing the present situation, identifying intervention options
and processes and implementing these and building improved systems and social agency. This is also a cyclical process
where learning and implementation can be strengthened and deepened overtime.
The overall outcomes of such as process are expected to be:
-Improved participatory decision making to support implementation and innovation.
-Improved governance - new community-based structures
-Improved governance improved rules and logistics within community-based structures.
-Improved governance- coherent collaboration with stakeholders and role players.
The process with steps outlined are shown in the tablebelow.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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Figure 15:Decision support framework -Methodological process for innovation and social agency
DECISION SUPPORT FRAMEWORK/ FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT INNOVATION AND DECISION MAKING
PRESENT SITUATION
INTERVENTIONS AND PROCESSES TO
BUILD SOCIAL AGENCY
IMPROVED DECISION MAKING AND
GOVERNANCE OUTCOMES
Actions
Joint analysis
Actions/Outcomes
Co-learning
Actions/Outcomes
Joint decision making
Focus group
discussions and
mapping: socio-
ecological patches
Present situation in
land use and
management, including
needs and issues
(emerging from
discussions)
Focus group
discussions/ Thematic
workshop: CC,
resource issues
(erosion, alien
invasion, wetlands and
rivers, water access,
grazing management)
Socio-ecological
mapping: Impact of
human interventions
and climate on the
environment
Adaptive planning
workshop using
layered socio
ecological maps
(expert and
community
combined)
Management plan for
water and land
resources
Village walks for
detailed resource
discussions and
mapping (key
informants)
Community workshops
on CC impact (social,
economic, farming,
resources). Adaptive
strategies
(communities and
stakeholders
combined)
CC impact and
adaptive strategies
Expert ecological
mapping (GIS)incl
EIA, Veld
assessment, water
resource survey
etc. (with key
informants)
Prioritization of
adaptive measures,
and practices -
Village based
learning groups
Further social
organisations
develop (including
marketing,
microfinance, water
livestock etc.)
Linked youth groups in
resource management
and enterprise
development
Experimentation with
new practices and
innovations in Climate
resilient agriculture
(Individual
smallholders and
support organisations)
CRA
experimentation and
implementation
Iterative
experimentation with
CRA practices to
tackle more complex
issues,
Improved land use and
coordination at
community level
Seasonal review and
re-planning
Stakeholder
engagement -
innovation platforms
and multistakeholder
forums etc
Focus group
discussions,
individual
interviews
Local structures and
decisions made by
them, including factors
that influence
individual and
community decision
making (emerging from
discussions)
Thematic focus areas:
water access and
management,
livestock and grazing
management, natural
resources
management,
Learning group
discussions and
prioritization of
urgent issues
Committees discuss,
plan, and implement
(with support)
prioritized actions in
thematic areas
Community level
structures develop for
improved governance-
with broader and
equitable community
involvement linked to
local and traditional
authorities
Further engagement
with stakeholders for
expanded
implementation
options around water
and resources
management
LGs, committees,
and community
structures engage in
resource
management
projects with a range
of stakeholders
OUTCOMES
ØImproved participatory decision making to support implementation and innovation.
ØImproved governance - new community-based structures
ØImproved governance improved rules and logistics within community-based structures.
ØImproved governance- coherent collaboration with stakeholders and role players.
Collect and
analyse
information.
Identify
options and
implement.
Build improved
systems and
social agency.
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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2GAPS AND CONSTRAINTS
The project has been proceeding according to plan and all activities are on track.There is increased interest in neighbouring
villages and the region to work with Conservation Agriculture and the model for development of resource conservation
implementation and improved governance at village and community level. In addition, there is agreat need for further activities
related to water access in the region, as well as building improved relationships with the local authorities and Uthukela Water.
For the latter, due to the amalgamation of Umgeni and Uthukela Water into one organisation, there are renewed opportunities
for collaboration that can now be explored.
3COMMENT ON FINANCIAL REPORT
Table 3: Summary of expenditure on CRA activities: June-November2023
Cost breakdown
Dec-23
Remainder (2022-2024)
Budget (2022-2024)
Inputs for Conservation Agriculture
R252 979,01
-R2 979,01
R250 000,00
Spring Protection
R175 489,35
R42 510,65
R218 000,00
Engineering fees
R115 614,07
-R19 167,07
R96 447,00
R544 082,43
R20 364,57
R564 447,00
Total 2022-2023
0,96
96%
From the above table the project team have thus far used R544 082,43of the funding available for implementation of
activities, which is 96% of the budget available for 2022-2024. This means expenditure is on track in relation to the overall
budget. Expenditure under spring protection isto be finalised between January andMarch 2024, for project completion in
April 2024.
NOTES ON EXPENDITURE
Expenditure has been compiled up until the 31stOctober2023
1.Disbursements received to date equal R976500,00
2.A total of R1284999,50has been spent between December 2022 and November2023
3.Expenditure is on track, with a slight over- expenditure thus far on Engineering Fees(spring protection), and over
expenditure oninputs for CA, travel and subsistence.The latteris due to the substantialand 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 is attached as a separate document:”WWF-ZA06370C-Smallholder CRA and Water
Provision_MDF_ Financial reporting template_Milestone 5_20231201”Documentation for explaining full expenditure
summaries is available on request.
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5SIGNIFICANT PLANNED ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT MILESTONE
•CA implementation: Crop growth monitoring, as well as compilationof run-off and rainfall results will be possible by
March 2024. Yield and water productivity data for the 2ndround of planting will not be available until May-June of
2024
•Finalisation of the Stulwane spring protection and reticulation process for 75 households.
6LIST OF ANNEXURES
Complementary information, including photographs.
ANNEXURES:
Annexure 1: Stulwane water access and payments
Annexure 2: progress report on Phases 1 and 2 of water abstraction and reticulation for Sections A and B.
Project number and Name:WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Mahlathini
Completed by:ErnaKruger
DescriptionTotal Project Budget
CurrentYear
budget
Previously
Reported
Actuals
CurrentYear
Actuals
ReportingPeriodMay 2022-April 2024July-December2023
December2022 -
June 2023
July2023-
December
2023
A - OPENING BALANCER 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 0,00R 736 500,00R 0,00
Approved WWF IncomeR 1 285 000,00R 420000,00R 556 500,00R 420000,00R 976 500,00R 0,00R 308500,00
B - TOTAL income + o/balanceR 1 285 000,00R 420 000,00R 556 500,00R 420 000,00R 976 500,00R 736 500,00R 308 500,00
EXPENDITURE by code
1Staff costsR 432 000R 216 000R 324 000,00R 81 000,00R 405000,00R 135 000,00R 27 000,00
2Third partyfeesR 96447R 48000R 70 433,82R 19 977,25R 90 411,07R 28 022,75R 6 035,93
3Travel and SubsistenceR 211 770R 109 350R 190 245,29R 15 000,00R 205245,29R 94350,00R 6 524,71
4CapitalAssetcostsR 218 000R 109 000R 114 721,23R 60 268,12R 174989,35R 48731,88R 43 010,65
5Operating expensesR 250 000R 125 000R 145 704,20R 82 524,71R 228228,91R 42475,29R 21 771,09
6Meetings /Education / TrainingR 20533R 10267R 10 267,00R 5 132,00R 15 399,00R 5 134,50R 5 133,50
7
ProjectPromotion/Communication/
Printing /Publication
R 56250R 28125R 32 812,50R 10 405,37R 43 217,87R 17 719,63R 13032,13
C - TOTAL EXPENDITURER 1 284 999,50R 645 741,50R 888 184,04R 274 307,45R 1 162 491,49R 371 434,05R 122 508,01
D – CLOSING BALANCER 1 284 999,50R 645 741,50R 122 508,01
ESTIMATES
Code
Total Actuals
to date
Total Current
Year Budget
minus Current
Year Actuals (D -
G = I)
ACTUALS
Total Project
Budget minus
Total Actuals to
date (Variance)
C - H = J
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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ANNEXURE 1:ESTULWANE WATER ACCESS
List of households and standpipes in each section. Payments by end October 2023
Section A (Village A)
TAP B1
Name
Surname
1.Sabelo
Mbhele
2.Nelisiwe
Buthelezi
R300
3.Khulekani
Dladla
R 500
4.Gasela
Sithole
5.Madinga
Hlongwane
R 100
6.Nolwane
Hadebe
7.Sphe
Mazibuko
TOTAL
R 900
TAP B2 (N9)
Name
Surname
1.Mzotheni
Buthelezi
R 500
2.Siza
Dladla
R 500
3.Mboneni
Zimba
4.Boniswa
Hlongwane
R450
5.Mbhuti
Hadebe
R 350
6.Dumisile
Hlongwane
7.Manqoba
Dladla
TOTAL
R 1 800
TAP B3
Name
Surname
1.Fana
Nyoka
R 500
2.Senzo
Nyoka
R 500
3.Xolani
Msele
4.Themeza
Hlongwane
R 250
5.Ndela
Mpinga
6.Albert
Dube
R250
7.Nhlanla
Dube
8.Sti
Khumalo
R500
TOTAL
R 2 000
TAP B4
Name
Surname
1.Thulani
Dlamini
R400
2.Azania
Skhosana
Total
R400
TAP B 5
Name
Surname
1.Xolo
Msele
2.Zama
Dladla
3.Dombolo
Buthelezi
4.Sabelo
Mbhele
Total
R 0
TAP B6
Name
Surname
1.Shosholozi
Sithebe
2.Mdlevu
Hlongwane
R 200
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Total
R 200
SUMMARY
•There are 29 householdsin this section.
•We have 14 householdswho have attemptedto pay.
•This section has gatheredR5300in Total.
•Thulani Dlamini is the person in charge of gathering Monies.
Section B (Village B)
TAP A1
Name
Surname
1.La
Miya
R500
2.Makhethi
Dladla
R400
3.Magcobo (GOGO)
Dladla
R200
4.Annah
Buthelezi
R500
5.Celani
Buthelezi
R200
6.Zeni
Buthelezi
R500
7.Xolani
Dladla
R500
8.Mkeshi
Mabaso
R400
9.Kwazi Mhayise
Buthelezi
R500
TOTAL
R 3 700
TAP A2
Name
Surname
1.Thokozane
Ngubane
2.KamaKhenyezane
Dladla
R100
3.Celani
Dlamini
R200
4.Manqoba
Buthelezi
R400
5.Dombi
Buthelezi
R400
6.Mzwandile
Khumalo
R200
7.Mazeze
Msele
8.Nokwaliwa
Hlongwane
R500
TOTAL
R 1 800
TAP A3
Name
Surname
1.Soleni
Khumalo
2.Sya
Msele
3.Delani
Duma
4.Maqhinga
Skhosana
R200
TOTAL
R200
TAP A4
Name
Surname
1.Tshitshi
Gumede
R300
2.Basket
Dubazane
R300
3.Sphelele
Msele
R300
4.Thembelani
Msele
5.Sipho
Msele
R300
6.Mthethwa
Mpinga
R200
TOTAL
R 1 400
TAP A5
Name
Surname
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1.Jakie
Buthelezi
R500
2.Mthunzi
Buthelezi
R500
3.Robert
Miya
4.Kalagema
Buthelezi
R400
5.Buhle
Buthelezi
R200
Total
R 1 600
TAP A6
Name
Surname
1.K.K
Buthelezi
R200
2.Bhotshotsho
Buthelezi
R250
3.Ntuthuko
Mabaso
R200
4.Hluphizwe
Mabaso
R200
5.Bhabhalazi
Mabaso
R100
6.Bhoso
Msele
R200
TOTAL
R 1 150
Note: Thofo Msele R500. This household is far from the standpipes but have paid R500.
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ANNEXURE 2:PROGRESS REPORT ON WATER ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION
Introduction
This report is about the implementation as well as the progress of the water access program that is taking place in Costone,
a community located in Estulwane. MDF has been collaborating with the community members as we established this water
system all theway from planning up to implementation. This community has two strong water sources (Streams) which were
identified by the community and were going to be used to abstract water from and supply it to the households. About 67
households are involve in this program. They are contributing their labour and they are also contributing financially (R500
per household). Since two separate water sources (streams) were identified and the number of households involved is large,
the community was then divided into two sections which were named Village A (Danger’s side) and B (Nothile’s Side). Each
village had its own water source to be extracted from.
Implementation was planned and separated into 3 phases. This was to organize and strictly keep track of the progress of
this program including the buying of the materials for this program. The first phase is working from the sources up until the
first Pressure Tank in both sections. Phase 2 is simply about channeling water from the source to the first pressure tank
then to the header tank. The last phase is about reticulation, supplying water from the header tank to the standpipes which
will be positioned along the main community road which is a position close to the community households.
Implementation
On the 10thof October 2023, Mr Alain Marechal an Engineer and Mr Chris Ndlela a construction foreman provided by MDF
as a contribution the community came to confirm the implementation plan. Implementation for the first phase started on the
11thof October 2023 working with Mr Ndlela and the community members we started with building a V-Box(Wier) for Village
A (Danger’s side) This weir was specially designed to allow
abstraction without completely interrupting with the stream flow,
it allows water to beextracted and be delivered to the first
pressure tank, however it is designed to extract a small amount
of liters per day in a stream, and it allows water to over-flow
and continue within the existing streambed.
Figure 1: V-box Construction (Weir)
This v-box has two chambers, the first chamber receives water
directly from the stream, it then channels this water to the
second chamber. The second chamber then holds water and
channels it to the first tank, which is a 2500L pressure tank.
When the second chamber is filled it allows the first chamber to overflow and release water back to the stream. This weir
was built with hard flat stones which were gathered and stockpiled by the community members. Each v-box was constructed
along with its seal (Protect water from contamination in the v-box). In the first chamber that directly receives water from the
stream, shade cloth was inserted on the floor to act as a filter, then stone was also inserted in the chamber and the reason
behind this was to protect this built v-box from being damaged by other rocks or objects that would come down the
abstraction point encouraged by floods or strong current.
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Figure 2:The chambers of the V-Box (Wier)
This v-box design has been constructed the same way in both Village A (Danger’s side) and B (Nothile’sSide). The
abstraction point for Village A is at the top of the mountain while the abstraction point for the source in Village B is at the
bottom of the mountain, reason behind that was the fact that the strength of the stream flow for village B was identified to be
very week at the top of the mountain, but was found to be stronger at the bottom of the mountain the stream flow was
stronger at the mountain, but the community members testified to it that the stream flow is only weak during winter when
thereless rain fall and they are confident that the stream will rejuvenate once the rainy season starts. However, it is
estimated that water abstracted from Village B’s water source will have a higher level of E. coli present in the water. This is
because there will still be animals roaming around up the mountain and possibly also drinking from the same source. As
means of counterattack to that challenge was to introduce the use of chlorine tablets into the header tank. This matter has
been let known to the community members who are involve in program and it soon to be more discussed further.
On the second week from the 17thup to the 20th of October 2023, the tank stands for pressure tanks and the header tanks
for both sections were prepared and constructed. The pressure tanks, which are the first tanks in the system before the
header tank were then installed for both sections (Village A&B). These first tanks (Pressure Tanks) are installed to slow
down the speed and pressure that water would use as it descends from the sources which are positioned at a higher point to
these tanks which are positioned down the slope. These pressure tanks do not have float valves, when the pressure tank is
full its overflows, the idea is to let the water to overflow and get back to the stream flow as we are aware that when dealing
with streams and rivers, we must be very vigilant not to interfere too much with the environment and nature as a whole.
Figure 3:Tank stand construction for Pressure tank and Header tank at Costone (Village A&B)
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Figure 4: Overflow
from the pressure tank
down into the stream
(Village A)
Figure 5: Overflow
From Pressure Tank
water runs back to the
stream (Village B)
On the 7thof November 2023 working with Mr Chris Ndlela and the community members we
implemented phase 2. This phase was all about fitting pipes from the pressure tanks all the
way to the header tank. On the trenches from the pressure tank up to the header tank, there
were several dongas which were a challenge to this water system, however we used carbon
steel pipes to go through these dongas, to protect the plastic pipes inside. On Village A we
encountered 3 Dongas and the biggest was 9 meters wide. In Village B we only encountered
one huge Donga which was more than 4 meters apart. However, we ended up successfully
completing phase 2 of this program, we released water from both sources into the pressure
tanks and the header tanks. Water was filled in all the tanks within 24 hours in both Village
A&B. Phase 2 was then completed on the 10thof November 2023.
Figure 6: Connecting pipes from pressure tanks down to the header tanks
Figure 7:Caborn Steel pipes Passing the pipes through the gallies and protecting the pipes
WWF_184-ZA063760C – Water stewardship Milestone 4 | Erna Kruger
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Figure 8:Community members working together connecting the pipes
to the tank
Challenges
Other than facing these huge Dongas, one of the biggest challenges
we have encountered in this project was taking the materials from the
storehouse up the mountain where the activity was. This has been a
huge challenge to all of us. However, that did not stop the community
members from proceeding with this project. The solution we came up
with was that every participant must take 10 liters of either sand,
sandstone gravel or cement up the mountain every day when there
was an activity taking place at the mountain. Everyone participated
including women and children who were strong enough to carry.
Conclusion
Phase 1 and 2 of this program has been successfully completed, but
the whole water system is not yet completed as we are to begin with
phase 3 which is reticulation. As mentioned above that the 67 households are to contribute R500 per household, only 15
households have actually paid the R500 agreed on, while 31 households have attempted to pay but have not finish paying.
About 21 of thesehouseholds haven’t started paying, but they are promising to pay. As agreed on we are expecting R34
000, and we have managed to CollectR15710. In all we are still expecting to collectR18790.In conclusion the community
of Costone is dedicated to this project and is very willing to continue and the complete it.