21st Century

2000:

~From 4 February until about the 14th, many areas in the Northern Province, Mpumulanga and Gauteng have experienced heavy rainfalls and severe floods due to the tropoical cyclone Eline. Estimates of structural damage are reaching R1 billion and flood-related deaths are about 50. Crop spoilage and losses have not yet been calculated. In this period 630 mm fell at Graskop, 612 mm at Levubu, and 593 mm at Tzaneen (Grenshoek). (http://www.weathersa.co.za/Pressroom/2000/2000Feb4to14HeavyRain&Floods.jsp)

~The Beervlei Dam near Willowmore was overflowing for the first time in 12 years.

~Minister Kasrils  announced in September 2000 the provision of  free basic water and sanitation services. It was proposed that a basic water supply of 25 litres per person per day would be provided free to each household every month (this amounts to 6 kiloliters per household per month). The costs of maintaining a basic sanitation facility – normally understood as a ventilated improved pit latrine (VIP) – would also be covered.

~On 5 December 2000 a new metropole was established. The metro was named the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and comprised of the former municipalities of Port Elizabeth, Despatch and Uitenhage, and certain rural areas of the Western District Council. The new metro stretches from the Van Stadens River in the west to the Sundays River in the east. (Ref.2)

2001:

Johannesburg Water was established as an independent company with the City of Johannesburg as sole shareholder in 2001.