Tshwane Mayor moves to blacklist firms linked to Edwin Sodi over Rooiwal scandal
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has announced decisive action against companies linked to businessman Edwin Sodi, following their abandonment of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, an unfinished project that deepened the city’s water crisis and has been tied to a deadly cholera outbreak.
The City of Tshwane is actively pursuing the blacklisting of the contractors responsible, including Sodi’s NJR Projects and Blackhead Consulting, after the R250–295 million project, awarded in 2019, was left incomplete with substandard workmanship.
The failure to deliver the necessary upgrades has been cited as a contributing factor in the 2023 Hammanskraal cholera outbreak, which claimed more than 20 lives.
The city terminated the contract in 2022 due to persistent delays and poor performance. While the National Treasury initially flagged procedural issues in Tshwane’s bid to blacklist the firms, Mayor Moya confirmed during oversight visits that the necessary documents have since been resubmitted, and the city is awaiting a final decision.
In the meantime, new contractors have been appointed and are making steady progress. Phase 1A of the project was completed ahead of schedule, with subsequent phases expected to be finalized by mid-2025, aiming to restore a safe and reliable water supply to affected communities.
Mayor Moya, alongside Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, has vowed to hold those responsible accountable, pledging transparency and justice as the city works to rebuild public trust.