Rand Water | Integrated Annual Report 2025

INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPO

PROTECTING OUR NATURAL CAPITAL BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Striving to manage biodiversity within our properties and areas of supply, we implement sustainability programmes and safeguarding our fauna and flora species. Providing the contribution to national biodiversity protect harmonised with the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), Act 10 of 2004, Rand Water continues to implement initiatives. In the period under review, the following were implemented: Fauna species protection • 16 Beehives containing approximately 171 000 bees safely relocated from Rand Water properties to a registered beekeeper. • Six (6) Snakes were safely captured and relocated from various Rand Water Operation sites. Rehabilitation and land restoration projects • Horticultural maintenance was carried out over 39 hectares, along with the creation of 4 337 m² of firebreaks in pipe storage areas. • To rehabilitate areas impacted by infrastructure development: 1 271 m³ of reno mattresses and gabions, 6 210 m² of grass blocks, and 770 m³ of dump rock were installed. • A total of 87 600 m² was revegetated using veld grass seeding and the installation of instant lawn. • Alien invasive species removal programme: 186 hectares of Alien Invader Species were removed from our properties, 36 Indigenous trees were planted, and 76,5 hectares were retreated for regrowth at various Rand Water properties, this practice is to restore the natural ecosystem. VAAL BARRAGE ALIEN INVADERS PROGRAMME Since 2023, the occurrence of water lettuce (Pistia sp), in the Vaal Barrage has prompted a comprehensive response from stakeholders. Rand Water representatives attend and represent the company in all related forums and meetings to influence and ensure the challenge of Alien vegetation management is dealt with effectively. Several initiatives are being implemented as part of the broader response to the problem which include biological control, herbicide application and physical removal. For 2024/25 financial year, the alien vegetation was well managed due to the various initiatives implemented in the Vaal Barrage. The figure below depicts the Alien Invasive coverage for the Vaal River Barrage Reservoir for the period July 2024 to June 2025. Alien Invasive coverage Vaal River Barrage Reservoir July 2024 to June 2025

VRBR: Entire

50

Macrophyte

40

30

20

Area (ha)

10

0

December 2024 February 2025

April 2025

June 2025

August 2024

October 2024

Figure 21: Alien Invasive Coverage - Vaal River Barrage Reservoir for 2024/25 Financial Year

Raw water quality remains a concern, and challenges have resulted in a major deterioration in biological water quality over the year. Figure below shows the Weekly Recreational report that is published on the Reservoir website (www.reservoir.co.za) which indicates the risk of physical contact of the water.

155

Rand Water | Integrated Annual Report 2025