Our legal mandate

The Association was set up as an entity of public-private collaboration with a mandate to provide raw water to its Members, the then Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) now called the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), and mining companies in the Eastern Limb.

Hence, the Association does not currently provide potable water to communities.

The gazetting of the Association’s amended Constitution on 16 May 2025 confirmed not only its name change to Badirammogo (from Lebalelo), but also the transformation of the Association’s role through the Olifants Management Model Programme (OMMP), the expansion of the Association’s area of operation and the broadening of our mandate beyond bulk raw water provision to the construction of potable water and reticulation infrastructure for communities.

It is important to note that the obligation of providing potable water lies within the Constitutional mandate of the Municipalities who may, in terms of the Water Services Act, delegate the power of potable water delivery to communities through Water Service Providers such as the Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNW).

While BWUA will not be responsible for the operation or maintenance of potable water infrastructure (this remains with the relevant Water Services Authorities or Providers), we will continue to finance, build, operate and maintain bulk raw water infrastructure.