False allegations an attempt to intimidate Minister Mokonyane and to stall transformation
The City Press Newspaper on 4 September 2016 published an article under the headline 'Nomvula mislead Zuma' which boldly asserts that the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, deliberately and under false pretences misled the President of the Republic of South Africa and by extension, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
The Minister wishes to dismiss these allegations as baseless, malicious and deliberately intended to create confusion amongst South Africans and Basotho in relation to the implementation of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and to tarnish the good name of the Minister.
The Minister visited Lesotho on 16 October 2015, as a Special Envoy of President Jacob Zuma to discuss with the then, new government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, a number of issues relating to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and the implementation of Phase 2 of this project.
Key amongst the various issues discussed, was the review of the procurement policy of the project, skills transfer for Basotho and South Africans, implications of climate change and water shortages in South Africa and the constitution of the various governance structures that oversee the project.
The City Press article is based on leaked confidential communication between the two countries which has been deliberately and grossly misrepresented to support the statement that the President of South Africa has been misled by Minister Mokonyane.
Similarly, the same publication has previously alleged that the Minister visited Lesotho under false pretences, presenting herself as a Special Envoy of the President, which they alleged was a misrepresentation. The Presidency later confirmed that indeed the Minister was dispatched to Lesotho as a Special Envoy of the President.
This was another previous attempt to question the bona fides of the Minister and call to question her integrity and credibility in the exercise of her duties.
This is part of a continued attempt by the City Press to place a cloud of corruption, dishonesty and fraud above the name and person of Minister Mokonyane in order to distract the Minister from her work and to frustrate efforts to transform the water sector.
There are no new water demand projections that are being advocated for by South Africa except for requests made for additional water resources from the current scheme, to support provinces that have been heavily affected by the drought in the last year.
In November/December 2015 water releases from the Katse Dam in Lesotho were authorised to manage the serious water challenges faced by certain areas in the Free State and in the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape (Aliwal North and surrounding areas). These releases were over and above the current water demand flows that supply the province of Gauteng in the main.
It is these releases that are stated by the City Press as new water demand projections whose effect may supposedly lead to delays in the implementation of Phase 2 and lead to additional costs being incurred in consultancy and feasibility fees. The above is dismissed and bears no truth.
The Minister has submitted a report to the President on the progress on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and related matters in line with government processes and procedures.
We assure South Africans that government is taking all steps necessary to secure a sustainable water future for South Africa. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2, whilst significant, does not singularly guarantee the water future of Gauteng and surrounding areas. Hence, we have invested resources in the long-term solution of Acid-Mine Drainage which will provide the country with additional water resources by 2020.
We again emphasise that it cannot be business as usual for both commercial and private water users. As a country we must must adapt and begin to seriously observe and reduce our water use patterns to ensure water is used responsibly.
For more information contact:
Mlimandlela Ndamase (Ministerial Spokesperson)
Cell: 083 480 0014
E-mail: NdamaseM@dws.gov.za
