Water
Water is the country’s most precious natural resource. It is vital to life, to development and to economic growth. That is why government has prioritised institutional reforms in this area to ensure future water security, investment in water resources and maintenance of existing assets.
Government has embarked on the process of institutional reform in capacitating the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and reviewing water boards in as far as their mandates are concerned and ensuring that they serve municipalities in terms of the District Development Model (DDM).
These reforms are being championed by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, who has visited every water source in the country. A comprehensive turnaround plan is being implemented to streamline the process for water-use licence applications. The target is to clear the backlog of applications by June 2022 and to process 80% of all applications within 90 days during the next financial year.
Legislation has been prepared for the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, and will be published for public comment within the next month. The Water Quality Monitoring System has been reinstated to improve enforcement of water standards at municipal level, and enable the DWS to intervene where water and sanitation services are failing.
Umzimvubu Water Project
Government has initiated the process of delivering the uMzimvubu Water Project. The project is made of the Ntabelanga Dam and Lalini Dam, irrigation infrastructure and hydo-electric plant, Ntabelanga water treatment works and bulk distribution infrastructure to reticulate to the neighbouring communities.
The closing date for the first of the two-stage procurement process is scheduled to close later this month, with the preferred bidder likely to be announced in September 2022.
Related links
Source: State of the Nation Address Highlights [PDF]
