The Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet has called on all spheres of government to work as a collective in confronting the water scarcity faced by the province.
Premier Kiviet was addressing more than one hundred delegates including South African Local Government Association (SALGA) representatives, mayors, councillors, senior planners and decision makers within the water sectors. The delegates have converged to Mentorskrall farm in Jeffrey’s Bay to attend a two-day Water Indaba under the theme: ‘Working together to address Eastern Cape Water Delivery Challenges’. Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica and MEC for local government Sicelo Gqobana were also present.
The Indaba takes place in less than a week since Eastern Cape executive council embarked on a province wide outreach, in which water scarcity, quality of water supply and the provision of infrastructure were among burning issues raised in all districts.
The Eastern Cape government made a commitment during the outreach to resolve these challenges. “Thus it only fits to host this gathering aware of its urgency and necessity to come up with solutions,” said the premier.
The Eastern Cape Water Indaba is a joint initiative of Departments of Local Government and Traditional Affairs and Water and Environmental Affairs together with SALGA. Its main objectives are to:
- come up with an effective response to the challenges facing the delivery of sustainable water in the province
- agree on a proactive approach towards supporting and strengthening local government
- promote a sector wide contribution towards the reduction of poverty unemployment and health hazards in the province
- balance allocation and use of water, as central to the economic and social development of the province.
Minister Sonjica praised the Eastern Cape for taking a lead in such an initiative saying that all provinces should follow. She declared the Water Indaba as an annual event that would take place in all provinces.
Affected departments and all municipalities have been urgently requested to prioritise maintenance and supply of water. It is hoped that resolutions that emerge from the Indaba will be those which will become a solid foundation in ensuring that water is available and sustainable for all in the Eastern Cape.
For more information contact:
Mandilakhe Zenzile:
Cell: 082 883 5293
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
29 July 2009
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za/)
