Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, undertook visits to the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape on Monday 18 and 19 January.
The purpose for these visits was to find the actual facts behind matters of water shortages in both areas. The visit to Kuruman was a follow up to the visit to the area by Deputy President Motlanthe on 7 December 2009. The Deputy President was informed at the time that people were not receiving water from August.
In the meeting with the local council led by the mayor, speaker, councillors, municipal manager and officials, a number of issues were raised on the matter of water availability.
“I have realised that the serious water problem here area talks to infrastructure and water availability in all areas. There are further challenges of serious under-funding at all levels. The matter of population increase is also not followed by funding,” said Minister Sonjica.
It also came out that Sedibeng Water is not doing well in servicing the area and this is coupled by the lack of capacity of the municipality in terms of operations and maintenance of infrastructure. This definitely impacts on service delivery. There is also a backlog in the provision of infrastructure in an area that is most dependent on ground water.
Minister Sonjica also remarked that “this area was designated a presidential development node, but it seems like it has not duly benefited from that process. There also needs to be engagement with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs on matters relating to the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) fund so that we can see how the projects in your business plan can be assisted.”
In the Eastern Cape the meeting was in the Nxuba Municipality. Represented in the meeting was the district municipality through the executive mayor, the local municipality also through the mayor, councillors and the municipal manager.
The information given to the Minister was that Nxuba is the municipality most affected by drought in the province. It has been happening since November 2008. One positive outcome thereof is that the municipality and the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) have created a closer working relationship.
The capacity of the dam close by is insufficient and the town continues to grow, therefore a permanent solution is being looked at and a report will be submitted to the Minister on the matter.
Media articles on matters of the drought, some correct and others not, have been consistent in their appearances. What has remained true is that there are challenges of water availability, to the extent that the defence force also assisted at Nxuba’s cost. The carting of water has become the biggest consumer of funds, at least about R15 million from the district.
One positive is that short and medium term plans are now in place and communications amongst stakeholders is now enhanced. There has also been a decision to revive disaster joint management task team in order to streamline operations.
One of the most reported issues in the media was the one of people drawing water from a sewage purification works plant. On enquiry and request for factual evidence on the matter, Minister was unable to receive concrete and not anecdotal evidence on it. Minister requested all in the meeting that the matter of water must and should not be politicised. There is need for people not be alarmist as a community but rather work together to ensure that the community benefits as a whole.
Minister appreciated the effort of all spheres of government in managing a difficult situation in a mature manner. She also noted that like in most municipalities, two things add to the problem of water availability and these are infrastructure and increasing populations.
Minister Sonjica in her final words encouraged all to apply their minds to ensure that short term intervention speaks to access to water all the time because water is a catalyst for poverty alleviation and is central to all socio-economic activity.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
E-mail: rataus@dwa.gov.za
Issued by: Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs
20 January 2010
