Minister Senzo Mchunu meets with uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to discuss the implementation of Section 63 of the Water Services Act in the district.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. Senzo Mchunu together with the Deputy Minister Mr. David Mahlobo today Monday 14 February 2022 held a meeting with uMkhanyakude District Municipality to discuss the implementation of Section 63 of the Water Services Act in the uMkhanyakude DM at Bonamanzi Game Reserve Hotel in Hluhluwe.
Minister Mchunu and Deputy Minister Mahlobo returned to uMkhanyakude DM to lead a working session with the officials of uMkhanyakude DM to discuss practical approaches that will move the district forward to ensure water security for the district.
“We have visited all provinces in the country where we have met with the provincial government, water boards and the water services authorities (WSAs) to look at the state of water services. Through the presentation made by WSAs, this has given us a firm understanding of the water services in the country”, Mchunu said.
“The challenges faced by municipalities as indicated through their presentations and reports on the delivery of water services to people include personnel, skills, capacity, planning, and funding. These challenges came out strongly under uMkhanyakude DM. This then prompted the department to invoke Section 63 of the Water Services Act. This would mainly focus among other things on capacity building, water services planning and partnerships”, said Mchunu.
Minister Mchunu highlighted that on the previous engagements with uMkhanyakude DM, the main question was what should be done to ensure that the people of uMkhanyakude DM are better and properly served.
Acting DDG Moshidi presented a framework from the Department of Water and Sanitation on how this intervention will be structured and plans for water provision in uMkhanyakude DM. The department’s intervention will be in line with the District Development Model (DDM) aimed at facilitating integrated planning, delivery and monitoring of government’s development programmes.
uMkhanyakude DM is currently under administration for the past 18 months.
Acting Municipal Manager of uMkhanyakude DM Dr Ntuli, highlighted that he acknowledged the approach taken by the department and he would like to further engage with the department with regards to the implementation of the intervention plan.
The Minister stressed that for the DDM model to work, this will need everyone to work together to ensure the people of uMkhanyakude DM have water and that a Section 63 Steering committee be established with immediate effect to facilitate the implementation of the intervention with the participation of all relevant stakeholders such as the traditional leadership.
For more information:
Sputnik Ratau
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
082 874 2942
