Water interventions at municipalities impact on DWS’s budget and performance
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), today, 06 September 2017, told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations (SCOA) that it had made necessary interventions on water services at various municipalities resulting in a negative impact on its 2016/17 budget and performance.
The department reiterated that it could not ignore the water challenges that were being experienced by the municipalities and had to make necessary interventions to ensure that communities had access to the most basic of services.
The department appeared before SCOA to account on its Fourth Quarter Expenditure Patterns for the previous financial year. The SCOA supports the department’s efforts to strengthen its internal financial controls and operational efficiencies, as well as to enable it to negotiate additional funding from the fiscus to deal with budget pressures related to infrastructure projects.
The department was urged to apply for more funding from the National Treasury in order for it to adequately discharge its work. It was also encouraged to put measures in place wherever fiscal ill-discipline arises.
The DWS also presented on amongst others, matters relating to commitments, accruals and budget shortfalls. The Committee raised the need for the DWS to have an audit of these items as they result in a mismatch between spending and programme performances.
Deputy Minister, Mrs Pamela Tshwete, said unlike the other entities which provide services, the department could not turn off taps as there was no substitute for water. She emphasised that water is important to people in many ways. DM Tshwete impressed upon the Committee and the DWS a need to consider the indigent municipalities too, saying that some of the municipalities were genuinely unable to raise revenue sufficiently to make the necessary payments.
The Acting Director-General, Mr Squire Mahlangu, reiterated that the DWS was acutely aware about the necessity of financial compliance, stating that the department was currently working on recovering monies from clients who owed money to the department.
The DWS was encouraged to finalise the Water and Sanitation Master Plan as speedily as possible, encouraged by the fact that the Master Plan speaks to the ideals of the National Development Plan, SA’s Vision 2030.
There was appreciation of the work done with regard to the Bucket Eradication Programme, notwithstanding the concern over the over-expenditure by R292 million. It was clear that this is programme is targeted mainly as a short-term project to get rid of the bucket toilet system within the formal settlements.
The finalisation of the Auditor-General’s Report will also give a clear indication of the department’s performance.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
Hosia Sithole
Cell: 072 530 8500
