Provincial and Local Government on service delivery backlogs

15 January 2009

A ground-breaking strategic partnership between the Department of Provincial
and Local Government and the AHI has led to critical interventions in a number
of municipalities with serious capacity and infrastructure challenges that in
some instances posed health risks to communities.

Through the partnership, a high-powered team with government, business and
civil society has been put together to deal holistically with problems in
relation to ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation for communities so that
as a country, South Africa can avoid crisis related to sanitation and drinking
water for communities.

Minister for Provincial and Local Government, Sicelo Shiceka, has committed
the DPLG to working with all the relevant government departments, the AHI and
any other business or civil society organisations to resolve these
challenges.

"The priority for the department is that systems are put in place to ensure
that rivers are protected so that both human and aquatic life is protected, and
in this regard, I call upon business to partner with government in making our
country a better place to live in for its citizens, and an ideal location to
invest in for investors," Minister Shiceka said.

In response to the problems picked up largely in relation to the quality of
drinking water and sanitation, the DPLG and AHI, have since December 2008 sent
multi-disciplinary teams to the Koukamma Local Municipality in the Eastern
Cape, Greater Marble Hall Local Municipality in Limpopo and Emfuleni Local
Municipality in Gauteng to first determine the extent of the problems and put
immediate mechanisms to resolve them.

The scope of the problems common in all these municipalities included
limited general management and financial management capacity, absence of
technical skills and aged infrastructure, in addition to the crisis brought
about by water and sanitation problems.

The three municipalities are the first in a long list of municipalities in
the country which will be attended to by the department in a similar manner
through this partnership. However, their issues were deemed critical when they
were brought to the attention of the department. The DPLG is in the process of
developing a socio-economic profiling of all the 283 municipalities in the
country which will give a holistic view of the full capacity, backlogs and
critical areas requiring attention in each municipality.

The intervention teams working in these municipalities include the DPLG,
local business, provincial government, AHI, engineering companies and local
community representation.

Minister Shiceka said a partnership of this nature between government and
the private sector is a clear indication of government's seriousness about
solving challenges of this nature, and similar problems working with all
sectors of civil society including business.

An indication of the problems picked up in the Koukamma Municipality for
example included raw sewerage spillage from blocked sewers, inoperable pump
stations and unserviceable treatment plants which led to sewerage spilling into
the river systems and dams that supply potable water in the region. In
addition, the majority of sewerage treatment plants in the region are out of
commission, with others in a state of disrepair.

To turn around the situation in the Koukamma Municipality, which over and
above the sewerage and water quality challenges also has management and
administrative skills challenges; the team's estimate is that an amount in the
region of R11 million would need to be raised.

A process which includes practical logistical issues of council approvals to
fast-track implementation of the identified interventions is underway in
Koukamma.

In the Greater Marble Hall Local Municipality, the team found similar
problems related to drinking water quality and water treatment works as a
result of dilapidated infrastructure.

A detailed technical report put together by the team from the DPLG, which
outlines the status of water and sanitation infrastructure and the extent of
remedial work that is required. In addition, a detailed roads maintenance plan
is in the process of completion. The necessary procurement processes are
currently underway to undertake infrastructure construction projects in the
Greater Marble Hall Municipality.

Emfuleni Municipality in Gauteng was also faced with sewage spillages
emanating from the Rietspruit and Leeuwkuil Wastewater Treatment Plants into
the Rietspruit and Vaal River systems, which led to complaints by residents as
well as interested and affected parties.

Although a team to assist the municipality in resolving these challenges has
been similarly put in place, Minister Shiceka has commended the response of the
Gauteng Provincial government (GPG) in resolving the problems. The DPLG is in
full support and working collaboratively with the Gauteng government is
bringing problems of this nature to an end.

For more information, queries and requests for interviews please
contact:
Vuyelwa Qinga Vika
Tel: 012 334 0995
Cell: 082 877 3898
E-mail: VuyelwaQ@dplg.gov.za

Issued by: Ministry for Provincial and Local Government, in partnership with
AHI
15 January 2009
Source: Ministry for Provincial and Local Government (http://www.thedplg.gov.za)