Honourable Premier
Honourable Members of the Provincial Executive Committee
Honourable Members of Parliament and the Provincial Legislature
Executive Mayors, Mayors and Councillors
Distinguished guests
Heads of Departments and officials present
Ladies and gentlemen
I need to first commend the Premier to be the first to put water as an apex priority in this administration. What is important is that my job has become easier because the passion to drive the matter has assisted me greatly.
I am sincerely honoured to stand before you today. Equally, your positive response to the call by our department, to come and deliberate on the challenges facing the water sector in our country, is most gratifying. As we continuously strive to ensure that all South Africans have access to basic service, a principle very well enshrined in our Constitution, we also need to ensure that we plan and manage our resources for future generations to come.
Programme director, water is fast becoming a constraint to development in South Africa. Undoubtedly, no development is possible without water. I am sure that with the mining developments in Mpumalanga, the province has its own unique problems that threaten the sustainability of water resources. We welcome the positive indicators that give us hope that the global economic recession is slowly beginning to ease off.
Given the dire need for development and economic growth in our country, it is our responsibility to ensure that we make water available to support economic growth and development. Given the fact that South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries in the world, recent economic growth in our country coupled with rural to urban migration has led to an increased demand for water and increased pressure on infrastructure.
Climate change has also now become a reality. From the work that the department has been doing, we know for a fact that climate change will result in variability in the availability of water and in essence, this means extreme droughts and floods. It is for this reason that as government, we would like to place emphasis on both mitigation and adaptation when it comes to ensuring that our people are protected from the harsh conditions that come with climate change.
In 2006, we held a Water Summit in this province where as sector stake holders, we made commitments and came up with ways of aligning our strategies in order to meet the water challenges. After three years, I am again addressing the very same stakeholders and partners in this provincial Water Indaba, to check on progress made, to re-look at the issues raised during the Summit and to seek new ways of addressing them.
Honourable Premier, our department as a custodian of water resources and a leader of the sector, has a mandate to ensure that water resources management and water services benefit everyone in the country. We have very progressive legislative and policy framework that guide the management and use of water for the benefit of all South Africans. These policies further place emphasis on ensuring that Municipalities not only execute their mandate in respect of water services provision but are also given a chance to have a say in the management of our water resources.
The Indabas that we are conducting countrywide are aimed at addressing such issues and I hope you will consider how our strategic programmes are aligned with and support your provincial priorities during the presentations and discussions.
The theme for the Indaba is "Emanti eftu sonkhe". The theme itself aptly illustrates the need for all of us to appreciate that water is a strategic resource that not only gives life, but is also a catalyst for development. Consequently, water has to be at the centre of all development plans. Water availability and management must feature very strongly in the development strategies of all sectors. We need to be mindful of the fact that all the other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) like health, housing and poverty rely on the availability of water.
We will not be able to provide clean, reliable water and good sanitation facilities to our people if we do not ensure that the resource itself, is protected, allocated and managed efficiently. We must also ensure that the past inequities in the allocation of water resources and access to services are redressed as speedily as possible.
Whilst we are proud of the considerable progress we have made with regard to the provision of basic water and sanitation services, we still have approximately 1, 6 million people in the province that do not have access to potable water. There are approximately 2,6 million people without access to sanitation services in the province. Water Resource Management is a national competency as water respects no boundaries and must be allocated in the interest of the nation as a whole.
Nevertheless, we are committed to enabling full stakeholder participation in local water management issues and this will essentially be done through the mandate of the Inkomati Catchment Management Agency and the six Water User Associations that have been established in both the Olifants and Inkomati water management areas. I remain confident that that through the processes of establishing Catchment Management Agencies and Water User Associations, our mandate will be executed to the full, in letter and spirit.
Our department is committed to pay particular attention to the allocation of water as well as needs and development of small farmers who were denied opportunities in the past. We are collaborating with the provincial government to do this and to ensure that water is well managed and that the hardships of drought and the variability of water availability are scientifically assessed and managed. Together we must ensure that the provision of services that depend on these resources is based on sound investigations. We can ill afford any negative impacts on our consumers with systems that regularly fail due to poor planning and resources that are not able to yield sufficient water when we have below average rainfall.
The department remains committed to taking action against unlawful water use. We need to discourage unlawful acts for the benefit of all that depend on our scarce water resources. We are working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Public Prosecutors in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to address water crimes that threaten the security of supply to lawful water users. These initiatives would also be showcased during the Enforcement and Compliance Week which occurs within the month November 2009.
Earlier in my address, I made reference to the fact that water resources management is a national competence in that water respects no boundaries. How do we therefore relate to our neighbouring states? Many of the river systems in Mpumalanga are part of internationally shared water courses and we have to comply with certain international protocols and agreements in developing and managing these river systems.
Continuous consultation and negotiation with our neighbouring states, Swaziland and Mozambique, in line with Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols is essential to ensure that we achieve New Partnership for Africa's Development objectives and stimulate regional development and economic growth.
While the Interim Inco-Maputo Agreement was signed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 as a tri-partite agreement between the Republic of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique to achieve the abovementioned objectives, we are still faced with very complex challenges since water is already over-allocated in South Africa. The requirements of Mozambique are expected to increase; careful planning and implementation of any development of options as well as the implementation of acceptable operating rules for joint beneficial use will be required.
I am sure that we are all aware that the country has experienced below-average rainfall over the past four years leading to water shortages in many areas of the country, including Mpumalanga. However, this situation has improved somewhat in a number of areas. What invariably happens after extended periods of below average rainfall is that we experience high rainfall over short periods which then lead to flooding with consequent damage to property and sometimes, the loss of lives. We do have to be prepared to manage these flood situations.
In many cases, the dam levels are far below average for this time of the yearly rainfall cycle. This crisis calls for cooperation between department, water users, and municipalities. Our department will continue to offer information on the water situation, technical support to users through established disaster management systems, and provide financial assistance through the routine national government disaster management funding to alleviate the effects of drought.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) underlines the priorities of ensuring service delivery, integrating investments in infrastructure, promoting sustainable economic development and job creation, and protecting the vulnerable including those with HIV and AIDS. There is no doubt that the availability of water will play a critical role in achieving these priorities.
We are convinced that the recently approved policy for financial assistance for resource poor farmers which also includes a subsidy for Rain Water Tanks for family food production will contribute to the objectives of the PGDS in a very tangible way. R1,6 million was allocated for Rain Water Harvesting pilot project in Moretele in the Olifants water management area under Dr J S Moroka Local Municipality. The project commenced in December 2008. The pilot sites were identified in seven villages, namely: Pankop, Phake, Mmametlake, Marapyane, Nokaneng, Lefiso and Seabe. 40 households were identified as beneficiaries.
Moreover, the Working for Water (WfW) Programme that contributes to the sustainable prevention and controlling of invasive alien plants, also aims to address poverty relief and promote economic empowerment and transformation within a public works framework. The hydrological, ecological and agricultural long-term goals of the Working for Water Programme also include economic development, socio-economic empowerment and institutional development. The program aims to relieve poverty by employing previously disadvantaged individuals (60% women; 20% youth; and five percent disabled).
Our department is aware of the fact that some of the municipalities in the province (Water Services Authorities) are faced with serious challenges with regards to service delivery to their consumers. It is absolutely critical that our resources and support programmes are integrated to ensure that these Municipalities are able to perform their functions as Water Services Authorities. Any existing capacity gaps will have to be dealt with, but Municipalities must ensure that sufficiently skilled people are employed to deliver a quality water services to their consumers.
We all are also aware that some municipalities in the Province are experiencing problems with the management of sewage treatment works and water purification plants. I must emphasise that it is the responsibility of each Water Service Authority to ensure proper planning, budgeting and management of such infrastructure to prevent service delivery breakdowns and pollution incidents. Sufficient provision must be made for operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure to prevent service delivery failures. Our department has committed to and will continue to give its full support to the various skills development and capacity building initiatives in the province.
The planning and the provision of infrastructure is only the start of providing water supply and sanitation. Our plans and high quality infrastructure will be of no benefit if good management of operations is not practiced to ensure reliable, effective and efficient service, to avoid dry taps, blocked toilets and polluted rivers. Water quality monitoring and response systems must be developed and put in place. Then of course, the reliability and quality of service provision must be monitored effectively. We must have early warning mechanisms established to ensure that we are able to react to potential problems and prevent system failures.
The challenge of Water Quality Management within the context of Integrated Water Resources Management requires a multi-disciplinary approach in a multi-sectoral environment to ensure sustainable total water management from source to supply, including meeting the demands with regards to fitness for use from the various sectors.
The cholera outbreak in Bushbuckridge and some parts of Mbombela local municipalities
(December 2008 until March 2009) is a case in point where capacity to ensure total water management was lacking. This had disastrous consequences in which 30 people lost their lives. We need to ensure that the lessons learnt are implemented at the operational level. Cooperative government as duly manifested in the interaction between our Department, municipalities and the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs at the regular Joint Operations Committee meetings is crucial and should be encouraged.
To alleviate poverty and to ensure equitable access to water services by all our people, particularly the poor, we must ensure that the Free Basic Water Policy is effectively applied in all municipalities. This can be done if we understand that it goes hand-in-hand with proper financial management and functional cost recovery to ensure financial viability of the services that municipalities provide. It is recognised that progress with the implementation of free basic water and sanitation in Mpumalanga is faced with serious challenges especially in the former homeland areas, where large regional schemes exist with a history of non-payment, little demand management and high water losses.
The extreme levels of poverty in these areas also require that effective policies are implemented as a matter of priority. It is for that reason that our Department has piloted the Water Conservation and Demand Management (WCDM) in Nkomazi, Albert Luthuli and Dr JS Moroka. The emphasis is on the four pillars of the WCDM where social, technical, financial and legal or institutional interventions are applied.
We have a challenge to intensify implementation of the 2020 Vision for Water and Sanitation Education Programme in collaboration with the Department of Education. This programme engages learners in both intermediate and senior phases where learners are involved in projects that also promote WC/WDM as well as water use efficiency and health and hygiene practices. We encourage Municipalities to get involved in these intervention projects where schools and other public institutions are encouraged to harvest rain water in order to augment any water supply mechanisms. We aspire to see these projects appearing in the Integrated Development Plans of all municipalities.
Much as our department has supported the bucket eradication programme in the Province in all the formal settlements, there are concerns about the upgrading to full waterborne sanitation. You must please remember that it takes water to flush toilets. I urge you to please ensure that the existing water supply and sewage treatment infrastructure can accommodate this or make plans for expansion. You must also ensure that your projects are financially viable and that you have the necessary skills and resources to operate and maintain the services, particularly in areas where the majority of the community is reliant on free basic services.
I am delighted to indicate that the transfer of water services schemes and staff to the seven Municipalities of Mbombela, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Thembisile Hani, Thaba Chweu, Dr JS Moroka and Albert Luthuli has been finalised. When I addressed the delegates in the 2006 Provincial Water Summit, I indicated that only Nkomazi and Mbombela Local Municipalities had taken full transfer, the operation and maintenance of this infrastructure is progressing well. This shows the commitment and dedication from all the parties concerned.
Since our transition from water services provider to a regulator, our department had been providing hands-on support to municipalities to improve their Water Services Development Plans, to implement demand management and conservation measures, and to use their Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) effectively and institute proper monitoring programmes. We will partner the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements to ensure the success of the Municipal Support Programme.
Programme director, we will be hosting the biggest sports event in the world, the FIFA soccer world cup in 2010, our country will be in the spotlight. Attempts are being made by some of the municipalities to get a blue drop certification but more effort is needed to expedite the process. We need to showcase our country and the quality of water services that we provide to our people.
Comrade Premier, given the strategic importance of water, it is my wish to see the establishment of provincial Water Committees that eventually report to you so that there is proper alignment and integration with your development goals in the province. It is also my wish to have more frequent meetings with the MEC of Local Government to foster synergy on the water challenges in the province.
We therefore need to look at ways of strengthening the effectiveness of the IGR forums, (e.g.) we could have the Mpumalanga Water Sector Intergovernmental Forum, chaired by the MEC for Local Government and Housing being formally constituted in terms of section 21 of the Inter-Governmental Relations Act.
It is my fervent hope that we will emerge from this Indaba with a concrete Water Indaba Action Plan as well as a monitoring framework for supervision by the provincial government. It is incumbent upon us to make sure that our plans and strategies work for the benefit of our people. I call upon the three spheres of government to collaborate and ensure that the people of Mpumalanga have access to clean and safe water. Working together to ensure the provision of water to the residents of this province is what we should all strive for.
We have just launched a project to fast track the processing of water licensees, called "Project Letsema".
"Let there be Water for sustainable growth and development for all and the future generations in Mpumalanga." "Emanti eftu sonkhe – asiwongeni bekunene!"
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
6 October 2009
