PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY
STUDY TOUR TO LIMPOPO PROVINCE
14 - 17 APRIL 2002
A. Terms of reference:

To monitor the implementation of the Free Basic Water Policy and delivery of water services.

B. Delegation:

Ms BP Sonjica; ANC - leader of delegation
Ms TE Leshivha
Ms RA Ndzanga
Chief Maluleke-Hlaneki
Mr MJ Phala
Mr MM Masala
Mr S Simmons (NNP)
Rev. Mogoba (PAC)
Mrs M Mercuur (secretary to Chairperson)

D. Challenges faced by the Municipalities include:

1. Critical water supply to a potential Platinum mine which could be a job creator and thereby alleviate poverty in the area;
2. Mokopane has a poor water infrastructure as reservoirs may only be 30% full and the demand is more than what can be supplied.
3. The possibility of a Smelter opening its factory is curbed by absence of water;
4. Plan for free basic water has not been implemented in this Municipal area
5. Regular water shortage also occurs because pipes are riot big enough to supply the surrounding communities;
6 Non-payment for services as the water supply is unreliable.

Mahwelereng - Response:

· The Municipality of Mahwelereng inherited bad debt. Even if write-offs are considered, effective water supply is still needed; it is difficult to implement free basic water.
· No water works exist in the area.
· Strategies to be put into place in relation to Sanitation.
· The regular fluctuations of the water table pose a threat to the Municipalities who pump well fields;
· Water is contaminated when people construct their own pit latrines. Consequently, the area has a cholera problem outbreak.
· Free basic water services are not supplied on time due to budget constraints.
· 70% of water in Mahwelereng Municipal area is inaccessible; 80% of the communities/villages live below the RDP level.


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The raising of the wall at Doorndraaidam has immense financial implications; eg: buying of water rights from farmers.
Building of the Rooipoortdam will cost an estimated R400 million.

E. Visit to Malepetleke Cholera affected Area

Doctors John McCutcheon and Kakudi of the Mokopane Hospital gave a brief background on the effect that this disease has in the area. The status of Cholera Epidemic in Limpopo Province until 5 April 2002 was highlighted to the delegation. A detailed Cholera report from the Waterberg District was also presented.

Findings:
a. Problem created by lack of clean potable water.
b. Construction pit latrines without guidance contaminated groundwater.


F. Visit to Polokwane Municipality
from DWAF

The Executive Mayor highlighted the concern that although Polokwane Municipality has a very stable budget, is not authorized to take part in projects of water supply because of the lack of clarity between the functions and powers of the categories B and C of municipalities.

Findings:
a. Role clarification between category B and category C.
b. Vandalism.

G. Visit to Waterberg District
Committee visited Nylsvallei Wetlands and had a briefing on Projects in the Wetland areas.

H. Visit to Ha-Mulima Challenges

1. Insufficient underground water to alleviate water shortage;
2. Boreholes drilled do not fulfill the water demand
3. Engine break-down because it is not strong enough
4. Administrative personnel has been inundated with queries from villagers eg: breakdown of engines - when repairs are done only a few engines are repaired.
5 When personnel go on pension their expertise is lost and new personnel is not well trained.
Y_6. There was no water supply to the Police Station, schools and clinics on the day of our visit;
7. To fetch water people have to walk up to one kilometre from rivers and streams and thereby increasing the health risk.
8. The IDP programme was introduced but cannot take off due to limited capacity.
9. An elevated steel tank has been erected but the borehole has insufficient water.

I. Recommendations

a. Free basic water could not be supplied by the Municipality. A joint venture should be entered into with Municipality - critical area.
b. To alleviate the water shortage a Business Plan was put forward to DWAF, the technical staff of the Municipality. The amount of sixteen (R16) million rand is needed to complete the project of provisioning of water
c. Toilets structures were built but no water is available. A project is in process to provide proper sanitation facilities.
d. The first project was implemented in 1996/97 and it covered four(4) villages; pipes were provided and tanks were put up but no water source were found;
e. The second project started in 2001 and covered eight (8) villages -four (4) villages were covered but also here no water was found because the contractor did not finish the project

J. Visit to Vhembe District-The delegation met with Mr SE Moeti, Executive Mayor of the Vhembe
District Municipality.

Findings
a. The water situation in the District not enough for the population. 90% of population still receive water below RDP standard;
b. Mothadi has a water shortage although it has two rivers flowing through the village;
c. Areas such as Makhado and Tholemela have been upgraded but in spite of the upgrading, certain areas still do not receive water supply at certain times of the day.
d. The area had a cholera outbreak as a consequence of the absence of potable water and sanitation services.

K. Visit to Nandoni Dam

Background


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a. The Nandoni Dam is the major water source and has its own water treatment plant
b. The Community Action Committee looks after the employment policy including local contractors and entrepreneurs.
c. Graves policy- Graves will be flooded.
d. Loss of arable land (grazing and food).
e. Relocation of houses, churches, clinics, schools are guided by the policy -eg: Budeli Village and Dididu
f. Project Steering Committee: It includes representatives from twenty to (22) villages, DWAF, Land Affairs and DEAT.

A visit to the Nandoni Construction site was very informative. The Dam will provide 60 cubic meters of water per day. 377 people are employed in the construction of the Dam; 235 of whom are locally recruited, and 142 from other provinces like the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu Natal and the Western Cape. Families were resettled in new houses and the package included resettling the graves.

I. Visit to Xixundu Construction site:

Findings:
a. The pumping of the water will result in water 20 cubic meters of water supply. The purification plant is estimated to be completed by Marc 20J3.
b. The local community members construct the buildings.
c. 25 villages will benefit from the construction.
d. The promotion of Tourism included in the Environmental Management Plan.
e. Communities are active aid always consult with DWAF and PSC and CAC members. The relocation of communities close to Xixundu site is not as complex as at Nandoni Dam.
f. A nursery will be provided to re-plant the plants of Medicinal value.

J. Recommendations:
i) DWAF and DPLG need to assist on legal issues with regard to unfinished projects.
ii) The WASH campaign should target areas that are Cholera prone.
iii) Powers and functions between categories B and C need to be clarified.
iv) Strengthen the structures- Provincial Planning Committee.
v) The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry should address the problem of inadequate water supply that affects socio-economic development as a priority.
A master plan for growth of the Municipality has to be implemented to save the town and surrounding villages from a slow death because of no water supply.


The committee expresses a special thanks to the Doctors respectively, and all the volunteers that risked their lives in assisting fighting cholera.

Also, a special thanks to the MEC Matukane and staff of DWAF who made this study tour such a big success.