REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY ON A VISIT TO THE FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCES

A. Background

A multiparty delegation from the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry (the "Committee") undertook a visit to the provinces of Free State and Northern Cape during the period of 11th to 15th August 2003. The delegation comprised the following members:

Hlaneki, Mr CJ (ANC) [Chief]

Maimane, Mr DS (ANC) [Leader of the delegation]

Mathebe, Mr P (ANC)

Nel, Mr AH (DA)

Ngubane, Pof H (IFP)

Sigwela, Mr EM (ANC)

Simmons, Mr S (NNP

Van Wyk, Mr JF (ANC) [Chairperson]

Nguqu, Mr M (Committee Secretary)

Due to family mishap the Chairperson, Mr Van Wyk, had to part ways with the delegation immediately after the arrival at Free State province – which resulted to Mr Maimane assuming leadership of the delegation.

The delegation spent Monday and Tuesday, August 11th to 12th, and Wednesday and Thursday, August 13th to 14th, in the Free Sate and Northern Cape, respectively.

 

B. Terms of Reference

The mandate of the delegation was to monitor the implementation of and get progress reports on the delivery of water services, sanitation backlogs and water management structures in line with the provisions set out in the Water Services Act as part of the oversight role of the Committee.

 

C. Free State

Overview of provincial challenges facing Water Services and Sanitation: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry – Free State Regional Office

(1) Water Services

    1. Success and Challenges on Free Basic Water Implementation
    2. Free Basic Water has been successfully implemented in 98 percent of the areas that receive water to a basic or high level of service.

      A status qua study is being undertaken in which all local municipalities will be visited at township level to assess infrastructure and inter alia evaluate the sustainability of the implementation of Free Basic Water Policy with due regard to the high unemployment rate which affects the payment of levies and rates for the rendering of services.

      This study will also be used as a tool to identify un-served areas and would together with the new census data be used to update the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) database. In addition the local municipalities will also again be visited with the roll out of the new Basic Water Sanitation Strategy to assist and obtain information to upgrade the DWAF database.

    3. Utilization of Equitable Share in the Province
    4. The percentage of equitable share used for water services has not previously been reported on under the DWAF database and subsequently no meaningful figure could be reported on. The portion of the equitable share required for services is very dependant on the water user profile, that is residential versus rural versus industrial consumers.

    5. Relationship between Water Boards and Local Municipalities
    6. Bloem and Sedibeng Water Boards currently render water services provision in the Free State Province.

      There exists an exceptionally good relationships with the local municipalities to whom the Water Boards have contractual obligations and are providing a water service provision function.

    7. Transfer of Schemes to Municipalities
    8. The Thabo Mofutsanyana schemes are in the process of being transferred from Sedibeng Water but have not been concluded yet, while the schemes on which the Bloem Water is involved are also in the process of being transferred and the relevant agreements are being entered into.

    9. Legislative Problems
    10. No serious problems were identified in the discussion of the relations between the Water Boards and Local Municipalities.

    11. Evolution of Powers and Functions of Local Municipalities

In DWAF dealings with the local municipalities it has been found that most of the local municipalities with the exception of Mangaung, Matjabeng and one or two others very limited capacity in implementing water services projects and operating and maintaining existing infrastructure exists. Both of the Water Boards have also confirmed that local municipalities have either no or too limited capacity to fulfill the function of water services provision.

(2) Sanitation Backlogs

    1. Current Status
    2. Currently, there is a total of 283 300 households representing almost 1million people without adequate or basic sanitation in the province.

      Of the above total 145 022 and 72 718 in rural and urban areas respectively are services by buckets and none or unimproved pit systems.

      There are 65 560 households in the farms who have none or unimproved pit system.

      Between 30 – 35 percent of the population will be catered this financial year under the Free State Development Plan of DWAF.

      (ii) Cost Estimate to Eradicate Backlog

      The province requires about R1 841,450,000 to put the fully-fledged flush waterborne structure of toilets at the average cost of R6, 500 per structure for the above total of 283 300 households without basic sanitation.

      However, as an interim solution to immediately alleviate the disastrous effects of poor unhygienic sanitation, only R793 240,000 is required to successfully implement the current Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrines at the average cost of R2, 800 per structure to cater for the backlog

      Implementation Progress

      (1) Water Services

      (i) Thaba Nchu, together with Botsabelo, consist of 292 500 combined estimated population – 190 000 and 102 500 people respectively – and fall within the area of jurisdiction of the Motheo District Council who is the Water Services Authority responsible for water services in the area.

    3. Of the 292 500 population stated above, more than 170 000 residents do not have adequate access to water supply, or have a supply of water connected to their stands without any reliable form of cost recovery in place.
    4. The Mangaung Local Municipality is the Water Services Provider for both areas and Bloem Water the Water Board who is currently also acting as the Water Services Provider for certain areas in Thaba Nchu in terms of an agreement entered into between Bloem Water and the former Thaba Nchu TLC.
    5. Through various attempts and high-level political intervention that led to a concerted approach, funds were secured to extend the water supply services and associated cost recovery in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu.
    6. This project, which is estimated to cost R47 079,770 (excluding VAT), was commenced with in August 2001 and its completion date is June 2004, therefore being implemented over a period of three years. Bloem Water, DWAF, Free State Provincial Government, and Grant Funding, contributed R12 000,000, R14 251,248, R12 665,230, and R8 163,292 respectively.
    7. The Project is located within the municipal boundaries of the Mangaung Local Municipality, and Bloem Water is an appointed Implementing Agent, controlled by a Project Steering Committee comprising senior officials from Bloem Water, Department of Local Government and Housing (Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme), DWAF, Mangaung Local Municipality, and representatives from the beneficiary communities, in terms of the approved Project Business Plan.
    8. The infrastructure that is required to upgrade the water supply system in the Botshabelo area to achieve cost recovery could be summarized as follows:
        • Infrastructure to upgrade the water reticulation system from a communal standpipe system to individual metered yard connections (including zonal meters for Sections F, J, K, and T;

      1. Similar to Botshabelo, the new water infrastructure required in Thaba Nchu will upgrade existing communal standpipe systems to individual metered stand connections and could be summarized as follows:
        1. The installation of the above infrastructure together with individual conventionally metered yard connections to Moroka and Mokwena.
        2. In addition, communal standpipe water supply systems will also be upgraded to individual metered stand connections in Feloane, Houtnek, Merino, potsane, Spitskop, Thubise, Tiger River, and Yorksford.

      2. RDP principles relating to job creation opportunities for women, youth and disabled, training and capacity building, sustainable development, and community participation are and will still be adhered to throughout the implementation of the project.
      3. To date an amount of R2 290,201 has been spent on labour with a local contingent of 80 percent, and R167 137 on the awareness campaigns and training. Training programmes being offered to PSC and ward committee members from the areas the project is executed include, inter alia, project management, conflict resolution, communication skills, business plan preparation and financial management.

      4. Preferential procurement procedures in terms of the Act and its conditions are followed and will still be followed in the compilation and evaluation of tenders and tender documents are structured to offer maximum accessibility to local contractors.
      5. To date construction has commenced on six (6) of the twenty-six (26) contracts.

      6. The Mangaung Local Municipality has and will in future determine the water tariff and possess sufficient financial, administrative and operation and maintenance capacity to oversee this project after completion.

     

    (2) Sanitation

    (i) The Mangaung Local Municipality has an implementation plan for water-borne sewerage and by the end of the year 2005 a total of 42,5 percent erven will have water-borne, according to this plan. The White Paper on Basic Household Sanitation of September 2001 envisages the provision of basic household sanitation by March 2010.

      1. With the advent of the National Sanitation Strategy 88 969 households; in Mangaung (28 778), Botshabelo (44 294) and Thaba Nchu (15 897) were without proper hygiene toilet systems – sanitation – of which 22 125 still the old bucket systems that must be eradicated before the end of 2007 (±6000 buckets per year) in compliance with the national timeframe.
      2. At the current rate of providing 1 500 erven each year (R16 000,000 per year) with water-borne it will take the Municipality up to 60 years just to catch up with the backlog, not even touching on the yearly natural increase in population.
      3. To alleviate the total backlog of almost 88 969 systems by the year 2010 through the provision of water-borne sewerage will cost Mangaung Local Municipality ±R667 500 000 not taken into consideration the increased cost to upgrade the capacity of the treatment works, maintenance, running cost and constraints on scares water resources.
      4. On the other hand to alleviate the same backlog through the provision of proper hygiene sanitation that must meet the minimum standard of service by means of VIP systems will cost R247 261,440 minus VAT of R26 628,000 included and which can be deducted.
      5. At present the monthly sanitation levy is ±R74 to render the service of the water-borne sewerage compared to R5 or even no charge for VIP’s seeing that the operational cost is minimum.
      6. Given the current socio-economic and environmental needs of the communities as well as the fact that DWAF had already granted funding in a form of subsidy, a decision was taken to provide upgradeable toilets (VIP’s) in the short term to accelerate the installation of water-borne systems.
      7. Of the backlog of 88 969 households, a margin of 12 803 VIP’s, in Mangaung (3 043), Botshabelo (2 257) and Thaba Nchu (7 503) have been installed during the financial year 2002/2003.
      8. There remains an outstanding total of 76 166 VIP’s, in Mangaung (25 735), Botshabelo (13 640) and Thaba Nchu (38 791) still to be installed.
      9. The short-term total budget for the 2004/2006 financial cycle is estimated at R28 846,200, R30 793,200, and R32 934,900 respectively, and contributions for funding will be derived from the Mangaung Local Municipality, Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme and DWAF.
      10. During the same period, the cost of a VIP unit will cost R2, 884, R3, 086, and R3, 302. Currently, the national Government is prepared to give a subsidy of R900 for the top structure and R300 for presenting the PHAST (Participatory Health and Hygiene Training) programme.
      11. The VIP project has already employed an estimated 1 300 workers, and presently 600 labourers (300 each men and women) and subcontractors are working in the project.
      12. The total labour investment in the programme when completed will be approximately R 30 000,000.
      13. 1. Botshabelo Sanitation Project

          • In Sections A and E the programme was disrupted by small disgruntled groupings and/or individuals who insisted on the provision of waterborne sanitation.
            • The above incidence resulted in the reallocation of VIP’s to Sections F, K and V where the construction of 7 300 units were successfully completed during 2002/2003.

       

      (3) Water Management Structures: Oranje-Riet Water User Association

      (i) The ORWUA was constituted on 15th September 2000 by the amalgamation of three (3) irrigation boards and two government schemes, and took over operation and maintenance work from 1st January 2002.

        1. It derives its functions (principal and ancillary) from the guidelines of the Water Services Act that includes, inter alia, to supervise and regulate the distribution and use of water from a water resource.
        2. The Management Committee is drawn from diverse groups of water users such as diggers, emerging farmers, irrigators, local governments, and small users, representing 5 Sub-areas; Oranje-Riet, Rietrivier, Scholtzburg, Richie and Benede-Riet that correspond with the above stated amalgamation.
        3. To date there is a total number of 89 employees doing operational maintenance from the transfer of original 64 DWAF officials whose pension fund still not paid over to that of ORWUA – something that causes a lot of resentment and unhappiness amongst these officials.
        4. ORWUA received a capital subsidy or grant of R6 740,000 and bought equipment for R1 840,000 from DWAF.
        5. ORWUA supply water to 5 towns, 374 farmers, 1600 small users, 5 industries and 23 diamond diggers.
        6. Water Supply to the 5 Sub-areas (Oranje-Riet, Rietrivier, Scholtzburg, Ritchie and Benede-Riet) already improved to minimize losses in the first year after implementing a telemetry system, the use of satellite image and minimum payment of 85 percent.
        7. Whereas a total new financial management system (Pastel 6) was implemented, the calculation of water tariff was very difficult because of the extra account from DWAF (pricing strategy) and ORWUA’s constitution.
        8. ORWUA operates and maintain an infrastructure consisting of a 13,6 main canal, 6 pumps of between 650kw to 2000kw electric motors.
        9. The Oranje-Riet Canal is 112km with a capacity of 15,2m³/s and 13,2m³/s. A S2 Balancing dam of 1450000m³ had to be built to cater for oversupply and emergences.
        10. The Rietrivier canal system, on the other hand, consists of 185km canal, 54km drainage canals, 103,4km river with 2 weirs and 5 balancing dams with a capacity of 23 000.00m³.
        11. The total servitude area to maintain is 789 hectare and 884km fencing.

       

      (4) Irrigation Scheme: Oppermansgronde

      (i) The Oppermansgronde is an area of approximately 34 000ha and was bequeathed in a form of a trust to the descendants of Salmon Frederick Opperman in his will in 1907.

        1. As the property has to be held in trust and none of the inheritors may obtain property rights, there is now an entire community settled on this land with about 102 extensive livestock farmers utilizing the land on units that vary in size from 63 to 914ha.
        2. This farming practice alone can, however, not sustain the needs of the community and a large area of good irrigable land within the Oppermansgronde that borders on the Oranje-Riet canal was therefore identified and offers opportunities for development.
        3. After an irrigation feasibility study for the specific portion of land in the Oppermans community was conducted (various feasibility studies were conducted) by the ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering under the auspices of the Free State Department of Agriculture, a reservation in flow capacity and water volume per annum for the irrigation of 800ha was retained in the Oranje-Riet canal for the Oppermansgronde, contiguous to the canal.
        4. The reservation was retained since the construction of the canal to allow the utilization of the irrigation potential of the land once land rights of the historically disadvantage individuals owning the land have been resolved.
        5. The Commission on Restitution of Land Rights recommended in February 2003 that the land be given back to the Oppermans community. The land is currently the property of the Municipality of Letsemeng consisting of the towns of Koffiefontein, Jacobsdal, Petrusburg, Luckhoff and Oppermans.
        6. As a first phase, approximately 200ha land closest to the canal was identified for irrigation scheme.
        7. The proposed area is divided into 20 irrigation blocks of 10ha each and 40 beneficiaries will belong to the scheme.
        8. The maximum nett rate of water extraction is 1.3 litres per second per hactare, and the allocated amount of irrigation water is 11 000m per annum³.
        9. One pump station, with three pumps, each with its own main line, is planned next to the canal to supply the irrigation with water.
        10. Water is available on demand for extraction on a continuous basis for 24 hours per day for the whole year except for three dry periods per year for maintenance to the canal, and the water is pumped through pipelines to the various irrigation blocks.
        11. The current water tariff is R890 per hectare per year but for previously disadvantaged farmers the cost is subsidized. For the first year, they carry 20 percent of the cost and thereafter an additional 20 percent annually for first years, after which they pay the total cost. The subsidy is provided by DWAF for the total irrigation scheme of 200ha. The eventual water levy for the total area is therefore R178 000 per annum (R890 x 200ha)
        12. Electricity is supplied to the pump station as well as to each individual irrigation block from an existing power line.
        13. Crops planned for harvesting include wheat, maize, groundnuts, potatoes, onions and olives. Livestock includes mutton, goats and beef.
        14. The necessary infrastructure is planned and includes connecting roads between different irrigation blocks and main roads, fencing off of the entire irrigation area as a unit with two access gates, and an office and storage complex that includes electricity supply, telephone connections and ablution facilities.
        15. Provision is made for the necessary training of prospective farmers as well as an extension service that will be continually available to the farmers.
        16. The TOTAL START-UP FINANCE needed for the irrigation development as well as ESTIMATED ANNUAL FIXED COSTS is R7 241,538 and R1 758,353 respectively.
        17. The following strengths and opportunities were identified:
            • A management committee that can give guidance regarding planning, development and management of the irrigation scheme already exists. Although the administration functions are handled by the Letsemeng Local Municipality.

              • The core of the community is stable and they are permanent residents of the area.

              • There is a need for supplementary economic activities in the area to combat unemployment and migration.

              • On average, the economic condition of the households is healthy, as the domestic income is higher that the domestic expenditure.

              • The majority of the community is still young, with potential for development.

          1. Notwithstanding the above, there are threats and weaknesses that deserve immediate interventions as indicated below;
              • The general knowledge and experience regarding irrigation among the potential farmers are limited. Well-directed training and guidance actions will therefore have to form an important part of the total irrigation development scheme.

                • Although the average payment capacity of the potential farmers is positive, some of them have a negative capacity, which means that they will not be able to take part in the irrigation scheme without external financial aid.

                • The current capital investment of farmers in vehicles, implements, machinery and tools is insufficient for irrigation development. Advice and financial aid will therefore have to be made available, in order to obtain the correct equipment.

                • Uncertainty exists amongst farmers on the best way of development and utilization of the irrigation land. Guidance in this regard is therefore essential.

                • Besides the infrastructure, the socio-economic infrastructure is also lacking. This includes corporate services, research, guidance and training necessary for irrigation development.

            1. In future, the irrigation management committee will be able to function as a legal entity under the Oranje-Riet Water User’s Association and will therefore have the protection of the National Water Act.

           

          D. Northern Cape

          Regional Overview and Challenges: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry: Northern Cape Regional Office

          (1) Water Services:

          (i) According to Census 2001, water statistics are as follows:

            • 41 percent piped water inside dwelling.

            • 43 percent piped water inside yard.

            • 8 percent community stand with a distance of more than 200m.

            • 7 percent community stand with a distance of less that 200m, and

            • Other remainder of 1 percent.

            1. 56 percent of the population is served with Free Basic Water Service
            2. Only 1 category B Municipality is lagging behind. Thus represents 96 percent of Municipalities implementing the service. (Compared to the national status of 59,4 percent).
            3. Municipal constraints include high debts, non-payment, inappropriate service providing technology, misuse of equitable share, income indigent registers, unsustainable infrastructure, and lack of policies and bylaws.
            4. With regard to Free Basic Sanitation, only 1 category B Municipality is implanting the service; namely, Hantam.
            5. DWAF is currently busy doing an assessment on Free Basic Water Services Implementation (Phase 1).
            6. On 16th September 2003, a provincial information session will be convened.
            7. Between October 2003 to June 2004, DWAF will assist with FBS policy/strategy formulation (Phase 2)

           

          Water Projects:

          1. Bloemsmond, Curriescamp and Soverby Water Project

            • Bloemsmond, Curriescamp and Soverby are three rural villages situated between Upington and Keimoes next to the Orange River.

            • Soverby (169 houses) and Curriescamp (138 houses) are situated about 8 and 12 kilometres from Keismoes respectively, and both have no water supply systems, while Bloemsmond (63 houses) situated about 8km from the two villages has a raw water supply system from an irrigation canal close by.

            • Donkey carts are used to transport water at a cost from the river to most of the houses where is stored in 220 litre drums and containers.

            • All three villages are completely dependant on raw water from the Orange River and this project’s objective is to provide adequate and safe water to these villages up to the Basic Level of Service according to the RDP water supply standards. Tests on the quality of water in the Orange River done on a regular basis shown a coliform presence of up to 28 parts per 100ml.

            • Construction on the Curriescamp water supply system started on 5 May 2003 and is expected for completion before the end of 2003. The river pump, 2000m rising main, raw water storage dam, water purification plant, sectional steel tank and pipelines were completed recently, and outstanding items include backfilling of trenches and finishing. Forty-eight (48) and thirty-four (34) percents of the labourers up to date were women and youth respectively.

            • The project to supply Soverby with potable water will start soon – towards the middle of August 2003, and like Curriescamp, will be finished before the end of 2003.

            • Budget spending trends for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 financial years were R1, 1 million and R2, 2 million respectively, and the three villages are handled as separate contracts due budget being allocated over three financial years.

            • With over R700 000 allocated in the next financial year (2004/2005), work in Bloesmond will only start in April 2004.

            • Awareness campaigns through house to house visits by a local woman is conducted, and related technical training for people from all three villages commences once construction begins.

            • The cost estimation for water supply (total budget) to these three villages is high (R3, 4 million) due to the fact that the villages are stretched out and about half of the excavation will be rock.

          2. Riemvasmaak Water Project

            • The Riemvasmaak area is approximately 70 000 hectares, and approximately 60km North West of Kakamas, with the Orange River as a southern boundary.

            • The Riemvasmaak community was resettled to their land – removed during the 1970’s and area used for training purposes by the former SADF) – during 1994 in two residential areas, namely Vredesvallei and Mission (Sending), 16km apart.

            • DWAF identified the water supply shortages during 1997 and approved funding under the RDP programme to improve the water supply to the community. Some of the water infrastructure developed by SADF could still be utilized by the community.

            • The work entails the construction of a water treatment plant at Vredesvallei as well as a storage reservoir and water reticulation with metered erf connections, while, at Mission, an elevated reservoir was constructed together with a water reticulation system. Borehoe equipment was also improved, and boreholes drilled, tested and equipped with solar pumps and storage tanks at 13 outposts scattered over the area.

            • The construction period was from January 20 to October 1 1998, and the infrastructure development was done at a cost of R2 593,940.05 over the same period.

            • The sustainability programme started in November 199 and was implemented until March 2002 at a cost of R33 200.61 for technical issues and R142 367.56 for social and institutional aspects.

            • Eight semi-skilled people of Riemvasmaak were employed during the implementation stage and received further in-service training. Participatory Health and Hygienic Training (PHAST) was also provided to members of the community at Mission and Vredesvallei.

           

          (2) Sanitation:

          (i) The original sanitation backlog for Frances Baard, Karoo, Kgalagadi, Namakwa and Siyanda Municipalities was 19 648, 21 581, 26 440, 12 363, and 14 708 respectively.

            1. In the same areas of jurisdiction, a total number of toilets delivered so far is 4 093, 4 489, 2 377, 4 281, and 3 671, respectively.
            2. The total number of population accordingly served with sanitation services is therefore 20 465, 22 445, 11 885, 21 405, and 18 355.
            3. Remaining backlog now stands at 15 555, 17 092, 24 063, 8 082, and 11 037, for Frances Baard, Karoo, Kgalagadi, Namakwa, and Siyanda Municipalities respectively.
            4. A funding from the Department of Housing and Local Government will be employed to eradicate all buckets during this financial year.
            5. There has been good progress on 8 eradication projects in the Karoo.
            6. Frances Baard Business Plan was referred back due to the fact that the Local Municipality applied for a higher level for service.
            7. Tenders for construction in Namakwa District Municipality have been already approved.
            8. In Siyanda projects had been identified with the good coordination of DWAF. Funding form DWAF is aimed at construction of 4 928 toilets if the business plan is approved. However, DWAF will have to determine its regulatory and monitoring role regarding the quality of construction and impact of health and hygiene campaign.
            9. To date the following achievements are noted and recorded:

            • Generally, there is support to bucket eradication programme in Karoo and Namakwa Districts.

            • To date 12 000 toilets had been constructed.

            • In terms of an agreement the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme and DWAF, business plans have to be evaluated, DWAF does health and hygiene campaigns and CMIP construction of toilets.

            • The Department of Housing and Local Government also makes funding available for health and hygiene in specific districts.

            • Stakeholders meetings ate held regularly under the Chairpersonship of SALGA.

            • District Forums were stabled and in 3 districts are managed by the District Municipality.

            • In Kgalagadi, the District Municipality is implementing a demand driven household sanitation project.

            1. Despite the above, the following challenges still need to be dealt with:

            • Long delays to finalize Area Business Plans in the Business Planning process.

            • Continuous procedural changes and bureaucratic red-tape.

            • Toilet counting instead of development approach.

            • Capacity of Local Authorities to comply with all the conditions set by the Department and the lack of capacity to implement community driven approach.

            • Financial systems of Municipalities find it difficult to manage all community payments.

            • Inadequate subsidy as Local Authorities desire and want to construct quality structures.

            • Local Authorities capacity to maintain infrastructure and clear understanding of sustainable service delivery.

            • Different approaches by different role-players make integration of projects problematic.

            • Criteria for funding for the same service differs form the Department to Department.

            • Financial situation of Municipalities and late transfer of funds.

            • Contractors are not well monitored, especially with the quality of construction.

            • Different approaches will have to be sorted out before Municipal Infrastructure Grant is implemented, and DWAF must decide what its role as regulator and monitor entails.

           

          Sanitation Projects

          1. Karos Sanitation Project

            • A total amount of R43 200.00 was allocated by DWAF to the //Khara Hais Municpality at the beginning of the 2002/2003 fanancial year to built 36 toilets within 4 months for the Karos village, and the project started in January 2003.

            • To date a total amount of R36 686.80 have already been spent with a total number of 25 toilets constructed. The eleven (11) remaining pits had already been dug and facilities will be finalised soon.

            • 19 people were trained in the building of VIP and UDS toilets, and eleven of these were women.

            • A sanitation committee was also established comprising 5 community members, and a training session regarding general administration and financial management was held.

            • Nevertheless, three (3) communities identified for sanitation projects falling under area of jurisdiction of the //Khara Hais Municipal, other than Karos, are still waiting for implementation, namely Leerkrans, Lembrechtsdrift and Swartkop. It is estimated that 181 of the 217 households – with a population of approximately 728 people – still used the old pit system while 24 households did not have any sanitation facility available. (NB: only 25 toilets built so far.)

          2. Riemvasmaak Sanitation Project

            • A total number of 169 double pit VIP toilets were built, 44 health and hygiene awareness workshops held, and 35 local people trained to assist with the building of toilets, with the funds made available by DWAF during 1999/2000 financial year.

          3. Soverby Sanitation Project

            • One hundred households were provided with toilets at a total budget of R362 948.10 excluding an over expenditure of R2 761.12 incurred due to material, labour and construction costs.

            • Eight (8) committee members from the community were trained in the administration of the project, bookkeeping of stock and finances, maintaining and setting up of financial accounts (cashbooks and petty cash as well as proof of expenditure), awareness, and quality control of the project.

            • Fourteen (14) builders from the community were trained in the construction of VIP and UDS toilets.

            • Community Awareness Campaigns also form part of the entire project implementation process.

           

          (3) Water Resources Management:

          Lower Vaal Water Management Area

          (i) The Lower Vaal water management area lies in the northwestern part of South Africa, and boarders on Botswana in the north.

            1. Iron ore, diamonds and manganese are mined in the water management area, and farming activities range from extensive livestock production and dry land cultivation to intensive irrigation enterprises at Vaalharts.
            2. Irrigation dominates the requirements for water in the water management area and represents 80 percent of the total water use. Virtually all of this is concentrated in the Vaalharts irrigation scheme (now a Water User Association), which is reliant on abstracting water transferred from the Upper Vaal and Middle Vaal water management areas from the Vaal River.
            3. Utilisable surface water resources in the water management area are limited to the Vaal and Harts Rivers, both of which are fully regulated.
            4. More than 50 percent of the yield available from the narural resources in the tributary catchments within the water management area is supplied from groundwater.
            5. Water quality is of special concern in the lower reaches of the Harts and Vaal Rivers due to the high salinity of leach water for the Vaalharts irrigation scheme (Water User Association).
            6. The scheme also serves the purpose of beneficially utilizing lower quality water which needs to be discharged for the Upper Vaal water management area, to prevent the build up of salinity in the lower reaches of that water management area.
            7. Better quality water is therefore transferred from the Orange River to the Douglas Weir in the lower reaches of the Vaal River for blending purposes.
            8. The total quantity of water transferred into the Lower Vaal water management area is virtually equal to the local requirements for water, with only return flows and the spilling of floods flows being discharged form the water management area.
            9. Currently 633 million m³ per year is transferred form the Middle Vaal and Upper Vaal water management areas, and may as an upper scenario increase to about 690 million m³ per year during the period of projection.
            10. The key issues with respect to water resource management in the water management are are;

            • Operational management of water abstractions from the Vaal River in close co-operation with the Middle and Upper Vaal Catchment Management Agencies (CMA’s), to ensure the efficient overall management of the Vaal River system as well as efficient flood control in the Orange-Vaal system.

            • Management of water quality in the Vaal and Harts Rivers.

            • Management of groundwater, both from an abstraction and recharge perspective, to ensure sustainability of use.

            1. Below is the list of service institutions (Water User Association) exists in the Lower Vaal water management area, namely:

          1. Vaalharts Water User Association

            • The Association manages an area with a total of 39 823 hectares.

            • 210 workers of the Vaalharts Government Scheme were transferred to the new entity on the 1st April 2003.

            • The transfer process from DWAF was managed by a Regional Transfer Steering Committee-consisting of Labour Relations Officer, Human Resource Development and Management, Finance, Transformation Officer, Unions Representatives and Area Offices Management.

            • Before the transfer, services condition, business plans and co-operation agreement were finalized.

            • Post transfer, the Department will still monitor the transformation of the water user association, deviation for agreed services conditions and adherence to their business plan.

          2. Groundwater User Associations

            • At Tosca, Louwna and Stella groundwater user associations are in a process of being established, proposals had been sent to the Head Office, and Ministerial approval is awaited.

          3. Christiana Water Users Association (Bloemhof Dam)

            • Due to misunderstanding on the way water use was registered over such area and how to utilize the registered volume without exceeding the permit abstraction flow-rate, there has been a delay in submitting a proposal for the establishment of a water user association.

          4. Vaal-Gamagara Government Water Scheme (GWS)

            • The Vaal-Gamagara GWS, which has been built in phases since 1964, supplies about 1,6 million m³ per annum to the Kalahari East Board and about 7,7 million m³ to towns and mines within its own supply area.

            • Vaal River water is abstracted near Delportshoop and purified at the Department’s water treatment works.

            • The scheme consists of a raw water pumping station, purification works and sic booster pump stations, all of the administration, provisioning and maintenance facilities are situated at this location.

            • The actual number of personnel stands at 45, divided amongst management, administration, provisioning, water supply and maintenance.

            • The scheme is designed to purify and deliver 36 400 m³ per day, but the current daily demand has a total of 25 555 m³.

            • Major customers are situated at different locations along the pipeline route, e.g., Finsh Mine, Assmang Postmasburg, Lohathla, olifantshoek, Kalahari East, Samancor Hotazel, Assmang Blackrock, and the customer profile includes domestic communities (58%), agriculture (16%) and mining and other industries (26%).

           

          Lower Orange Water Management Area

          (i) The bulk of the surface water found in the water management area is in the Orange River, virtually all of which is transferred along the river form the Upper Orange to Lower Orange water management areas.

            1. Although the surface water resources naturally occurring in the water management area have been fully regulated, potential has been identified for the re-regulation of releases from Vanderkloof Dam as well as the partial storage of flood flows from the Upper Orange and Vaal Rivers.
            2. Goundwater utilization is of major importance in the Lower Orange water management area and constitutes the only source of water over much of the water management area.
            3. It is mainly used for rural domestic supplies, stock watering and water supplies to inland towns in the water management area.
            4. As a result of low rainfall over the water management area, recharge of groundwater is limited and only small quantities can be abstracted on a sustainable basis.
            5. Aquifer characteristics (borehole yields and storage of groundwater) are also typically unfavourable because of hard geological formation underlying most of the water management area.
            6. Current utilization of groundwater in the water management area is approximately in balance with the sustainable yield form this sources, and no significant potential for further development exists.
            7. The quality of groundwater is in general appropriate for the uses, which the water is applied to.
            8. In a nutshell, the Lower Orange water management area is the largest, but also the driest and most sparsely populated, water management area in South Africa.
            9. There are a number of regional water supply schemes providing water for irrigation, urban/municipal use, mining, rural/stock watering or combination thereof.
            10. Several Government Water schemes (GWS) and irrigation districts exist along the main stem of the Orange River and include a number of small dams/weirs, e.g., Boegoeberg and Neusberg.
            11. Other Water Supply Schemes include –
              1. Vioolosdrift/Noordoewer irrigation Authority
              2. Water is sourced by a weir and canal that are jointly managed by the South Africa and Namibia.

              3. Kalahari West Water User Association
              4. Water is source from the Upington Municipality reservoir to supply a rural community north and northwest of Upington, primarily for stock watering purposes.

              5. Pelladrift Water Board
              6. This scheme abstracts water form Pelladrift to supply Pofadder, Aggeneys and Pella mission.

              7. Namaqua Water Board
              8. Water from Henkries purification works is pumped to the bulk and municipality consumers at Springbok, Okiep, Nababeep, Steinkopf Concordia and Komagas. Kleinsee on the Atlantic coast is also supplied via this system.

              9. Sendelingsdrift
              10. This scheme supplies the little mining town of Sendelingsdrift as well as the Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia.

              11. Alexander Bay
              12. The Alexander Bay system provides Orange River water to Oranjemund and Alexander Bay as well as irrigation water for 1360ha upstream of the Oppenheimer bridge. Water id also supplied to port Nolloth.

              13. Municipal supply

              The towns of Prieska, Upington, Keimoes, Kakamas and Augrabies draw their municipal supply direct from the Orange River.

            12. Water Resource Management Key Issues in the Lower Orange water management area –

            • The arid climate of the region and limited potential of water resources which naturally occur in the water management area. Both surface and groundwater are already fully developed and utilized.

            • The virtual total dependence of the Lower Orange water management area on water released from the Upper Orange water management area, and the dominant influence of water utilization in upstream water management areas on water resource management in the Lower Orange water management area.

            • Concerns about water quality in the Orange River as a result of upstream activities (transfers and urban, industrial, mining and irrigation return flows) and possible future developments. Water quality is also impacted upon by irrigation within the water management area.

            • Insufficient measurement, monitoring and control of water use by irrigation, which is by far the largest water use sector in the water management area. Water use efficiency by irrigation is also subject to improvement.

            • Inefficient management of releases from Vanderkloof Dam and the lack of control structures to facilitate this.

            • The sharing of releases from Vanderkloof Dam with Namibia as well as joint responsibility by South Africa with respect to the management of the estuary.

            • Need for poverty relief and availability of water (approval in principle) for settlement of emerging irrigation farmers.

            • Implementation of efficient flood management measures in cooperation with upstream water management area.

          (a) Boegoeberg Water User Association

            • The Association was formed in May 2001 by the transformation of the Noord-Oranje and Gariep irrigation boards and the Karos-Geelkoppan board with an extended area which includes the Boegoeberg Government Scheme.

            • Currently 7 735 hectares are served by the canals and 1 610 hectares extract water from the Orange River within the boundaries of the Scheme.

            • The area of operation is divided into 6 sub-districts, namely; Boegoeberg Main Canal, Noord-Orange, Gariep, Rouxvile-Wes, Karos-Geelkoppan and River Sub-Districts.

            • Two categories of water users are identified, in terms of the Constitution, as A (represents the local authorities in the area, communities, emerging farmers, industry, domestic users and environmental and recreation users) and B (represents water users in the agricultural sector with abstraction either from waterworks on the scheme or direct from the Orange River).

            • The vast majority (97%) of water from this scheme is used to irrigate agricultural crops (Category B), and the lawful entitlement amounts to a total registered volume of 140 million³ of water per annum.

            • Elected or nominated delegates represent the users in the different sectors from each interest group as prescribed by the Constitution of BWUA, these delegates then form the Management Committee of BWUA that comprise 17 members, and terms of office for each delegate is determined by the Management Committee of each sub-district.

            • The Management Committee is constituted or structured of nine persons representing agriculture in the 6 sub-districts, one person the emerging farmers, one person domestic users, two persons local authorities, two persons the communities, one person the industry, and one person environmental and recreation users.

            • DWAF area manager ensured that elections or nominations were in accordance with the guidelines of the Constitution of the Association and supervised the first elections and nominations.

            • At the first management meeting a duly elected quorum elected a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a secretary.

            • Each member has to his or her disposal one equal vote, issues are determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting at the meeting, and in cases of deadlock the person presiding at the meeting has a casting vote as well as a deliberative vote.

            • The Association is therefore a body corporate and has all the powers of natural person of full capacity, except those powers which by nature can only attach to natural persons or are inconsistent with the National Water Act.

            • The Association only exercises management powers and duties to the extent that they have been assigned or delegated to them.

            • The Association will took over personnel who perform the necessary functions and who are willing to be taken over in accordance with the DWAF transfer policy with the same or better remuneration packages and other conditions of services.

            • The current complement of personnel taken over form DWAF is 5 whites and 36 blacks/coloureds. One senior management post of the CEO had no direct candidate from DWAF and was advertised.

            • The Association is committed to the transformation process in general and affirmative action in particular and will therefore always implement measures to ensure suitable qualified people from designated groups have equal employment opportunities.

            • In terms of relationships, since no Catchment Management Agency exists in the Lower Orange Catchment Area, DWAF through its regional offices is the responsible authority, and the BWUA Management Committee envisaged a close relationship with DWAF Northern Cape.

            • The water tariff levied on irrigation land is linked to the title of the property, and the owner of the property is therefore liable for payment. If payment is not forthcoming DWAF may withhold water from the present or future titleholder until such time as all outstanding debts have been paid.

            • Proposed water tariffs for 2003/2004 is R900 water direct from canal, and R212 from the river.

           

          (4) Catchment Management Agency (CMA)

          (i) In the process of devolving management of water resources management to catchment level, the Nothern Cape has embarked on the following process of establishing both Lower Vaal and Lower Orange Catchment Management Agencies:

          2003

              1. Create awareness and interest on the water resources management (WRM) issues to all role players.
              2. Create sub-catchment forums.
              3. Capacitate such forums on WRM issues.
              4. Work on inclusion of all stakeholders.
              5. Adapt on consultation process to stakeholders.
              6. 2004

              7. Formalise the institutions.
              8. Composition of Steering Committee
              9. 2005

              10. Initiate proposal for CMA establishment.
              11. 2006

              12. Proposal to the Minister.
              13. Proposal approval by the Minister.
              14. Establishment of Governing Board.