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
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.
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.
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.
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.
No serious problems were identified in the discussion of the relations between the Water Boards and 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
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.
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.
To date construction has commenced on six (6) of the twenty-six (26) contracts.
(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. Botshabelo Sanitation Project
(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.
(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.
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:
Water Projects:
1. Bloemsmond, Curriescamp and Soverby Water Project
2. Riemvasmaak Water Project
(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.
Sanitation Projects
1. Karos Sanitation Project
2. Riemvasmaak Sanitation Project
3. Soverby Sanitation Project
(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. Vaalharts Water User Association
2. Groundwater User Associations
3. Christiana Water Users Association (Bloemhof Dam)
4. Vaal-Gamagara Government Water Scheme (GWS)
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.
Water is sourced by a weir and canal that are jointly managed by the South Africa and Namibia.
Water is source from the Upington Municipality reservoir to supply a rural community north and northwest of Upington, primarily for stock watering purposes.
This scheme abstracts water form Pelladrift to supply Pofadder, Aggeneys and Pella mission.
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.
This scheme supplies the little mining town of Sendelingsdrift as well as the Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia.
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.
The towns of Prieska, Upington, Keimoes, Kakamas and Augrabies draw their municipal supply direct from the Orange River.
(a) Boegoeberg Water User Association
(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
2004
2005
2006