Letter from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Speaker of the National Assembly, in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the delay in the tabling of annual reports:

Madam Speaker

TABLING OF ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 2001/2002
Your letter dated 19 November 2001 refers.

In terms of section 65(1)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, Annual Reports and Financial Statements of public entities (which include Water Boards) must be tabled within six months of the end of the financial year. In terms of Section 65(2)(a) of the Act, the Minister must, upon failure to table the Annual Reports and Financial Statements within six months of the end of the financial year, table a written explanation in Parliament to give reasons why they were not tabled.

To date, the Annual Reports of the following Water Boards have been received and tabled in Parliament:
Albany Coast Water Board Amatola Water Board
Bloem Water Botshelo (former North West Water Supply Authority)
Ikangala Water Lepelle Northern Water
Magalies Water Mhlathuze Water
Namakwa Water Overberg Water; and
Pelladrift Water Rand Water
Sedibeng (former Goudveld Water) Umgeni Water

The Bushbuckridge Water Board was the remaining Water Board, which did not submit its Annual Report as yet. The reason was that the Board was facing financial constraints during that period hence the report was produced at a later stage.

Signed
RONNIE KASRILS, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY