This report covers the study tour undertaken by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs to the Limpopo, Gauteng, Northern Cape and Free State Provinces from 10 – 13 August 2004. Sample studies of projects were undertaken as part of the oversight visit to gauge the developments, progress and challenges encountered in the implementation of aquaculture production in South Africa, as well as the provision of water and sanitation services.

Aquaculture in South Africa consists mainly of freshwater species of trout, crocodiles, ornamental fish, catfish and tilapia, and marine species such as abalone, prawns, oysters and mussels, whilst candidate species such as eel, crayfish, cob, yellow-tail, grunter, tuna, turbot and seaweed are also receiving priority. Technology and services for aquaculture production is well established for species such as trout, crocodiles, catfish, abalone, prawns, oysters and mussels, whilst still lacking for species such as eel, tilapia, cob, tuna and seaweed.

Various factors are currently stimulating the development of aquaculture development in South and Southern Africa, including:

• Availability of resources: water, land, labour, energy, etc.
• Limited fisheries resources.
• Market factors.
• Marine and agricultural infrastructure.
• Need for diversification and optimisation of resources.
• Access to technologies.
• International partnerships and collaboration.
• Socio-economic factors.

Factors that are currently inhibiting development within the industry include:

• The lack of a national policy with regard to aquaculture

• Complicated and fragmented statutory procedures.
• The lack of marketing structures and access to global markets.
• Limited access to finance and developmental capital.
• Limited human resource capacity, skills and expertise.

• Some constraints in terms of natural resources are seasonal variation in climate, particularly in the southern and high lying regions, as well as a high energy coastline, with limited sheltered areas.
• Human resources are poorly developed and will need to be addressed in order to ensure sustainable and equitable development.
• Low cost unskilled labour may provide opportunities in certain labour intensive sectors.
• Expertise on managerial level is however limited, particularly with regard to large scale intensive farming systems. Economic resources provide an opportunity in terms of available infrastructure, though access to capital and markets is difficult.

A joint venture strategy based on complementary partnerships, is proposed to address weaknesses in terms of human and economic resources in the short term. It is important, however, that the initiative is taken by South Africans to ensure equitable participation in such ventures.

• Egg production scheme.
• Vegetable production scheme.
• Dairy cow scheme.
• Fish production scheme.

All the above programmes are implemented at the household schemes. With regard to food production and specifically aquaculture development, the objectives of the household security programme comprise the following:

• To utilise backyard for sustainable integrated fish and vegetable production method.
• To provide food and income.
• To utilise backyard for sustainable fish production using simple technology.

In order for the objectives to be realised, the Department provides starter pack for fish production to the selected households. The starter pack consists of the following:

• Appear on Welfare list (51000 people who are currently receiving food parcels in Limpopo Province).
• The area should have potential in terms of fish production.
• Joint household income should be less than R200.00.
• Beneficiary should be willing to participate.
• Beneficiary should be willing to be trained.
• Beneficiary should be willing to enter into an agreement with the Department.
• Avail own capability to participate.

Every district establishes its own management structure, which consists of the following:

• Agricultural Officer.
• Welfare Officer.
• Ward Councillor.
• Beneficiaries’ representative.
• Traditional Authority representative.
• Health Officer.

Oreochromis mossambicus (Tilapia mossambicus) was found to be the suitable species that could be utilised for the sub-program. The following factors were considered on this type of fish species:

• Easy to handle.
• Easy to reproduce.
• High demand in terms of market (locally & internationally).
• Easy to raise as food fish.

During the 2003/04 financial year, the distribution of fish production starter packs in Limpopo Province started with two districts namely: Bohlabela and Sekhukhune for implementation. These were the two nodal areas declared poor by the State President of Republic of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki. These are places where poverty is at a high rate.

In the Sekhukhune district, sixty starter packs were distributed amongst five municipalities, whereas in Bohlabela district, forty starter packs were distributed between two municipalities.

The other four districts received incomplete starter packs without fish because it was winter and fish hibernate in winter due to low water temperature. Fish activities will resume during summer when the water temperature is favourable.

Table 1 shows the breakdown on the distribution of starter packs during 2003/04 financial year.

Before the implementation of the sub-program, Agricultural extension officers are trained in fish production basics to enable them to assist beneficiaries at the municipal level. After officers received training, the same officers demonstrate or transfer knowledge on the fish production method to beneficiaries through hands-on and on-site training.

Table 2 shows the breakdown on the number of Agricultural officers who received training during the 2003/04 financial year.

In the 2004/05 budget speech delivered by the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Agriculture in Limpopo Province, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, stated that the target for household fish production units for 2004/05 financial year amounts to 700 units.

The Select Committee was thereafter taken on a site visit to observe the implementation of the abovementioned process to capacitate the community.

The following issues were raised on this specific project:

• The rationale for buying aqua dams from a company in Gauteng. Would it not be more cost effective if communities built cement dams?
• How effective is this project in terms of job creation and food production for the communities?
• If fish feed has to be bought from Gauteng, what alternatives are being looked at by the provincial Department of Agriculture?
• Although this project is relatively recent in this region, what methods are being utilised or devised to ensure the sustainability of the project?

The FISH 4 AFRICA MICRO FARMING PROGRAMME has been developed to create sustainable income-generating mechanisms for previously disadvantaged groups, through the implementation of a micro fish farming methodology, namely FISH 4 AFRICA.

Fish 4 Africa is a community, public, private partnership project, with the aim of creating mechanisms and support structures to ensure the transfer of fish farming and business skills, knowledge and expertise to all participants in the project, enabling the communities in South Africa to farm with fresh water fish as a means for food production, wealth creation and employment multiplication.

Project Management: The FISH 4 AFRICA has been initiated and managed by RAINMAKER INTERNATIONAL. RAINMAKER has at its disposal a wide range of specialists and organisations that assist in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the project. These include Hartebeespoort Fisheries, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and individuals who have more than 20 years experience in the freshwater fishing industry.

Benefits of the FISH 4 AFRICA programme to the community, government and private sector:

Due to time constraints, the above presentation was incorporated within the site visit to the Hartebeespoort Fisheries. The Select Committee was provided with an overview of the practical functioning, mechanisms utilised and development of aquaculture production at the Hartebeespoort Fisheries.

An enormous demand overseas for Mozambique tilapia is creating opportunities for South African entrepreneurs. The increase in demand provided the impetus for the owner of the Hartebeespoort Fisheries, Casper Kruger to ‘delegate’ part of his business to people interested in starting their own fish farms.

The tunnel system utilised by the Fisheries consists of six separate cement dams in the tunnel, each with its own filtering system. The dams are individually stocked with fingerlings provided by Hartebeesport Fisheries on a monthly basis. After six months, the first fish, weighing about 1kg each are sold back to the fisheries, and the dam is restocked with fingerlings.

The Select Committee was thereafter briefed on the potential benefits of utilising the experiences of Hartebeespoort Fisheries to develop aquaculture production in South Africa.

Some of the potential benefits in utilising the methods undertaken by the Hartebeespoort Fisheries are the following:

• Project participants have a guaranteed market for their products.
• Hartebeespoort Fisheries will be able to sign more contracts based on the assurance of a regular and predictable supply of fish.
• There are no direct costs involved in obtaining a franchise – the only initial costs will be for training sessions that will be provided to potential partners.
• All relevant information on erecting and running a fish farm will be provided during training, including building plans for people wanting to save on the initial capital outlay, by doing the work themselves.

Two systems of dams (small and large) are offered as part of building the ‘Project Tilapia’ programme. Both systems fit into a tunnel of 10m x 20m – small enough to fit in the backyard of an average suburban home.

The smaller dam system (5m x 2,5m x 1,5m deep) will cost approximately R150 000, if all the construction work is done by a professional. The bigger system, consisting of dams (5m x 5m x 1,5m deep) will cost approximately R260 000. Huge savings are possible if fish farmers undertake the building, and construction themselves. Another advantage is that the system can be erected over a period of time, as new dams become operational, which means that expenses can be staggered.

Initially, the freshwater system can be quite expensive, but the potential monthly income could be R18 000, of which R8 400 (for the small dam) and R15 800 (for the large dam) is usually a profit.

• Lack of a South African governmental policy governing aquaculture production. Aquaculture production is at present subsumed within the Marine Living Resources legislation and does not fully address the challenges of aquaculture production.
• The bureaucratic process involved receiving approval from various departments.
• In order to comply with regulations governing environmental legislation, an environmental impact assessment has to be undertaken. This is extremely expensive and communities cannot afford to undergo this process.
• An Aquaculture Institute needs to be set up to offer various services, such as research, marketing strategies, training and skills development, collaborative partnerships, etc.
• The empowerment component within the Department of Agriculture should drive this process.
• Need to educate communities on co-operatives so that these types of projects can be viable and sustainable.
• The private-public partnership needs to be strengthened.
• Need to address the issue of budgeting specifically for projects such as these.
• The marketing and packaging of fish was of particular concern as there are few facilities in the country to deal with this issue.
• Whilst the job creation aspect of the project is limited, other aspects such as the construction of fish tunnels and dams can offer limited job prospects. However, communities need to be educated on various ways in which they can drive the inception, completion and sustainability of aquaculture production to alleviate poverty. Government assistance is however crucial at the early stages.
• The SETA’s programme should incorporate aquaculture production within its framework of reference.

The personal interview was conducted by the Committee Secretary, K Williams, while the delegation travelled from Bloemfontein to the Gariep Dam.

During the interview, it became clear that Aquaculture in the Free State province is in a state of disarray. Firstly, the fish farm is being managed by an official from the Department of Environmental and Economic Affairs rather than the Dept of Agriculture, which is supposed to be the lead department in this field. As was explained by Mr de Villiers, he has the technical background to run Aquaculture projects. As such, matters in this field in the Free State are his responsibilities.

The situation at present is that the project manager at the Gariep fish farm has left the Department to work in the private sector. As a result, Mr de Villiers has to cope with both the technical and administrative aspects of running the project. Furthermore, he is based in Bloemfontein which is about 200 kilometres from the Dam. There is a dire need therefore for a project manager to be appointed to run the project on site, but this appointment has been delayed due to a reassessment process of the project.

During the tenure of the previous manager, there was a programme to provide municipalities with fingerlings that were stocked in community dams. These then became an important source of food for communities when they were harvested after attaining adulthood. At its height, this programme supplied 22 municipalities with fingerlings. Unfortunately, the programme was discontinued when the manager left. However, the potential for Aquaculture in the Free State to provide communities with much-needed nutrition has been strongly indicated.

Mr de Villiers stated that the programme could surpass its previous achievements if a new manager for the farm could be employed. In addition to this, he recommended that the Department of Agriculture should provide the project with two extension officers.

The officers, who would serve Northern and Southern Free State respectively, would be able to assist communities with the technical aspects of their own projects, as well as ensuring the sustainability of these projects.

The farm itself consists of 12 hectares of ponds, in which some brood-fish are kept. These brood-fish are injected with hormones to increase their fertility. Eggs and sperm are then brought together in special tanks housed in the hatchery, and fingerlings are produced.

The entire breeding process is carefully supervised with temperature and water cleanliness being carefully controlled. Fingerlings are then placed in ponds for 3 to 6 weeks, after which they are harvested and sold commercially.

Two crops of fingerlings are produced per year. Each crop contains about 140 000 to 150 000 fingerlings. At present, the Gariep fish farm employs 10 people from the local community. They have been trained in all aspects of the breeding process and are remunerated from the sale of their fish.

The farm has no budget within the Department of Environmental and Economic Affairs and is financially self-sufficient, despite its administrative difficulties. This once again underlines the sustainability of Aquaculture projects in the region.

• It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture in the Free State take the lead in the development of Aquaculture in the province.

• The fish farm at Gariep should be supported financially to allow it to expand and employ the necessary staff (project manager, etc).

• Extension officers should be provided to ensure the expansion and sustainability of the community projects programme.

• Financial and technical assistance should be rendered to other proposed projects in the province.

The Department of Agriculture in the Northern Cape reported that there are no Aquaculture projects in the province.

When South Africa’s first non-racial democratic Government took power in April 1994, the country’s population was just over 40 million people. Of these, 15.2 million (12 million of whom lived in rural areas), lacked access to basic water supply and 20.5 million lacked basic sanitation. The newly elected Government strongly located basic services for the citizens of the country within a rights based approach.

South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that formally recognises water as a human right. Its national water and sanitation programme, which is one of the largest national programmes in Africa, aims to deliver sustainably on that right. Both the recognition of water as a human right and the development of the national water and sanitation programme derive from the advent, in 1994, of South Africa’s democratic era. At that time, the country faced immense challenges relating to water supply and sanitation. The Government and its development partners have been determined to tackle these problems and to achieve major progress in water and sanitation.

• The work of Lepelle Northern Water.
• Mamone Sanitation Project
• Marishane Clinic Sanitation Programme

Lepelle was established in 1997 as successor in title of Phaloborwa, Northern Transvaal and Bosveld Water Boards. Its jurisdiction covers 80 square metres of 72% of Limpopo. It represents major customers, municipalities and the public. Lepellle consists of 8 schemes. It provides 211 megalitres of water per day, and 140 litres of industrial water. It has a pipeline for water distribution that covers 1062 kilometres. Lepelle has a staff complement of 280, with an asset base of R700 million rand. Lepelle has a turnover of R44 million per annum and all its operators are done in-house. Lepelle has its own fleet to support operations, with sophisticated maintenance equipment and a computerised distribution control system.

• Extended water services to communities.
• Effective water metering and cost recovery systems implemented in rural areas.
• Computer-driven systems on cost recovery at Reconstruction and Development Programme standards.
• Successfully replaced chlorine with sodium-hypo-chloride by utilising table salt.
• Turned around deficit into surplus from the year 2001 and have maintained this surplus status.
• Piloted a partnership with Mogalakwena municipality and Anglo Platinum to increase water supply in Mokopane.
• Achieved below inflation tariff increases for the past three years and enjoyed labour stability over a number of years.

As a case study for the oversight visit, Lepelle Northern Water focused on the Flag Boshielo Regional Water Scheme in the Sekhukhune District.

The briefing provided details of the various phases of the water reticulation process in the area and noted the following progress:

The technical data of the project comprised the following:

There is currently a great amount of spare capacity in the pipelines.

The following proposals were made by Lepelle Northern Water to improve on the work of the Flag Boshielo Water Scheme:

• Extend Flag Boshielo from Mathapisa to Marishane Villages (including Paahla, Lobethal, Sekwati and Tisane) at a cost of R20 million.
• Extend Flag Boshielo from Mmotwaneng to Monserius Villages (including Legolaneng, Sephaku and Lukau) at a cost of R15 million.
• Extend Flag Boshielo from Malope to Ga-Masemola to augment Piet Gouws Dam at a cost of R10 million.
• Extend Flag Boshielo from Phokwane to NSDO2 supply area and link with Marishane extension at a cost of R15 million.
• Implement water demand management and cost recovery in Flag Boshielo West at a cost of R10 million.

In addition to the progress made at various stages of the project, Lepelle Northern Water also provided background information on the cost recovery system being devised to assist local communities to manage their water infrastructure on a sustainable basis.

The presentation maintained that the Lepelle Cost Recovery System is a unique system in that it can manage any combination of pre-paid meters, conventional meters and a Vendor Coupon system in a village simultaneously.

The Lepelle system ensures a fair distribution of water, where free basic water (25 litres/per person/per day) can be guaranteed to each individual that qualifies, while people that require a higher level of service will also be accommodated, provided that they are willing to pay for such a higher level of service. This can only be achieved with a proper management system in place. The Lepelle system will ensure that the sustainability of the water service provision is made for maintenance and operational costs in the water tariff as promulgated by the Water Service Authority.

The Marishane Clinic is located at Matishane in the Makhuduthamanga District in the central part of Sekhukhune and is operated under the St Rita’s Hospital. A visitors count of 1 600 per months was reported in October 2002.

One block with two flush toilets is located between the clinic building and the staff house.

The following problems were encountered:

• Facilities inadequate for the number of patients and staff.
• Operational problems due to irregular water supply.
• The facilities, including the septic tank are old and in a poor state of maintenance.

The following challenges were noted with the old pit toilets for patient usage:

• It was not possible to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene.
• No allowance for dignity of the user.
• No allowance for handicapped people, especially the wheelchair bound.
• Structurally unsafe, and sagging.
• Not possible to maintain.

A geo-environmental impact assessment was conducted at the Marishane Clinic site to establish the correct sanitation technology for the specific site conditions. The Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) system was chosen as preference due to economic factors and simplicity of maintenance and operation.

Flush systems were chosen in places such as Mankweng Clinic as the infrastructure permitted this option. In other instances, dry system with forced ventilation was preferred as the geo-environmental aspects dictated that the pit compartment be sealed off in order to prevent ground water contamination.

The Mvula Trust prepared this presentation and provided the following information:

• Mamone is a rural village situated approximately 120 kilometres from Polokwane in the Sekhukhune District of the Limpopo Province, under the Makhduthamaga Local Municipality with a population of 30 000.
• The Mamone community worked with various stakeholders for the success of this project.
• The project is a continuation of sanitation implementation programme since 1997.
• When it began in 1997, 3 demonstration toilets were constructed.
• In 1999/2000, 20 toilets were constructed.
• In 2000/01, approximately 22 toilets were erected.
• In 2001/02, 50 toilets were constructed.
• In 2002/03, 31 new toilets were erected and 30 toilets were upgraded.
• The scope of work for 2004 was 51 new toilets.

The employment created from the above projects comprised the following:

• 8 Project Steering Committees (PSC) were set up.
• 5 functional staff.
• 10 builders.

All the above people were employed from the Mamone Village.

The project was successfully implemented through effective participation and commitment from various role players such as:

• The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) assisted the Project Steering Committee identify issue of incompetence and under performing of any professional agents involved in the project.
• The Department of Health and Welfare conducted the health and hygiene in collaboration with the local based community health workers.
• Makhduthamaga Local Municipality helped the PSC in decision-making processes.
• The Mvula Trust conducted the monitoring and evaluation of the project on the ground.
• Infra Consultant provided the PSC with the technical awareness.
• Awake Afrika supported the PSC with the social matters (capacity building of functional staff, conflict resolution and health and hygiene).
• Mamone Project Steering Committee, after some capacity building sessions increased their level of competence, and displayed good financial management skills.

Some of the problems encountered, together with possible solutions were highlighted:

The following statistics of service delivery was provided:

Total population: 30 000 (5000 x 6)

Total households: 5 000

Total upgrades: 30

Total served: 204 (174 and 30 upgraded)

Total outstanding: 4 796

The achievements of the above project thus far were largely attributed to the following reasons:

• Good leadership of the PSC as they managed to implement this programme without any hassles.
• The PSC commitment is the reason behind the success of this project.

The following recommendation was suggested:

• Mamone Sanitation Project should be funded further for implementation of this programme, as the entire village is not 100% covered.

At the Phokwane Water Supply and Reticulation Scheme, the following specific concerns of the project were raised:

• The issue of the budget for the next 3 phases of the project was raised.
• The lack of understanding amongst the community on the payment of services.
• Some streets still do not have pipes, and therefore the system of spacing out taps was utilised. Taps were located at distances of 200m from households. This is a problem for residents.
• The issue of the impact of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), and the effectiveness of municipalities to effectively handle the process was also highlighted.

Some of the general issues that were highlighted were the following:

• The growing problem of school sanitation.
• The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) provided no detailed information or overview on the water and sanitation services for the Limpopo Province.
• Some delegates observed that people were still collecting water from streams. When and how will pipelines be fitted to areas or communities without running water?
• The capacity of water service authorities to provide effective services.
• The nature of the relationship between the and the communities and the Water Service Authorities (WSAs) was addressed in terms of the WSAs intention to incorporate a cost recovery method for services offered.
• The Bekkersdal region does not qualify for the MIG as Government maintained that a large budget had already been expended in this region. Questions around the sustainability of projects in this region were noted.

The total population of Gauteng, with the influx at 20% of growth rate from 1996, according to the 2001 Census figures is 9.4 million.

The water backlog in the Gauteng Province is currently 273 000 of households and the total cost to eradicate and ensure water services to all communities will amount to R820 million.

The sanitation backlog is currently 486 000 of households, and the total cost to eradicate and ensure different forms of sanitation systems to all communities is R1.6 billion.

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs liased closely with the provincial Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in its selection of a site visit. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry selected Bekkersdal on the West Rand. The rationale for this selection was that it would provide a reflection of the overall situation in Gauteng regarding the provisioning of basic services to poor communities in the province.

Bekkersdal is an Urban Renewal Project, and the following role players are involved:

• Gauteng Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing main sources of funding.
• Rand Water Board – Health and hygiene promotion.
• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry – Contributing funding

• The West Rand District Municipality – Implementing agent.
• Westonaria Local Municipality – Area where Bekkersdal is situated.
• Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Programme – Represents community.

The Bekkersdal Renewal Project signals a new thrust in development within South Africa. The project will address the upgrading and improvement of the living conditions of the entire community, with the long-term goal of establishing a self-sustaining and stable community.

The primary focus of the Bekkersdal Renewal Project is to root out social, economic and physical problems in various areas where there is a great need for development. The immediate focus is on stabilising the area over a period of two and a half years. Thereafter, the focus will be on bringing normality, a healthy environment and a basic service back to both formal and informal areas before the formal urban renewal project gets under way.

This will be followed by a formal upgrading of over five years where services, houses and amenities such as running water and sanitation will be built or improved, so that the informal area is upgraded to a formal area.
During the first year, the visible delivery programme is split into two, based on the sourcing of R45million funding.

The Department of Provincial and Local Government has earmarked R20m for Bekkersdal. This is to be used for sanitation projects. A Government Gazette that prescribes such issues as areas where money will be spent, how it will be spent and the community that will benefit from such funding administers this funding.

• The Bekkersdal Renewal Project is faced with the challenge of helping to change the living conditions of people who are caught in a cycle of poverty, crime and dangerous living conditions.
• In 1945, Bekkersdal took shape as a township mainly made up of people employed in mines in the surrounding areas. With time, many of them brought their families to the area and this resulted in the growth of a formal settlement which, is now made up 2 200 housing units. However, as the more families moved into the area, increased formal housing was needed and space and rooms were rented out in backyards. In the 1980s, a huge influx of people in search of work increased the numbers in this area. Shacks were built in the surrounding empty spaces and an informal settlement took shape.
• Due to the unstable price of gold over the past few years, the West Rand mining industry shed over 30 000 jobs during the last decade.  This created a large number of families that had little or no income and this, in turn, worsened the problem of increasing informal settlements.
• The expansion of the settlements has, in turn, resulted in a strain on facilities such as running water and sewerage. It has also led to a sharp rise in poverty and social instability.
• The extractions of ground water by mines in the area lead to the risk of sinkholes, land collapse and dolomite. Due to this risk, no services with the exception of limited temporary water could be provided to the community. Also, all services, including health, police, welfare and education were designed for the 2 200 formal Bekkersdal households. The presence of the additional 15 000 families has meant that services are swamped and have become inadequate to the people's needs.
• The legacy of poverty, unemployment and poor infrastructure present major challenges for the project.
• A transit camp has been established for people from informal settlements. A process is currently underway to identify land to move the informal settlement from their current location.

The Gauteng Department of Housing is spearheading the massive seven-year regeneration plan for Bekkersdal. In Bekkersdal, the first phase, which involves the infrastructure layout for the provision of water and sanitation, has begun. More than 80% of the work has already been completed.

Rand Water focuses on the following projects:

• Water supply provision through bulk construction and reticulation pipelines.
• Sanitation services through the construction of sanitation facilities and the creation of health and hygiene awareness campaigns or projects.
• Water conservation.
• The eradication of alien plants for water conservation.
• Domestic leak repairs, which will assist the reduction of water wastage through repairs of domestic leaking pipes, taps and retrofitting of cisterns.

The Bekkersdal community has been through a series of three imbizos targeted at creating greater awareness about sanitary health and ensuring that there is community participation in health matters. Rand Water held imbizos on the 21, 22 and 23 April 2004.

The imbizos are followed by a series of workshops, which Rand Water will run until the end of December. According to Petunia Ngema, Rand Water’s Community Relations manager, the imbizos formed part of a broader campaign to educate the local community, particularly residents living in the Bekkersdal informal areas, about water usage and sanitation, especially with regard to the new toilets that are being installed in informal areas.

Shared toilets are a reality within the informal settlements. In some cases, up to three households share one toilet. This poses problems in keeping such toilets clean and in a hygienic condition. It was for this reason, among others, that the imbizos were held.

When Rand Water began the imbizos, the intention was to market the health and hygiene programme currently running in Bekkersdal. During this process, Rand Water normally calls the entire community to talk safer health and hygiene issues related to sanitation.

• Three households sharing one toilet were noted as a major problem.
• The structural aspect of the shape of the pots fitted to toilets was also of particular concern. Delegates maintained that this was far more unhygienic in that the shape did not allow for easy flow of waste.

An official from the Regional Office briefed the delegation on the state of water and sanitation provision in the Free State. Before doing this, however, he gave the delegation an overview of the functions of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the challenges facing it.

He pointed out that DWAF is the custodian of South Africa’s water and forestry resources and that the Department was primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing these two sectors. Furthermore, the Department had the overriding responsibility for water services provided by local government. It does this by providing support and promoting access to clean water and safe sanitation services, as well as effective and efficient water resource management.

Turning to the key focus areas relating to Water Services, he stated that the Department had to ensure or promote:

• A reliable and equitable supply of water for sustainable economic and social development, and poverty eradication.
• Protection of water resources.
• The development of effective water management institutions.
• Basic Water Services of improved quality for social development.
• Effective local-level operation and maintenance of Water Services Schemes.

The key challenges facing DWAF could be summarised as follows:

• Direct investment interventions to provide basic water services in order to supply potable water and sanitation services to the previously unserved communities.
• Realigning the programmes to achieve sustainability, effectiveness, efficiency and affordability of services.
• Transfer of Water Services Schemes currently operated by DWAF to appropriate Water Services institutions.
• Monitoring and guiding the activities of Water Boards.
• Developing and establishing water services monitoring and information systems.
• Reviewing the approach to sanitation services provision to achieve sustainability, effectiveness, efficiency and affordability of services.
• Drive the national campaign to address the backlogs in sanitation services.
• Position DWAF as the national water services policy development, regulatory, monitoring and support institution.

Coming to the supply of water in the Free State, he stated that 98% of households in the province had been provided with drinking water. The main aim at present was to ensure the quality of drinking water. This was being done through the Free State Water Quality Management Project run by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The aims and the objectives of the project are as follows:

• To audit the achievement and maintenance of adequate basic service coverage and performance.
• To assess water quality in terms of national standards.
• To provide effective emergency response for acute failures.
• To support ongoing improvement at all levels.
• To capacitate local municipalities to carry out required tasks.
• To aid management in planning, programming and the making of decisions.
• To provide a governance framework for managing accountability and responsibility.

On a monthly basis, the project collects drinking water and treated waste water from 81 towns across the province. These are then subjected to microbiological and physico-chemical analysis. The data so obtained is collated, verified, interpreted and compared to the standards set out in the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) 241-2001. Problems are identified and improvements highlighted. Results are then presented to local government and provincial governments and to DWAF on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

The Free State project has served as a pilot project for the country and it is the intention of DWAF to institute similar projects throughout the country in the near future.

Turning to sanitation, it was pointed out that in terms of the National Sanitation Policy, the Department has to ensure the eradication of the sanitation backlog and provide a basic level of service by 2010 through providing affordable, safe, maintainable and eco-friendly systems with an adequate toilet for each household. Health and hygiene education also has to be ensured.

The position of the sanitation backlog in the Free State is summarised in the following table:

From this, it can be seen, that the backlog in the province is substantial. It is perhaps for this reason that Ventilated Insulated Pit toilet systems are seen as the immediately affordable solution in this province.

In order to reduce the backlog, the following levels of responsibility are characterised:

• Municipalities must provide access to sanitation.
• National and provincial governments must provide support through legislation and other measures.
• Communities are responsible for their own health, clean environment and improved sanitation.

The main principles for the provision of sanitation reflected below show that:

• It must be demand responsive.
• It must include an intensive health and hygiene programme
• There must be community involvement.
• High-risk areas must be addressed first.
• It must be sustainable and the environment must be protected.

The minimum standard for the toilet provision is that it must be:

• Safe
• Reliable
• Environmentally sound
• Easy to clean
• Private
• Provide protection against the weather
• Well-ventilated
• Keeps smells to a minimum
• Prevents entry and exit of disease-carrying pests.

Given its huge backlogs and the lack of suitable infrastructure, it is not surprising that the solution chosen by the Free State is the provision of affordable VIPs, which are well-maintained and meet all the requirements listed above. This is, however, only an interim measure as the policy for the province is to eventually provide water-borne systems for all.

The VIPs shown to the delegation definitely were well-maintained and seemed to be acceptable to the community. The top structure of the toilet was made of a fibre-glass and cement combination, which was portable and would allow for relocation when a water-borne system linked to reticular infrastructure was introduced at a later stage. The added advantage of this top structure was that it was cheap and could be provided to the users free of charge. It also provided more than adequate protection against the elements. The structure is also locally produced and has provided 450 jobs to community members.

The pit itself is 1,7 metres deep and it will provide a service for up to 10 – 15 years without desludging. There is no problem with odours, flies or rats and this makes the VIP an ideal replacement for the buckets that are still extensively used in this province.

The VIP is a more sophisticated form of sanitation than the ordinary pit latrine. It is both hygienic and inexpensive when properly designed, used and maintained. Similar to the ordinary pit latrine, faeces and urine enter into a pit where a process of natural breakdown or digestion occurs. An external ventilation pipe draws air through the toilet when the wind blows to keep it free of odours. Since odours are generally absent, flies and other insects are not attracted to the pit. Where there is the risk of ground water contamination, a pit lining is used.

The system is ideal for areas with limited infrastructure and with limited or no running water, as is the case in Roodenburg.

The advantages are:

• It is hygienically acceptable.
• It uses no water.
• Human waste is decomposed.
• Very low operating costs.
• Apart from normal cleaning, no special maintenance is required.
• Simple to plan and economical to install.
• The system is very robust and cannot be blocked.

The disadvantage that the toilet must be moved when the pit is full is counteracted by the fact that the top structure is portable. Also, contamination of ground water can be prevented by the lining of the pit where the risk is present.

Initial community resistance to the VIPs was overcome when people saw its advantages i.e. its affordability, low maintenance and lack of odours and pests. The Committee should consider supporting DWAF, which recommends this as an interim installation where there is no infrastructure for water-borne systems at present.

The first table indicated the number of households provided with running water up to 2001. as well as the backlog that existed at that time. The statistics were provided by Statistics South Africa from the 2001 Census.

With respect to the provision of sanitation for the same period, the following figures were produced.

Since 2001, a total of 20 814 toilets were constructed in the Northern Cape.

An important indicator of the provision of basic sanitation is the statistics for households still utilising the bucket system. This can be summarised as follows, again using the 2001 Census statistics.

In 2003, R60 million became available from the Department of Housing and Local Government for the eradication of buckets over the following three years.

The briefing then switched to DWAF’s new role as sector leader in the provision of water and sanitation. The Department no longer directly provides water and sanitation installations to communities. Instead, it has the triple role of providing policy for the sector as a whole, monitoring the provision of installations and regulating the sector.

With respect to the provision of policy, it provides guidelines on the subsidy to be received by communities, conducts health and hygiene awareness campaigns, ensures sustainable service delivery, and further ensures that service delivery is appropriate, acceptable and affordable.

In the Northern Cape, the new role has been characterised by the following actions:

• Twelve municipalities have been assisted with the improvement of the management of water services.
• Drought relief to the value of R15.4 million has been provided.
• The Department is co-funding the establishment of an Operations and Maintenance Unit in the Frances Baard District Municipality to the tune of R2,5 million over three years.
• The Department ensures the integration of services through support provided to co-ordinating forums such as the Provincial Water Sector Committee, District Water Sector Forums, the Operations and Maintenance Committee, and through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant and related structures.

Dikgatlong municipal area was selected for investigation by the delegation because of its proximity to Kimberley. It is one of four municipalities in the Frances Baard District with the main towns being Barkly West, Windsorton and Delpoortshoop. Conditions here are fairly representative of the entire province.

The main economic activities for this area are mining and farming. The average rainfall in the area is 400 mm. The Vaal River passes through Barkly West and its water is utilised for the towns needs. Delpoortshoop receives water from the Vaalgamagara Water Scheme, while Windsorton gets water from the Klipdam/Barkly Canal. Other communities are mainly dependent on groundwater sources, and this determines the type of sanitation provided.

Since 2001, a total of 3 816 toilets have been constructed on Dikgatlong.

The targeted community of this sanitation project is the Rooirand community consisting of 783 households. A total of 662 toilets have been or are in the process of being constructed. The project budget to date is R1 111 520. The project is being implemented within DWAF subsidy guidelines.

The project uses members of the community for the construction of the toilets. For this to occur, members of the community have been trained as builders. A health and hygiene programme has also been instituted and community members have been trained as health and hygiene workers.

Although dry sanitation VIPs are not the ideal form of sanitation, they are cost-effective and provide an important first step for households that had no sanitation facilities before.

The targeted communities of this project are the De Beershoogte/Mathaleng communities. There are 1 692 households involved in the project that was started in May 2004. To date, no toilets have been completed, but the delegation did witness a number under construction.

The type of toilet being constructed is called the aqua privy toilet. This is a hybrid between a VIP and a full water-borne system in that, while the toilet flushes, it is not connected to a reticulation system. Water flows into a separate pit from the one housing the solid waste. Trees are planted above the pit collecting the water so that dispersal takes place more easily.

A main contractor, together with seven sub-contractors, has been appointed to conduct the construction. A total of 84 job opportunities have been created for community members. The main contractor employs 10 women in his team.

The duration of the project is set to be 7 months and it is funded by the Department of Housing and Local Government to the tune of R8 583 150.

The targeted community is 589 households in the Windsorton area. A total of 589 toilets have been completed at a cost of R2 169 420. Funding was provided by the Department of Housing and Local Government.

The necessary infrastructure for a full water-borne system existed in the area and these toilets have been linked to an existing reticulation system. This programme represents the ideal solution to the problem of providing sanitation to communities.

The solutions to the sanitation problems in the Dikgatlong Municipal area showed admirable flexibility with the toilets provided ranging from the dry sanitation VIPs, through the hybrid aqua privies, to the full-blown water-borne system. The VIPs were provided where there had been no toilet facilities before and were therefore acceptable to the community. Where the cost of providing a reticulation system was too high, the aqua privy solution at least provided the community with some sort of "water toilet". The aqua privies are said to require no maintenance for up to 15 years, and are an ideal compromise where a full water-borne system is too costly, and no danger of pollution of the groundwater supply.

(To be added by Committee Members).