GREAT FISH RIVER WATER USER'S ASSOCIATION

HEARINGS ON DWAF ANNUAL REPORT 2004/05

My previous letter dated 23 September 2005 and your letter dated t30 September 2005 in the above regard refers.

1. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association are to, within its area of operation –

(a) operate and maintain government waterworks in respect of which the control has been transferred, of may be transferred by the Minister to the Association.

(b) by means of communal waterworks under control of the Association, make water available to persons entitled to the use thereof

(c) in general see to it that water is abstracted and used by persons in accordance with water use authorizations.

2. AREA OF OPERATION

The area of operation of the Association includes all properties in respect of which any person in entitled to use water by virtue of entitlements in terms of section 22(1) of the Act from the water supply system from the Teebus tunnel outlet up to and including the confluence of the Teebus Spruit with the Great Brak River and from there up to and including the confluence of the Great Brak River with the Great Fish River and from there downstream of the Great Fish River up to its confluence with the Little Fish River, including –

(a) the Little Fish River from its origin up to the aforementioned confluences and

(b) the Tarka River from and including Commando Drift Dam up to the confluence of the Tarka and Great Fish River.

The area mentioned above is + 220 km long. It includes the following towns –

Steynsburg

Hofmeyr

Cradock

Cookhouse

Somerset East

Only Steynsburg and Hofmeyr don't get water from the system.

3. FUNCTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

3.1 The functioned to be performed by the Association h its area of operation are;

(a) To prevent water from any water resource and/or waterworks being wasted

(b) To protect water resources and/or waterworks.

(c) To prevent any unlawful water use.

(d To remove or arrange to remove any obstruction unlawfully placed in a water course and/or waterworks.

(e) To prevent any unlawful act likely to reduce the quality of water in any water resource.

(f) To exercise general supervision over water resources and/or waterworks.

(g) To regulate the flow of any watercourse and/or waterworks by -

(i) cleaning its channel;

(ii) reducing the risk of damage to the land in the event of floods; and

(iii) changing a watercourse back to its previous course where it has been altered through natural causes.

(h) To investigate and record -

(i) the quantity of water at different levels of flow in a watercourse and/or waterworks.

(ii) the times when; and

(iii) the places where water may be used by any person entitled to use water from a water resource and/or waterworks.

(i) To construct, purchase of otherwise acquire, control, operate and maintain waterworks considered to be necessary for -

(i) draining land; and

(ii) supplying water to land for irrigation or other purposes.

(j) To supervise and regulate the distribution and use of water from a water resource according to the relevant water use entitlements, by erecting and maintaining devices, or requiring members to erect and maintain such devices at their own expense, for –

(i) measuring and dividing; or

(ii) controlling the diversion of the flow of water.

(k) To suspend or reduce the distribution of water from a water work and or water resource under its control in so far as it is needed for the execution of any of the functions or for reasons required for the proper operation and protection of the water work of resource.

3.2 Ancillary functions of Association

3.2.1 The Association may perform functions other than its principal functions only if it is not likely –

(a) to limit the Association's capacity to perform its principal functions; and

(b) to be to the financial prejudice of itself or its members.

3.2.2 Other functions of the Association may include:

(a) Providing management services, training and other support services to-

(i) water services institutions; and

(ii) rural communities.

(b) Providing catchment management services to or on behalf of responsible authorities.

4. DUTIES

(a) To comply with the National Water Act.

(b) Collect water rates and pay over to DWAF.

(c) Admin/Financial services to Sub-Areas.

(d) Take action against default payers.

(e) Make inputs regarding water tariffs.

5. HECTARES

The area of operation consists of 32 624.9 ha which is dived into 17 Sub-Areas.

6. IRRIGATERS/FARMERS

The GFRWUA distribute water via each Sub-Area to *330 commercial farmers.

7. "EMERGING" COMMERCIAL FARMERS

B. G Ntoni 2.5 ha

Masizame Trust 10 ha

N.J Jaxa 75.7 ha

Isidingo CPA 41.3 ha

Lingelihle Poultry Ass. 29.2 ha

E. N Feni 38.0 ha

Alpha CPA 82.0 ha

J. Z Ngalo 3.8ha

New Life CPA 103.2 ha

Zama Ukuphila Trust 75.3 ha

Lingelihle Gardeners 3.5 ha

8. WATER TARIFFS

R270.00 - R690.00 per hectares per year payable to DWAF R1 5.6 million per year.

9. SUB-AREAS TARIFFS

R50.00 -R130.00 per hectares per year.

10. PROBLEMS EXPERIENCE

The payment of water and Sub-Areas tariffs. The most of the "emerging" black commercial farmers experience lack of funds. At this point of the time GFRWUA pay DWAF on the said farmers behalf and we recover the outstanding rates at a later stage or when funds become available.

Some of the said farmers have not the experience/know how to farm an irrigation farm. Training in irrigation farming is a necessity.

It is important that government/ DWAF assist those farmers with the rates in either subsidies it or face it in over a period of time.

11. CHALLENGES

9.1.To see that there is a high level of payment for water.

9.2. To see that water is used more effectively.

9.3 To keep any increase in raw water pricing to a minimum.

9.4 To upgrade canal systems.

9.5 To encourage and support its staff.

9.6 To encourage farmers to get basic domestic water to the staff residing on their farms and also provide sanitation facilities and electricity where such basics are not in place.

It will be highly appreciated if I can be excused from the hearings.

Yours faithfully

A.P.M ENGELBRECHT