Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Provincial Study Tour to North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces 8 – 12 November 2004:
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Acknowledgements
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Select Committee), National Council of Provinces (NCOP) would like to thank all the officials (North West and Mpumalanga) involved in facilitating this oversight visit. Their generosity of spirit, accommodating nature as well as all their planning before, during and after the visits assisted Members and staff to fulfil their oversight obligations.
Section A
Introduction
This report covers the study tour undertaken by the Select Committee to the North West, Mpumalanga, Eastern and Western Cape Provinces from 8 – 12 November 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 Production in South Africa – an overview
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. The technology and services is well established for species such as trout, crocodiles, catfish, abalone, prawns, oysters, 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 development.
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 development 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 are 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.
Overview of provincial initiatives to develop aquaculture
production – North West
Briefing by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation,
Environment and Tourism, 9 November 2004, Mmabatho
The Select Committee was briefed by officials from the Provincial Department of Agriculture on aquaculture initiatives and or projects in the province. A synoptic report and an overview on aquaculture initiatives and or projects in the province highlighted the following:
Aquaculture was defined as:
Managed production of aquatic organisms, through breeding and stocking of fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and aquarium plants.
Aquaculture and Food Security:
Potentially can contribute to food security and rural livelihoods.
Sustainability needs to be ensured through funding, training and support from government.
Can be achieved through ‘on-farm diversification strategies’ for emerging farmers and ‘culture-based fisheries’ for subsistence farmers.
Small-scale commercial aquaculture should be developed.
Small-scale commercial aquaculture:
Small-scale commercial aquaculture has great potential in South Africa.
Requires higher levels of sophistication and organisation than food security aquaculture projects.
Technical support required in the initial stages.
Formal markets essential.
Community-public-private sector partnerships could be established.
Aquaculture in the North West Province
Current status
North West Province, due to its relatively warm climate and abundance of dams, has great potential to develop its aquaculture sector. Rural aquaculture can play a significant role in rural food security and depending on the circumstances of the location (for example, local ambient temperatures and distance from market) can become commercially orientated.
Although there are currently no rural aquaculture projects in the North West province, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (DACE) has embarked on a process to develop this sector and to make the necessary commitments to ensure the success of rural aquaculture within the province.
Currently, there is a national programme (to take place over the next 3 to 5 years) that has been initiated by the Water Research Commission and the National Department of Agriculture and which is being implemented by the Rural Programme of the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University to develop aquaculture within the rural sector.
North West Province: Aquaculture considerations
Intensive aquaculture requires significant capital investment, for example, tanks, pumps and piping.
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) required.
Aquaculture licensing and permit issues.
Requires trained expertise in diverse fields from animal husbandry to entrepreneurial skills.
Market chain needs to be established.
Potential threats and challenges posed by aquaculture to the environment
Translocation or introduction of alien and/or invasive species into rivers threatens ecosystems.
Escape of aquaculture species into the wild during floods.
Introduction of parasites and diseases, for example, carp louse potentially causing harm for indigenous species.
Aquaculture strategic plan
Develop a provincial policy and vision for aquaculture.
Identify resources available for rural aquaculture (skilled staff, infrastructure and funding).
Training for DACET extension officers to provide aquaculture support.
Conclusions
Aquaculture identified as having significant potential in North West Province.
Potential economic benefits for the people of the Province.
Can provide food security for rural people, but requires state intervention and support to sustain these initiatives.
Currently under-developed but can be developed through the Water Research Commission (WRC) national aquaculture development programme.
A recent WRC survey found that rural aquaculture in South Africa is not constrained by available land, water and infrastructure.
Ongoing technical support required.
Training and experience in aquaculture a limiting factor.
Small scale commercial aquaculture to be more viable than ‘food security’ aquaculture projects.
Recommendations from DACE (North West)
Develop a strategic plan for the DACE with regard to developing this
sector.
Identifying resources available to the DACE with regards to developing
rural aquaculture (for example, staff with skills, infrastructure that would
be used for rural aquaculture, funds to start pilot projects, etc.).
Developing policy and a vision (with regard to aquaculture) for the DACE.
Training of DACE extension service officers in aquaculture.
Need for national policy on aquaculture for South Africa – DWAF and NDA
are developing these.
Need for financial, technical and capacity building support for NWDACET
staff and potential rural community aquaculture projects.
Site visit by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Aquaculture Projects in the Western Cape, Eden District, 12 November 2004
The purpose of the visit by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs to the Western Cape Province was a fact-finding mission regarding aquaculture projects in the provinces.
There was no briefing and the site visit to aquaculture projects in the Eden District were cancelled. The main reason for the cancellation is that both the Mayor and Municipal Manager of Eden District Municipality were out of town on business matters on that day. They had requested a postponement of the visit to a later date that will be suitable. (Correspondence available from Committee Section).
Site visit by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Aquaculture Project in the Eastern Cape – Amatole and Chris Hani Districts, 9 November 2004
The purpose of the visit by the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs to the Eastern Cape Province was a fact-finding mission regarding aquaculture projects in the provinces.
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs visited an aquaculture project outside Umtata, which falls under the Oliver Tambo District (instead of visits initially planned for aquaculture projects in the Amatole and Chris Hani Districts).
Background of the Oliver Tambo District
The Oliver Tambo District covers most of the former Transkei. With Umtata as the main centre, the district includes most of the beautiful Wild Coast and Pondoland. The coastal belt is sub-tropical, especially from Port St Johns northwards, and holds a number of nature reserves with indigenous forests. Hills beyond the coast gradually rise to 1,500 metres beyond Umtata. The district is well watered, with many rivers and rainfall above 700mm per annum in most areas.
Oliver Tambo has the second highest population, an estimated 1,504,411 in 1999. It has a high population density for a mostly rural district, 90/square kilometre, reflecting the apartheid inheritance of the homelands. Oliver Tambo has a relatively small formal economy compared to the rest of the province, providing 11% of value added. Subsistence agriculture makes a major contribution to household food security. The main challenge facing the Oliver Tambo District is to grow the economy and create employment. The unemployment rate is a very high 77% and the formal economy is small and centred on Umtata and public services. The rich natural resources of the district in existing forestry and the potential in irrigation and livestock farming need to be utilised through partnerships between communities and the private sector. Fishing has potential for development, possibly through a small fishing harbour at Port St Johns and community partnerships in aquaculture in a limited number of areas.
Site visit to the Aquaculture project in Umtata
Aquaculture in Umtata was started years ago. It initially received support from the provincial department of environmental affairs and skills and expertise from the University of Transkei’s Department of Marine Biology. However, when the professor left, the project went into decline and financial support also dried up. The aquaculture facilities in Umtata are currently underutilised and not fully maintained.
Among the challenges that are currently facing the facility include:
Lack of funding and proper support from Government.
Poor state of facilities and lack of maintenance.
A need to have access to water, particularly the local dam.
A need for a new and powerful water-pump.
Lack of skills and expertise, such as a biologist from a local university.
Lack of cooperation with sector departments such water affairs and environmental affairs.
A need of resources.
There are a number of positive spin-offs of aquaculture in the area. These include:
Generation of income, serving as job creation, for those people working at the facilities.
Poverty alleviation purpose and improving dietary/nutrition needs of the communities. Potentially it can contribute to food security.
Need for diversification and optimisation of resources.
Has potential of harvesting different types of fish and other marine species such as eels for export purposes to overseas markets.
Similarly there is potential for local market.
Recommendations (Select Committee)
DWAF and NDA are developing a national policy for aquaculture for South Africa, the Select Committee needs to input on this policy based on their first hand experiences of visiting aquaculture sites.
A workshop must be planned with the relevant stakeholders working on this issue in South Africa to ascertain a holistic overview of provincial initiatives on aquaculture production. The Select Committee will host a 2-day workshop, bringing all relevant people in South Africa to provide insights on ‘best practices’ utilised at various levels.
Need for provincial Government, especially sector departments, cooperation and support.
Develop a strategic plan with regard to developing aquaculture for commercial, recreational and subsistence purposes.
Section B
Water and sanitation services in South Africa – an overview
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.
Overview of provincial initiatives to attain water and sanitation rights
North West
Water Services Provision – Status Quo
There are 11 Water Services Authorities (WSA) and 5 Water Boards in the North West Province. These comprise 2 district councils and 9 local municipalities.
Basic sanitation – backlog
Household sanitation – 2,850,000 persons (R1568 million).
Bucket replacement – 40 268 hh (R250 million).
Clinic sanitation (R7 million) funds transferred to district municipalities and implementation is in progress.
School sanitation – 62 schools (R30 million).
Basic water supply
Provision of basic water supply – 1,140,000 persons (R1538 million).
Overview of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)
Programme in the Province
The introduction of the MIG posed a number of challenges in terms of:
New national management structure.
New national management systems and procedures.
New funding criteria.
Establishment of project management units (PMU’s).
Involvement of sector departments.
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Increased allocation.
Committed CMIP and DWAF projects.
MIG Allocation 2004/05
|
Municipality |
2004/05 Allocation |
Total Expenditure to 5 October 2004 (R’000) |
% of allocation to date (R’000) |
Initial allocation 04/05 (R’000) |
% of initial allocation to date (R’000) |
|
Madibeng |
49,197 |
7,257 |
15% |
21,117 |
34% |
|
Total: Bojanala District |
162,919 |
21,263 |
13% |
62,132 |
34% |
|
Central DM |
64,755 |
14,646 |
|
34,991 |
|
|
Total: Central District |
64,755 |
14,646 |
23% |
34,991 |
42% |
|
Bophirima DM |
40,490 |
8,706 |
|
24,649 |
|
|
Total: Bophirima District |
40,490 |
8,706 |
22% |
24,649 |
35% |
|
Potchefstroom |
9,009 |
2,990 |
33% |
6,080 |
49% |
|
Total: Southern District |
49,489 |
12,308 |
25% |
23,756 |
52% |
|
Provincial Total |
317 653 |
56,924 |
18% |
145 528 |
39% |
Source: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North West Province
Monitoring and support towards service delivery
Ensure completed Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) (11 WSAs).
Ensure feasibility studies are done for identified projects.
Approve technical reports of selected projects.
Participate in PMUs 9Central, Bophirima, Southern Bojanala, Rustenburg, Madibeng, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom) for guidance and support.
Sustainable service delivery:
Monitor the sector performance.
Pre-assessments of draft WSDPs and assistance to WSAs to prepare WSDPs.
Give support to municipalities to implement the free basic services policies.
Sustainable institutions:
Support to WSAs to identify training needs to build capacity.
Support to implement MIG programme by providing toolboxes and guidance to WSAs/PMUs.
Support WSA’s for the Section 78 process.
Transfer of assets:
Three transfer of assets agreements finalised (Ga Segonyana, Phokwane and Moshaweng).
Drafting of transfer of assets agreements for other WSAs.
Promoting WSP/WSA agreement with water boards and WSAs (Moretele, Moses Kotane, CEDM and Rustenburg) depending the outcome of s78 process.
Refurbishment of schemes (R21.5m).
Performing joint inspections.
Planning (technical) support to WSIs
Support IDP and WSDP processes.
Support MIG processes.
Liaise with provincial government departments.
Drought relief activities.
Information management and monitoring
Access information from Macro-plan, WRM and MIG.
Monitor backlog clearance.
Monitor free basic water and sanitation provision.
Provide information to MIG, WSDP, WRM and NIS.
Monitor water boards.
Region’s capacity to meet challenges
Reorganise the team in line with new functions.
Support and oversight functions.
20 posts are identified.
13 posts are occupied.
Filling critical vacant posts.
Issues that emerged during the presentations and site visits
Concerns were raised at the huge backlog of delivery of sanitation services in the North West. These concerns focused on the reason for only 25% targets in sanitation being met after 10 years.
The issue of the non-establishment of PMU’s was also raised.
The figures presented by the officials showed a large under-spending of money in the Rustenburg municipality and this revealed the
discrepancy of the allocated amount to the amount spent by this
municipality.
The issue of expenditure and monies being retained by the
municipalities was a serious one and Members probed extensively on
this component of the presentation.
The slow transfer of assets to municipalities raised a number of
questions.
Limited infrastructure in rural areas hampered the effective delivery of
provision of water and sanitation services.
Limited resources to support the IDPs hamper the work of the
municipalities.
Recommendations
Need to work more extensively with municipalities in the North West to educate officials on the meshing of budgets and IDPs.
The limited infrastructure for the provision of water and sanitation services hampers delivery and therefore, this issue needs to be critically addressed in rural areas.
The transfer of assets to municipalities must be fast tracked and the target date set by DWAF of 2006 must be achieved.
Mpumalanga
Overview of provincial framework on water and sanitation
services
Water Supply
1 682 807 people were served by the DWAF CWSS programme since 1994. The DWAF capital investment on water supply since 1994 is approximately R788 million. The current backlog figures are estimated at approximately 800 000 people. This included people with infrastructure that are receiving a service below basic level.
Unfortunately, the above figures do not include the backlogs served by other programmes like CMIP, etc. DWAF is currently in the process to consolidate the information for the sector.
During the ten years since 1994, it was mainly the function and responsibility of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to address the water backlog.
As from April 2003, most of the funding was transferred directly to Municipalities in order for them to address the water provision backlog in their areas of jurisdiction. The MIG process was fully introduced in April 2004 and DWAF will be involved in this process with policy. WSDPs, monitoring of sector conditions, support to WSAs and intervention.
Sanitation Supply
Phase 1 – 1994 to 2000
The programme began during the 1994/5 financial year, and the period between 1994 and 2000 saw the first phase of the programme being established. This first phase was largely focused on pioneering a community based developmental programme model, which was characterised by its demand driven approach, and saw roughly 15% of all construction costs being funded through community contributions.
From 1996 to 2000, community members in Mpumalanga, in relation to improving their own sanitary conditions and lives, contributed an estimated R260 000 – this was over and above the labour contributions that were made in terms of households that dug their own toilet pits.
Cumulative expenditure during these years was just below R3, 2 million, and this saw slightly over 2700 toilets built.
Phase 2 – 2000 to 2002
The years from 2000 to 2002 saw the provinces’ sanitation project implementation falling under a programme known as the Mpumalanga Regional sanitation Programme (MRSP). This programme was managed by the Mvula Trust and funded by the Mpumalanga DWAF regional office.
Cumulative expenditure during these years was just below R30 million. These funds were effectively utilised to build just under 6 900 household toilets, 1 175 school toilets in 105 schools, and enabled a substantial cholera campaign to be conducted in partnership with the Provincial Department of Health.
Phase 3 – 2003/2004
This financial year was characterised with many of the preliminary processes leading to the launching of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) programme. Delays in sanitation service delivery were caused in relation to the finalising of an increased sanitation subsidy amount by DWAF. On 1 July 2003, 17 local municipalities in Mpumalanga took up their Water Service Authorities functions.
Cumulative expenditure during 2003/2003 was just below R38 million. Over 13 500 toilets were built – an amount just under one and half times greater than the cumulative total of all toilets delivered over the previous years since 1994.
Phase 4 – 2004 onward
The application of the transition of the Mpumalanga sanitation programme under the MIG programme of the Mpumalanga Department of Local Government and Housing is underway. All multi-year sanitation project cash flow information was successfully handed over to the finance section of DPLGH. Funds for the 04/05 year are currently being dispersed to the various Municipal Project Management Units, for use on the ongoing sanitation projects, as well as for newly approved projects as listed in the Integrated Development Plans of Municipalities.
The 2004/05 will see a targeted 17 000 toilets built in the on-going MIG/DWAF contractually committed projects. Further, several new MIG sanitation projects are going ahead and the 2005 MIG target for sanitation service delivery could be estimated at 20 000 toilets.
Visit to water and sanitation projects
Albert Luthuli Local Municipality – provision of boreholes to rural areas
|
Funder |
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry |
|
Amount |
R3 500 000 000 |
|
Contractors |
Bloms’ Kitchen, Ncesa & Vusuzi JV and J & M Drilling CC |
|
Consultants |
Simba Civil and Structural Engineers & Tumber Fourie Consulting Engineers |
|
Beneficiaries |
14 000 |
|
Employment created |
1250 people employed (temporary). |
|
Project description |
R3, 5 million was made available by DWAF to address the backlog in rural communities where bulk water supply through pipeline is impossible or not cost effective. Since the municipality has a greater population residing in the remote areas where the bulk could not cater for their water demands, the municipality opted for the drilling of boreholes as the best available option to address the situation. |
|
Project Commission (Date) |
April 2004. |
|
Project name |
Provision of VIP toilets to clinics |
|
Funder |
DWAF |
|
Amount |
R536 757 44 |
|
Contractors |
Masihambisane General Construction CC |
|
Consultants |
Mvula Trust |
|
Beneficiaries (Temporary) |
347 people employed. |
|
Project description |
R536 747 44 was made available by DWAF to address the sanitation problems that clinics have due to the nature of the areas of services that are without sustainable water supply, and bulk sanitation infrastructure to be provided with sanitation. The best available option for people at this point was the provision of VIP toilets since these are dry systems. |
|
Project commission date |
May 2004. |
Albert Luthuli Local Municipality – Upgrading of Eerstehoek Water Scheme
|
Funder |
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry |
|
Amount |
R2 500 000.000 |
|
Contractors |
Insakavukela Construction CC |
|
Consultants |
Tirisano Consulting Engineers |
|
Beneficiaries |
33 000 |
|
Employment created (Temporary) |
1520 people employed. |
|
Project description |
Eerstehoek water scheme consists of both bulk and reticulation that was previously constructed to supply water to the Elukwatini. A (full pressured water) and Nhlazatshe 1 – 7 (RDP standard). Over the years, the townships have overgrown the capacity of the system to supply water resulting in water shortages and sometimes unavailability at all. Some extensions to the township were made without upgrading of the system itself. Some investigations were done by professionals, which proved that in order for the scheme to be able to supply water equitable to all its beneficiaries, it would require an upgrade of another 6 Ml in size from its original 8MI. Some parts of the areas do not have access to potable water at all. |
|
Project commission date |
June 2004 |
Issues that emerged during the presentations and site visits: