Questions and Replies

Reply:

1.  The department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is aware of water from the mine void in the Eastern Basin entering an opencast pit. It should be noted that mining operations are responsible for dewatering their own operations, not the DWS. This responsibility has been recognised by Gold One who are procuring pumps to assist in the pumping and treatment of acid mine drainage in the Eastern Basin.

The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) is the implementing agent for DWS on this project. The pumps were procured from Andritz in Germany. Andritz had a proven track record in the supply of these submersible pumps worldwide and the first 2 pumps were donated by Central Rand Gold, who at that stage wished to mine to a depth of 450 m in the Central Basin. Additional pumps were sourced from the same supplier to ensure compatibility and to allow the pumps to be moved between the basins as required.

(a) Due to Covid-19 and the related global supply chain challenges, TCTA was not able to secure all the spares from Andritz in time to enable the continued pumping at the Eastern Basin AMD Plant. A decision was made to concentrate pumping and treatment in the Western and Central Basins as once the Eastern Basin becomes operational again it has the capacity to recover.

(b) (i)Nafasi Water Technologies (Pty) Ltd was appointed by the TCTA through a competitive process, on a 5-year contract to operate and maintain the AMD Plants for the Central and Eastern Basins including the AMD pumps.

(ii) The spares for the first motor were received in June 2022 (planned for December 2021) and the refurbishment of the first motor commenced in July 2022 by Marthinus and Coutts and was completed mid-August 2022 as planned. The motor was installed and commissioned by Carl Harm in August 2022 but was only in operation for 1 week before it started stalling and this necessitated the motor to be taken back to the workshop for a detailed inspection.   

(iii) The cost of operations and maintenance in the Eastern Basin for the financial year 2021-2022 was R72 million

2. The TCTA is responsible for the sourcing of critical spares from the original equipment suppliers in order to maintain the warranties for the various installed equipment.  

((i)In addition, the refurbishment of the motors and pumps is being done locally through the following service providers:

• Marthinus & Coutts based in Cleverland, Johannesburg.
• Sulzer - Local Branch
• Carl Harm (Andritz local installer)

(ii-iii) The TCTA in partnership with Gold-One has procured 3 new motors in July 2022 and the factory acceptance tests for the new motors were conducted successfully on 29 September 2022 in China and the motors will be shipped to RSA on 7 October 2022. TCTA is evaluating the option to airfreight one of these motors so that it can be delivered to site within 10 days. Parallel to this process, Sulzer is busy reassembling the pump to be compatible with the new motor from China. If successful, these plans will enable the TCTA to commission one pump by the end of October 2022 and the other two pumps will be commissioned early December 2022.  

3. TCTA has not released any non-treated acid mine water to the Blesbokspruit since the commencement of operations.

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Reply:

1. The Minister of Water and Sanitation is aware of the water supply shortages of water supply within the Polokwane Local Municipality particularly within the Polokwane City, the surrounding suburbs and Seshego township.

Polokwane LM receives daily water supply from three major sources comprising of the Ebenezer Water Treatment Works (WTW), Olifantspoort WTW and Dalmada WTW. The Ebenezer and Olifasproot plants are operated by the Lepelle Northern Water Board (LNWB) while Dalmada WTW is operated by Polokwane LM.

Polokwane City and Seshego has a total demand of 96.5 Ml/d and all possible sources can only supply the city with 88.4Ml/d and currently there is a deficit of 8.1 Ml/d. The city is authorized to abstract and or to treat 29.4 Ml/d while LNWB supplies 27 Ml/d from Olifastsproot WTW and 32 Ml/d from Ebenezer WTW.

Water supply to the Polokwane LM is also augmented through boreholes, some of which are non-operation and require repairs as indicated below:

• Sand River North: all fifteen (15) Boreholes are operational. Polokwane LM is pumping the boreholes in alternative to allow some of the boreholes to recharge and the total yield of the boreholes is 4.8 Ml/d
• Seshego Boreholes (Direct to Reticulation): out of six (6) boreholes, two (2) are not operational due to vandalism and the municipality is currently repairing the borehole.
• Marshall Boreholes: all five (5) boreholes are operational and currently producing 3.8 Ml/d

The WTWs supplying Polokwane are faced with challenges that impact on the ability of the municipality to supply water consistently to all residents as follows:

• The Ebenezer WTW
  • The plant is operated by LNWB and is highly affected by general interruption of electricity, currently affecting optimal water supply countrywide, which is supplied by the Greater Tzaneen LM
  • Greater Tzaneen LM is currently upgrading electricity infrastructure which supplies the Ebenezer WTW and discussions to explore whether Greater Tzaneen LM can isolate Ebenezer WTW from load shedding are underway
• Olifanspoort WTW
  • The plant is operated by LNWB is impacted negatively by the Olifantspoort ageing bulk water supply network contributes significantly to the interruption of water supply in the City of Polokwane.
  • The main cause of the water supply challenges in Polokwane City was due to deficiencies of the pumping systems of the Olifantspoort scheme. There were mechanical breakdowns within Pump Station No 2 and Pump Station No 3 which have since been repaired.
    • The LNWB has already commissioned Phase 1 for the upgrade and refurbishment of this bulk pipeline, a cost of R 32 million. Phase 2 which has been allocated R 38 and is meant to refurbish aging infrastructure will be completed by the end of October 2022
• The Dalmada WTW
  • This plant, which is operated by the City of Polokwane, has a pipeline that conveys raw water from Dap Naude sections of which is critically dilapidated.
  • A study that was done in 2019 has confirmed a need for refurbishment and upgrade of the pipeline to enable Polokwane LM to safely abstract of 14Ml/d from the dam, which would add 4.1Ml to the supply
  • The Implementation Readiness Studies for the refurbishment and upgrades is under consideration by the department.

• Seshego WTW

• • There is a 1.8 Ml/d deficiency in the system due to the new Seshego WTW Plant currently being non-operational while under construction.

To ensure proper resolution of the water supply plaguing the Polokwane LM, a task team led by both Deputy Ministers, the Executive Major of Polokwane and Chairperson of the Board of LNWB has been set up to resolve water supply challenges in the Polokwane LM. A technical task team led by the Municipal Manager of Polokwane LM, the Chief Executive Officer of LNWB and DWS officials has also been established. The task team will meet weekly to track progress on the restoration of water supply to Polokwane City including the Seshego township. The implementation of the action plan is at 85% and all major challenges are being resolved.

2. A joint media briefing was held by both Polokwane LM, LNWB and the department on 5 September 2022. Furthermore, the Polokwane LM continues to update residents of Polokwane City including Seshego township on any development regarding the state of water supply.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) recently published the 2022 Green Drop Report which gives a detailed overview of the state of Wastewater Management in the country. The report presents an extremely concerning situation across the country, and that wastewater management has deteriorated notably since 2014.

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation has taken steps to capacitate Water Service Authorities in collaboration with the South Africa Local Government Association (SALGA) through:

• Capacitating the Water and Sanitation Portfolio based Councillors throughout their term.
• Ensuring adequate wastewater operations and maintenance capacity through the training of Process Controllers. The department will, in collaboration with the Energy and Water Sector Training Authority (EWSETA) facilitate training of Process Controllers in order to comply with the required Wastewater Quality Management regulations.
• Ensuring that all wastewater management environmental hazards are mapped and mitigated

Furthermore, the department together with SALGA embarked on the Water and Sanitation Councillor Induction from May to August 2022 across the country. Wastewater Quality Management and Drinking Water Management themes were part of the inductions.

b) (i) Key focus areas identified in the report include the following:

• Technical competence
• Treatment capacity
• Wastewater monitoring and compliance
• Operation, Maintenance and Refurbishment of Assets

(ii) Key areas of concern identified during the Green Drop Assessments will be addressed in the following ways:

• The DWS is in the process of finalising the amendments to regulations relating to compulsory national standards for process controllers and water services works. The regulations seek to ensure that the water services works are classified according to their technology type to determine the level of skill required for operations by process controllers.
• Process controllers who are skilled in both qualifications and years of experience must be registered to operate a relevant water service works based on their class of certificate.
• The DWS is putting in place a Water Services Improvement Programme (WSIP) to strengthen its support and intervention at municipal level based on actual data or most available data. The aim of the programme is to ensure that support and intervention at municipal level is proactive, consistent, and systematic.
• Maintenance and refurbishment of Wastewater Treatment Works is the primary responsibility of the responsible Water Service Authorities (WSAs). However, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) works together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to ensure that municipalities receive the necessary support and grant funding to refurbish and maintain their assets.
• The DWS also funds certain refurbishment and upgrading projects that meet the criteria of the different funding programs such as Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). Some of the specified WWTW have been gradually included in these programs depending on availability of funds availed to the Regions.
• COGTA also supports WSAs through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for water and sanitation services, amongst other. Some of the funding has been allocated for the refurbishment of some of WWTW.

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Reply:

a)  Twenty-one (21) licences are allocated to mining plants in the Northern Cape for iron ore (9), manganese (10) as well as manganese and iron ore (2) as indicated in the table below:

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Reply:

(1)(a-c)The department has been advised that there are villages that do not have twenty-four hour access to water due to leakages caused by unauthorised and illegal connections, which also impacts the water pressure and adequate supply to villages. The municipality has a rationing programme in place to ensure that all residents have access to water. Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has been advised to implement the water conservation and water demand management and COGTA is part of the Task Team to ensure that it is implemented in order to ensure water availability to communities.

(d) The municipality has a duty to enforce its by-laws by ensuring that farmers and residents that have illegally connected into the water infrastructure are held liable through penalties to curb and regulate water consumption.

2. The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has reported that there are two boreholes supplying villages in the Bushbuckridge area, furthermore, one is functional and the other one in the Buyelani Village, had to be decommissioned due to frequent vandalism. This village receives water through bulk water supply, although it is also impacted by the illegal connections. Once the Hoxani Bulk water scheme is finalised, water supply will improve in the long term.

3. As indicated above, the municipality is not able to meet the demand for water supply due to unauthorised connections and water losses. However, there is an ongoing project to replace the asbestos pipeline which is planned for completion in the 2024/25 financial year. The replacement of the asbestos pipeline with a steel pipeline will significantly reduce water losses and improve water supply to the area.

The municipality is also implementing a project to install an additional clear water pump at the Hoxane WTW which will increase the volumes pumped by the plant from 22 Ml/day to 31 Ml/day to the Ndonga reservoir that supplies the villages in Bushbuckridge. The Hoxani Bulk Water Supply Scheme project, which is due to commence at the beginning of 2023/24, will also improve water supply to the villages in Bushbuckridge when is completed. The completion of the Hoxani Bulk water scheme will increase the water supply to full capacity of 36 Ml/day.

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Reply:

The NWRS-3 will be finalised and approved on 31 March 2023 as outlined on the Department’s Annual Performance Plan.

The Department is currently conducting public consultation workshops on the draft National Water Resource Strategy 3 (NWRS-3) as required by the National Water Act (NWA). Call for public consultation was done through the Gazette Notice which was published on 27 July 2022 under Notice 47133. After public consultation, the document will be updated based on the comments received from various stakeholders and a final document will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

While there has been a delay in finalising and publishing the NWRS-3, the NWRS-2 is still being implemented by the Department, it’s entities as well as the entire water and sanitation sector stakeholders. Therefore, the Department has not neglected its responsibility to protect, use, develop, conserve, manage and control the country’s water resources.

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Reply:

The Bushbuckridge villages have access to water through the Hoxane Water Treatment Works, Inyaka bulk water supply system and through boreholes. There are two boreholes, one of which has been decommissioned due to frequent vandalism.

(a) (i) The community does not have reliable access to water due to leakages caused by illegal connections, which results in the supply system not being able to cater for all villages. The municipality has implemented a rationing programme to ensure that all residents have access to water.

The water rationing programme has been communicated to all communities through ward councillors and any shutdowns that impact on the water supply are communicated timeously through the municipality’s communications systems.

(ii) The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality is currently in a process of data cleansing to verify all households where meters were installed for billing purposes. This process should be completed by the end of the current financial year so that billing can commence in the beginning of the next financial year (2022/2023). 

(b) The municipality is implementing a project to replace the asbestos pipeline with steel pipeline, it is anticipated that the project will be completed during the 2024/25.

(c) The Municipality is implementing its Water Conservation and Demand Management strategy (WCDM) and Water Services by-laws which are undergoing the process of gazetting. The municipality has initiated the procurement processes to appoint service providers.

The WCDM Strategy includes projects such as:

• Installation of bulk flow meters to conduct water balance and to identify water loss hotspots
• Purchase of leak detectors to detect leakages
• Installation of reservoirs level controls valves to prevent reservoirs overflows
• Installation of lockable valves chambers to prevent valves interferences, telemetry system to monitor pressures in the bulk network
• Removal of illegal connections to reduce non-revenue water and improve water supply status

(d) The municipality is currently implementing a project to install an additional clear water pump at the Hoxane Water Treatment Plant which will increase the volumes pumped by the plant from 22 Ml/day to 31 Ml/day to the Ndonga Reservoir that supplies the villages. The Hoxani Bulk Water Supply Scheme project, which is due to commence at the beginning of 2023/24, will also improve water supply to the villages in Bushbuckridge when is completed.

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Reply:

1.  South Africa is a water scarce country, where everyone is affected by the limited water resources. My department undertakes various water resources and services planning studies and implements interventions or programmes to provide water to all citizens.

Due to the holistic and inclusive approach, areas that had historically been unserved have gradually seen service level improvements, as shown from the STATSSA data reflected in the General Household Survey. Much remains to be done, but a lot has been accomplished.

• The General Household Survey (GHS 2021) figures for basic water supply reflect a figure of 88% (64% in 1994) limited coverage of water infrastructure in South Africa. That is, drinking water from an improved source provided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip including queuing
• The General Household Survey (GHS 2021) figures for basic Level of Service is currently at 83% (49% in 1994). This includes use of improved facilities which are not shared with other households.

The Water and Sanitation Master Plan launched by the Department in 2020; is the blueprint that was developed to identify key actions and allocate roles and responsibilities to all stakeholders in the water sector, including the various tiers of government, and the private sector. It is intended to guide the sector regarding investment planning for the development of water resources, delivery of water and sanitation services, and addressing service delivery backlogs services until 2030. The Master Plan also addresses the enabling requirements, such as the institutional and legal arrangements for implementation, operation and maintenance, funding requirements and models, and monitoring and evaluation models.

2. Although there are still evident backlogs in service delivery, particularly in rural areas; due to the legacy of apartheid; the democratic government has been turning the situation around by progressively ensuring access to water for all as mandated by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It should be noted that the population of South Africa has grown from 40 to 60 million which make the percentage progress even better due to the ever-moving target. The National Water and Sanitation Master Plan therefore comprises of key programmes, projects, and actions to be implemented for the protection and development of the national water resources, as well as provision of adequate and reliable water services for all citizens.

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Reply:

a)  The Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JGDM) operates twelve (12) Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in the Walter Sisulu and Senqu Local Municipalities. The status of the WWTW and pump stations is as follows:

(i) Details regarding the state of the WWTW:

• In the Walter Sisulu LM, there are six (6) wastewater treatment plants of which five (5) are functional and one (1) is non-functional
• In the Senqu LM, there are six (6) wastewater treatment plants, five (5) are functional and one is non-functional.

(ii) Details regarding the state of the Pump Stations:

• In the Walter Sisulu LM, there are eight (8) pumpstations, four (4) are funtional and the other four (4) are non-functional
• In the Senqu LM, there are five (5) pumpstations that are all functional.

b) Reasons for failures of the WWTW were mostly due to mechanical and electrical failures as well as theft and vandalism of electrical equipment and cables, particularly at pump stations in the Walter Sisulu LM.

c) Funding has been availed from various sources; including the District Municipality’s internal funds, Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant from Department of Water and Sanitation; to facilitate the repairs of the non-functional plants. Progress is as follows:

• New pumps have been purchased by the Walter Sisulu LM to replace the non-functional pumps
• Repairs were recently completed to WWTWs in at Oviston, Venterstad in the Walter Sisulu LM and and Herschel in the Senqu LM
• A contractor to refurbish the Steynsburg WWTW in the Walter Sisulu LM has been appointed and is already on site
• Project plans are awaiting approval for the refurbishment of the Sterkspruit WWTW in the Senqu municipality
• The Joe Gqabi DM has responded well to the notices and directives issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and will be reprioritising the WSIG funds to address the challenges

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Reply:

a)  (i) The initial estimated cost for the project was R 1,2 billion.

(ii) The total amount spent on the project was R 1,7 million.

b) The project comprises on the replacement of 80km of pipeline, the installation of pressure release valves and construction of chlorination building. These works were completed and the pipeline is functional

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Reply:

1.  The constitutional responsibility for providing water and sanitation services rests with local government. The Department of Water and Sanitation regulates how these services are provided, monitors and supports municipalities providing water services and has a duty to intervene where national norms and standards are not met.

As indicated in the recent Green Drop and Blue Drop assessments, Municipal water services are in decline in many municipalities and government’s constitutional obligation to progressively provide safe water and a healthy environment for everyone is being compromised. In many cases, water and sanitation infrastructure is in a critical state due to inadequate investment and maintenance.

As mandated by the Constitution and other relevant legislation, the DWS has developed a Water Services Improvement Programme (WSIP) to strengthen its support and intervention at municipal level.

The aim of the programme is to support municipalities and intervene more consistently and systematically to address water and sanitation service delivery challenges. The overall aim of this initiative is to guide, initiate and lead national government support and regulatory interventions to reverse the decline in the provision of water and sanitation services in all municipalities.

Interventions being implemented by the DWS in Qwaqwa, Butterworth and Hammanskraal of the DWS

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Reply:

(1) The source of drinking water for Doornkop area is potable water that is supplied through a reticulation network system from Doornkop Reservoir. The water supply capacity and infrastructure servicing Doornkop is deemed adequate as there have been no documented prolonged water outages that could point to supply limitations.

(2) Information received from Johannesburg Water is that there are no boreholes in Doornkop. The City of Johannesburg Water supplies water to the informal settlements in the area through standpipes or stationary water tanks which are filled by mobile water tankers on a regular basis.

(3) Not applicable.

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Reply:

There are two (2) Water Use Authorisations for Iron ore and Manganese mining activities currently in progress in the Northern Cape.

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Reply:

All appointments in the department are subject to open recruitment and selection processes and are not subject to Minister having meetings outside the public sector.

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Reply:

The Nandoni-Nsami Pipeline Project consists of Construction of two (2) bulk water pipelines to provide water to Giyani and the greater Malamulele areas as well as a pump station at the Nandoni Water Treatment Works to supply water to the pipelines.

The 33.98km out of 40.50km of the Nandoni-Nsami line has been completed. There have been several delays with Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipe delivery. To date, 21.32km out of 26.58km the Nandoni-Malamulele pipeline has been laid. The project is left with chambers, pressure testing, Luvhuvu crossing and some finishing touches.

The project started on 07 March 2016 with an initial completion date of 09 November 2020. This could not be realised due to several unforeseen circumstances. The adjusted practical completion date is 14 March 2023.

The Water Service Authority (WSA), the Mopani District Municipality is also implementing additional reticulation to 55 villages that are supplied from the Giyani Water Treatment Works. Reported current progress with the reticulation project is as follows:

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Reply:

The department periodically develops and reviews policies and this process involves extensive consultations with external stakeholders and the broader public. As such, draft policies are gazetted for public to provide comments.

Once departmental policies are finalised, the documents are gazetted and published on DWS website thus becoming public documents.

a) All policies of the Department can be accessed on the official website www.dws.gov.za

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Reply:

1. The Nelson Mandela Bay University (NMU) has not been approached to carry out any research on alternative water resources to mitigate against the drought. The NMBM conducted its own research as guided Department of Water and Sanitation Algoa Reconciliation Strategy which was used to develop the NMBM Drought Mitigation Plan (DMP). The NMU is however a stakeholder at the NMBM Joint Operations Centre (JOC) where the DMP is reported which the university can provide their comments and inputs.

2. Yes, my Department has conducted the Algoa Reconciliation Strategy since 2011, which aims to reconcile bulk water sources with water requirements over a planning period of at least 25 years to prevent the risk of a water shortages. An annual update of the strategy, called the Status Report, is done which describes the status of the Algoa Water Supply System (WSS) in terms of bulk water infrastructure, water resources, current and future water requirements and yield balance, and recommended interventions and other actions.

One of the key recommendations have been made through the Algoa Reconciliation Strategy was that the NMBM should complete implementation of the Nooitgedacht Coega Low Level Scheme Phase 3 which will provide an additional 70Ml/day potable water to the NMBM. This project will be commissioned at the end of September 2022. Further recommendations of the Reconciliation Strategy were:

• That the Metro should continue with the implementation of re-use schemes to meet the water demands of the Coega Special Economic Zone
• Ensure implementation-readiness for implementation of reuse schemes from the Fish Water Flats WWTW and the planned Coega WWTW; within the constraints of available development funds
• Proceed with planning for a potable reuse scheme, which should be preceded by a pilot scheme; and implementation of the 15Mℓ/d Coega seawater desalination scheme
• Update the comparative costs and potential impacts of raising the Kouga and the Guernakop Dams against investing in a desalination plant as a long-term augmentation option, considering that an EIA application for a 60Ml/d desalination plant has already been granted to CDC by DEA. This should be dependent on the updated yields, once the updated Algoa WSS model is available.
• Evaluate the Lower Sundays River Return Flows scheme at a more detailed reconnaissance level. This should be followed by a Feasibility-level Study by NMBM and considered as one of the next interventions to be considered for implementation. Consideration should be given to treating the water for industrial-quality use; and the municipality should timeously establish whether this scheme is worth pursuing further.
• Implement Water Use Efficiency / Water Conservation Water Demand Management projects to reduce the demand for water
• The Kouga LM should continue with groundwater evaluations and implementation of groundwater schemes, particularly those schemes that can easily integrated into the existing Water Supply System infrastructure. Groundwater initiatives undertaken by Kouga LM will further aim to make the various small towns less reliant on surface water supply. Potential groundwater yields should be updated when additional information becomes available.

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Reply:

1.  As indicated in response to Question no 2955, an amended rehabilitation plan was submitted on 4 August 2022 to include inputs from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. The approved rehabilitation plan entails deliverables of the project which are categorised into three (3) phases namely:

• Phase 1: Low Flow Eco Status Report
• Phase: 2: Development of Rehabilitation Actions from Phase 1
• Phase 3: Monitoring and Final Report

Implementation of Phase 1 of the rehabilitation plan has commenced, and the Khwezela Mine has appointed qualified team of specialists. The appointment of the team fulfils one of the requirements of the directive issued by this Department. Other key matters that the mine has made progress on include the following:

• Commencement with the first round of monitoring and this has been completed on 19 August 2022 the results have been distributed and the specialist team is working on the results.
• Commencement with the eco status assessment and reconnaissance surveys. The surveys entail systematic screening of the water resources through recording characteristics found in the water resources and recommended actions based on the results obtained.
• Furthermore, a workshop on updating the rehabilitation plan with the specialist panel will be held on 15 September 2022. Specialist workshop on 1st and 2nd round of monitoring will be held October 2022.

(2) The relevant details of the rehabilitation plan are outlined in the Gantt chart attached as Annexure A with an indication of timelines. It is envisaged that implementation of the rehabilitation plan will be completed by 2027.

(3) Provision of the “details regarding the progress of the rehabilitation of the two rivers” can be obtained by submitting a request to the Departmental chief information officer as guided by PAIA.

(4) Provision of the “details indicating whether the natural process of rehabilitation has started based on the reports provided to him by the rehabilitation company” can be obtained by submitting a request to the Departmental Chief Information Officer as guided by PAIA.

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Reply:

1. No disciplinary action was taken by DWS against municipal officials that did not adhere to non-compliance letters issued by the DWS as the non-compliance letters were issued by the DWS against the Water Service Authorities not individual employees. The WSAs against whom non-compliance letters were issued are indicated in Annexure A.

2. In terms of the Constitution of South Africa, the Department has an obligation to provide support to local government and to exhaust all intergovernmental relations remedies prior to turning to the judiciary for relief. The Department therefore approached the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Municipal Infrastructure Agency and the South African Local Government Association to provide support and assistance to the Water Services Institutions that are struggling to develop and implement action plans. The Department monitors compliance against the implementation plans. Where these are not implemented or submitted despite support, the department will revert to administrative enforcement measures under the National Water Act. Where there are persistent and material breaches (offences) in terms of sections 151 of the National Water Act and 82 of the Water Services Act, the department will conduct criminal investigations to which may lead to criminal prosecution.

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Reply:

(1) The Biodiversity Company was appointed by Khwezela Colliery to develop and implement a Rehabilitation Plan.

(2) The Rehabilitation plan was submitted before 30 April 2022. However, the plan needed to be reviewed and amended to include the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) inputs and was subsequently submitted to the department on 04 August 2022.

(3) The Biodiversity Company was appointed by Khwezela Colliery to develop and implement a Rehabilitation Plan for the Klein Olifants and Wilge Rivers.

(4) The Rehabilitation Plan was approved by the department.

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Reply:

a)  The draft Compulsory National Water and Sanitation Services Norms and Standards has been certified by the State Law Advisor.

b) Certification of the initial phase Social Economic Impact Assessment by the Presidency is expected by the end of September, whereafter it will be published for public comment for a period of 60 days.

c) Publication of the Norms and Standards for public comments depends on the certification from Presidency, but the target is to publish by 15 October 2022.

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Reply:

1. (a) (i) None.

(ii) Not applicable.

(iii) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

2. No. there is no need to make a statement. The Department implemented the provisions of DPSA Circular no 38 of 2022 dated 29 June 2022.

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Reply:

a) Since 2016 the Department received four (4) water use licenses applications for chrome wash plants in the Bojanala Platinum District. Currently there are no applications that are yet to be finalised for chrome wash plants in the Bojanala Platinum District.

b) Please refer to the table below:

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Reply:

a) Areas experiencing water shortages are mostly rural areas in the provinces of the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu Natal, Free State and the Northern Cape. In addition, 32% households in South Africa do not have access to a reliable services due to dilapidated infrastructure as well as lack of proper operations and maintenance of existing infrastructure which results in disruptions and shortage of water supply.

Access to sanitation services is less than 85% in six provinces including in the Free State (82.3%), KwaZulu Natal (KZN) (80.9%), Limpopo (63.7%), North West (68.8%), Mpumalanga (63.7%), and Northern Cape (83.9%). Access in the provinces of, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West are below the national average at 82.1%. in the efforts to remedy these challenges, the DWS will be submitting a National Sanitation Framework (NSF) to Cabinet for approval.

The framework seeks to:

• Revise the national norms and standards for sanitation and provide for equitable sanitation provision across all settlement types
• Strengthen monitoring and compliance to the standards, and
• Sets out measures to improve service delivery such as support in various forms to address service delivery lapses.

b) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is in the process of planning and implementing a range of major projects to augment national bulk water resource infrastructure and is in the process of establishing the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) to finance and implement the large-scale investments in national water resource infrastructure that are required to ensure that South Africa has sufficient bulk water supply now and in future. The use of groundwater, desalination of seawater and rainwater harvesting are also being implemented to address local water requirements.

The DWS will strengthen its role in supporting and intervening in municipalities where water and sanitation services are failing, in conjunction with provinces, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, National Treasury and the South African Local Government Association. This will be done in the spirit of cooperative governance in the Constitution to avoid creating inter-governmental conflict. The service delivery imporvement plan will include:

• Optimal use of the legislative framework
• Reconfiguration of Water Boards
• Positioning of reconfigured Boards to work closely with Municipalities with regards to ensuring capacity for service delivery
• Development and implementation of rolling plans for providing support and intervention for water and sanitation services to municipalities, drawing on a range of national support programmes
• Partnerships with the private sector that includes funding as well as technical and managerial expertise

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Reply:

a) There are 7 Water Use Licences issued to existing chrome wash plants in the Bojanala Platinum District since 1 January 2011.

b) The list below indicates the details of the applicants.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) established a WAR room to assist the Ethekwini Metro Municipality to manage the impacts of the floods on water services provision, on 15 April 2022. Officials of the DWS are members of the WAR room and are monitoring interventions to ensure water services are restored and alternative water supplies provided.

The Ethekwini Metro has appointed a contractor to reinstate the Tongaat Water Treatment Works (WTW). The construction is scheduled to be complete and the works commissioned by 30 September 2022.

In the interim the Ethekwini Metro is providing water via approximately 20 water tankers and 33 static tanks installed in the Tongaat area.

Some parts of Tongaat including Watsonia, Buffelsdale, Mithanager, Trurolands, Gandhinagar, Chelmsford Heights and parts of Tongaat Central that are supplied from the Tongaat South Reservoir, are receiving water for a few hours a day.

Other parts of Tongaat that are receiving water from alternative systems include parts of Belvedere area, Raj Kumar’s farm areas, Walter Reid Road, Amanzimnyama area, Brake Village, Plain Street and parts of the Gandhinagar area.

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Reply:

a) Based on our database there is one (1) water use licence application for chrome wash plant that was withdrawn by the applicant since 2016.

b) The details are indicated below:

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Reply:

1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is aware that there is still sewage flowing into the Vanderkloof Dam.

An initial investigation conducted by DWS into the Vanderkloof Wastewater Treatment Plant on 20 June 2018 and 13 September 2018 indicated the following:

• There was no operations and maintenance plan for the works.
• There was no security personnel and no protective personal equipment and working tools for the employees on site.
• The maturation ponds were not lined, posing significant threat of pollution to groundwater resources.
• There was no disinfecting of the final effluent before irrigating with onto open land next to the plant.
• The quality of the final effluent discharged into the environment was not being monitored by Renosterberg Local Municipality to comply with the applicable wastewater discharge standards.
• The untreated wastewater was flowing into the Vanderkloof Dam.
• Two (2) pump stations were non-functional and overflowing with raw wastewater into the Vanderkloof Dam; and
• There was no Water Use Authorisation in terms of Section 40 of the National Water Act, for all water use activities that were taking place, namely section 21(e), (f) and (g).

Following the initial investigation, the then Acting Municipal Manager was engaged by the DWS to address the non-compliances on site. When the municipality did not cooperate, a Directive was issued by the DWS to Renosterberg Local Municipality on 05 February 2019. in terms of Sections 19(3) and 53(1).

A follow up inspection was conducted by DWS at the Vanderkloof Wastewater Treatment Plant on 21 May 2019, and no improvements were found. The DWS team found that untreated wastewater was flowing into the nearest stream that flows into Vanderkloof Dam and Orange River. None of the temporary remedial solutions agreed upon were implemented by the municipality to curb pollution of the Vanderkloof dam.

2. The DWS has issued numerous administrative notices in terms of sections 19(3) and 53(1) of the National Water Act to the municipality. This administrative process has been unfolding since 2018 and includes investigations and follow up inspections as well as following up on plans and representations submitted by the Municipality to the department. The administrative action to date includes two (2) written directives and verbal directives issued to the Municipality directing it to stop pollution from its sewer reticulation networks into Vanderkloof dam, and to rectify sewer conveyance and ensure the full treatment of sewer in accordance with norms and standards.

The DWS has approached Renosterberg Local Municipality timeously about the pollution from its Vanderkloof Wastewater Treatment Works, with the latest administrative actions taken against the municipality by the issuance of a second Directive dated 24 March 2022 following recent public complaints and investigations conducted on 23 December 2021 and 18-22 March 2022 of the Vanderkloof Pump stations and Wastewater Treatment Works. From the three recent investigations as stipulated above, the following non-compliance were still observed with no remedial actions taken by the municipality:

• Wastewater discharges from the two (2) pump stations that were overflowing and discharging inside the dam, as a result, promoting the growth of algae blooms and hyacinth (limiting oxygen levels for the flora and fauna aquatic species living inside the dam); and
• Seepage of wastewater from the maturation ponds and the lack of chlorination of final effluent.

Furthermore, a recent site inspection conducted by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs on 18 May 2022 also concurred with DWS investigations and inspections that the Vanderkloof Wastewater Treatment Works and associated pump stations are causing pollution to groundwater resources and the Vanderkloof Dam.

3. The DWS has intervened by providing funding relief through WSIG (Water Sector Infrastructure Grant) to the Renosterberg LM for the lining of the maturation pond to prevent seepage of wastewater into the Vanderkloof Dam; and a further R4.5 million for the municipality to repair the two (2) non-functional and overflowing pump stations. However, due to the debt that Municipality had with ESKOM, their bank account was frozen as per court interdict in favour of ESKOM recovering outstanding monies owed to it by Renosterberg LM. As a result, no improvements were made to curb the pollution of Vanderkloof Dam and the Orange River.

It should be noted that the municipality has confirmed that the challenges with Eskom have been resolved and that the necessary repairs and maintenance to the sewer reticulation system will commence with the relief funding granted by DWS. The department will closely monitor the implementation of remedial measures and ensure that the requirements of the issued Directives are fully complied with.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation engaged the Mvoti Local Municipality regarding the provision of water and sanitation services to the residents of Umvoti in Ward 13. The municipality reported the following:

• A total of 1 603 households, 44% of them are served with water from the Mbuba stand-alone water scheme.
• Water is pumped from the production borehole to supply the 700 households.
• The water service backlog within Ward 13 stands at 56% (903 households) which are currently serviced with water tankers.
• The Mbuba water supply scheme currently runs on a diesel generator, and the municipality has plans to connect the plant to an ESKOM power connection due to huge operational costs.
• Regarding the sanitation services about 96% (1 543 households) are served with VIP sanitation system and there is a backlog of 60 households.

The municipality also indicated that it is currently not able to implement any new projects for water and sanitation services due to funding constraints and over commitment of grant funding for the MTEF period.

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Reply:

1.  A total of 90 Water Service Authorities responsible for 334 wastewater collection and treatment systems that achieved less than 30% during the Department’s Green Drop Assessment were issued with non-compliance letters and instructed to prepare and submit corrective action plans as highlighted in the Green Drop 2022 Report.

a) Six (6) of the Water Services Authorities have complied and submitted action plans which are currently being considered by the Department as follows:

• Joe Morolong LM
• Ndlambe LM
• Koukamma LM
• Hessequa LM
• Alfren Nzo DM
• Langeberg LM

Two (2) Water Service Authorities indicated below have requested and granted additional time to develop action plans:

• • Emthanjeni LM
  • Dipaleseng LM

A further five (5) Water Services Authorities did not provide action plans but requested support from DWS as follows:

• • Dr Beyers Naude LM
  • Siyancuma LM
  • Zululand DM
  • Khai Ma LM
  • Blue Crane LM

b) Seventy-seven (77) Water Services Authorities did not adhere to their non-compliance letter issued.

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Reply:

The Tlapeng village is currently receiving water supply through tankering and three (3) existing boreholes. The existing boreholes are unable to cater for the demand in the village. The boreholes discharge an average of 2l/s instead 3.5 l/s which is needed to meet the current demand of approximately 2900 people being serviced at RDP standards.

To address the challenge of water provision and meet the demand for water supply the following plans are to be implemented:

• A professional service provider has been appointed to do the investigation and designs for construction project of a bulk water scheme.
• The preliminary design report will be presented to the Department in August 2022 and the final detailed design report will be tabled in September 2022
• Tender documents will be prepared by November 2022
• The plan is to commence with construction in January 2023 for a period of 18 months

Should the study meet all the requirements, the Department of Water and Sanitation will avail funding under the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant for the implementation of Tlapeng Cluster Water Supply System.

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Reply:

(1)(a) The Department issued a verbal directive to Kromdraai Colliery during the site investigation on 17 February 2022 and issued a written directive confirming the verbal directive on 21 February 2022.

(1)(b) The directive issued instructed Kromdraai Mine to do the following:

• Take all reasonable measures to contain and minimise the effects of the incident.
• Undertake clean-up procedures.
• Remedy the effects of the incident.
• Appoint a suitably qualified environmental consultant to compile a rehabilitation plan for all the affected areas within ten (10) days upon receipt of this directive, which must be submitted to the Department for recommendations. The rehabilitation plan must entail amongst the others, the nature and extent of the impacts that the incident posed or may pose on the water resource and measures that will be implemented to remediate or mitigate the impacts with clear timeframes and descriptions of how and when each remedial/mitigation action will be implemented.
• Implement all the recommendations contained in the rehabilitation plan and rehabilitate the areas affected by the water use activities within thirty (30) days of Departmental approval of the rehabilitation plan.

(2) The department issued a directive in terms of Section 20(4)(d) of the National Water Act,1998 (Act No 36 of 1998) to Kromdraai Colliery, dated 21 February 2022.

(3) A copy of the directive is attached as Annexure A.

(4) A criminal case was opened with Vosman Police Station in eMalahleni, case number 299/03/2022. Both internal and external witnesses have made their statements in connection with the pollution incident.

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Reply:

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) together with the Mopani District Municipality are in the process of implementing a number of interventions to ensure that communities living in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality have access to water. The projects entail refurbishment of Giyani water treatment works required to treat surface water from the Nsami Dam and to convey adequate and sustainable potable water to Giyani Town and the surrounding 55 villages. The projects progress is as follows

The MDM has 346 newly drilled boreholes that require electrification. Applications for electrification of boreholes have been submitted to ESKOM. The district municipality indicated that electrical installations will be done in batches of 25 boreholes due to budget constraints.

Bulk water from the Nondweni water treatment works is reaching all the villages. The Mopani District Municipality is also constructing a booster pump station to ensure that water reaches the furthest point especially the Mayephu area. The booster pump station is 80% complete.

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Reply:

1(a) There is no Committee appointed by the Board of Mhlathuze Water to investigate allegations against the office bearer referred to. The Board cannot appoint a committee to investigate its own affairs. Such powers rest with the Minister of Water and Sanitation. The Ministry has performed a preliminary fact-finding exercise regarding this matter. The department’s Internal Audit will investigate the allegations levelled against the office bearer.

(2) Up until such time that the process outlined above has been concluded it would be premature to speculate on what action the Minister might take.

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Reply:

Lomanyaneng Ward 5 is currently provided with water from the Mahikeng Water Treatment Works and from seven (7) boreholes situated in Majemantsho Village. The current water supply of 5 Ml/d does not meet the demand of 7Ml/d in the area.

According to the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (DM), which is a designated Water Service Authority (WSA), funding of R 55 million was made available for ground water augmentation project in Lomanyaneng. The project scope includes drilling and equipping of nine (9) boreholes and refurbishment of a booster pump station. Upon completion of this project, it is expected that additional 2.4 Ml/d will be supplied into the system. The project commenced in November 2021 and is expected to be completed in July 2022.

Furthermore, the Ngaka Modiri Molema DM is currently implementing a Bulk Water Supply Project in ward 31 at Dithakong Village which will also augment the supply to both Ward 35 and 5 once commissioned.

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Reply:

My department is working closely with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and other affected and interested stakeholders to manage resources in the Algoa Water Supply System (AWSS). Monthly water use monitoring meetings are held to ensure that all users adhere to the restrictions imposed by my department.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has developed a model to determine the percentage water restrictions that must be implemented to try and ensure that NMBM as well as the whole Algoa water supply system which includes Koukamma LM, Kouga LM as well as the Gamtoos Irrigation Board does not run out of water. This model is run on an annual basis to determine the domestic as well as the irrigation restrictions that must be implemented to ensure that the whole Algoa system does not reach day zero.

Restrictions were set at 40% of the water resources from the Western side of NMBM. The NMBM could not bring down their water use to the total restricted water use of 222Ml/day. The municipality could only reduce water use to 280 to 290Ml/day despite implementing several projects such as awareness campaigns, leak repairs, pressure management, increase in water tariffs, installation of water use restrictors to reduce the water use.

Interventions already being implemented include the following:

• The DWS previously provided drought funding to the metro to increase the capacity of the Nooitgedacht WTW (Phase 2) to supply more water from the Fish-Sundays River water supply system.
• The DWS further funded the Nooitgedacht Coega Low Level Phase 3 scheme which entailed the construction of a 45Ml/day balancing reservoir, an additional section to Water Treatment Plant of 70Ml/day to augment the current water supply from 140Ml/day to 210Ml/day. This project reached practical completion at the end of March 2022, which means that an additional 70Ml/day can be supplied to NMBM.
• Support to the NMBM to apply for drought funding to COGTA to augment the pumping capacity of the Motherwell and Stanford Road pumpstations and pump additional water to the Western side. COGTA has allocated R58 million drought funding towards this project and the DWS is part of the implementation team
• The DWS has allocated funding since 2019 towards the development of groundwater in the Kouga Local Municipality to reduce the water requirements of Kouga LM from the NMBM supply dams

The DWS is engaging the NMBM, GOGTA and National Treasury to discuss other possible solutions to ensure that the Western side of NMBM does not run out of water. One of the solutions under consideration is to pump more water from the Eastern side (where unrestricted water is available) to the Western side of the Metro.

Discussions have also been held with the Strategic Water Partner’s network to establish a Nelson Mandela Bay / Gqberha Water Partnership. This entails possible funding from the Private Sector to assist with interventions such leak repairs, water demand management as well as appointing experts to assist with the management of the water crisis. This will be managed by the Strategic Water Partner’s network in collaboration with NMBM and the NMB Business Forum.

Be assured that my department takes the current situation in NMBM serious and will assist the Metro to try and ensure that there will be water supply to the customers.

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Reply:

The Giyani Water Treatment Works pumps potable water to the two main reservoirs which are the Low-lift and High-lift reservoirs on top of Mangombe mountain on a daily basis. The High-lift Reservoir pumps water to 3 pipelines F (South), F (North) and C. The Low-lift Reservoir pumps water to 3 pipelines B, E and D. The reservoirs pump water to 55 villages including Giyani Town in line with the rationing program in place.

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Reply:

1.  The Department of Water and Sanitation is not involved in the eight housing projects. If required, uMgungundlovu District Municipality may apply to the Department for RBIG funding. Alternatively, the district municipality may apply to CoGTA for MIG funding.

2. As no application for RBIG funding has been received from uMgungundlovu Municipality, no funds are currently being provided to the municipality for construction of bulk water infrastructure to service the eight housing projects. The requirements for applying to the DWS for RBIG funding include a detailed feasibility study report, preliminary designs, an implementation readiness study report and a business plan from the municipality.

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Reply:

(1) Yes, the Department uses the Water Authorisation Registration Management System (WARMS) wherein all authorised water uses including water use licenses are captured. In addition, there is a data base that comprise all copies of authorisations. Both data bases are internal to the Department.

(1)(a) The water use licences are accessible by request to the Deputy Chief Information Officer, Mr. Mpho Ratshisusu, Chief Director Legal Offices at the e-mail address [email protected], Private Bag X 313 Pretoria 0001. Tel: 012 336 7705.

(1)(b) A link to access all licences by members of public is yet to be created due to security issues associated with licensing. However, the Department can avail all licences that are requested through the office of the Deputy Chief Information Officer (contact details above) within a reasonable time.

(2) The view that all water users issued with water use licences must submit an externally audited report of compliance every year is not necessarily correct, there are licences issued where this condition may not be imposed due to minimal risks associated with the water use activities. The department can provide the Honourable Member with external audit reports where such have been received by the department from water users in question. These reports are often submitted to the Department in hardcopy. The department can provide a list of the Audited reports to the Honourable Member so that the specific reports required can be identified. This list will be provided by 31 May 2022.

(3)(a) The department needs so be furnished with property details of the water use licence required and the correct name of the Licensee (company name) to be able to provide the accurate information to the Member.

(3)(b) The response in point 3 (a) applies to this question.

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Reply:

The water challenges in Phokwane still persist but the municipality is working on a long-term plan address the matter. The Pampierstad bulk water supply system consists of seven reservoirs. One of these and two pumping stations are currently under construction. Raw water is obtained from the Vaalharts irrigation canal and stored in a 24Ml concreted lined dam, from which it is pumped to two concrete lined dams of 25 Ml at the water treatment works. The capacity of the treatment works is 9.6 Ml/day. Treated water is pumped via two asbestos cement rising mains to the main reservoir. The Phokwane Local municipality is planning to install a 315mm uPVC pipeline to augment the water supply from the treatment works.

The main reservoir site consists of one ground level reservoir of 6.5Ml and a 700-kl concrete tower reservoir. The tower reservoir is not operational as the electrical works required by the pumping station are not in place. Water currently gravitates from the ground level reservoir to the distribution networks of the town and suburbs.

A 400mm diameter uPVC pipeline was recently constructed to supply water from the main reservoir site to a new 10Ml storage reservoir on the hill near the village of Upper Majaekgoro. The reservoir was constructed as part of a bulk water supply upgrade project initiated in 2017/18 with the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to the value of R31 433 484.

To address the aforementioned shortcomings, a feasibility study to assess the efficiency and reticulation systems of Pampierstad and surrounding villages in providing its water supply areas with water of acceptable quality and quantity in a sustainable manner, was completed in February 2022 by the Phokwane Local Municipality. An estimated R70 905 356 is required to complete the Pampierstad Bulk Water Supply and is to be allocated via MIG.

It is therefore critical that the tower reservoir of 700kl be re-commissioned. This is necessary to solve the low-pressure problems, as currently experienced in a large area in Pampierstad. It is also required to commission the new 10ML reservoir to meet the water demands.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has invested over R72 million to replace asbestos cement (AC) pipes. The Phokwane local municipality is currently busy with Phase 5 of the project which is funded through MIG.

As an interim measure, the municipality uses the tankering system to fill water tanks that are placed at strategic areas where water provision remains a challenge.

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Reply:

1.  The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Mhlathuze Water were put on precautionary suspension on 8 December 2021 following whistle-blower allegations. If proven, these allegations would require the Board to institute a detailed investigation.

2. In January 2022, based on the outcome of the preliminary investigation, the Board deemed it appropriate to extend the period of the precautionary suspension for three months with an option of extension for a period not exceeding six months in line with entity’s policy. The two remain on precautionary suspension until the investigation is concluded.

NW2003E

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Reply:

(1) The Ugu District Muniicpality is the Water Services Authority (WSA) for the aforementioned areas. All the water supply systems listed above have experienced water supply interruptions due to:

• Water demands exceeding the available supply. The schemes need to be upgraded to meet the growing demands.
• The aging pipe infrustructure, and mechincal and electrical componets of water treatment works and pumpstations. The corrective measures include the implementaion of a pipeline replacement programme under the Municipal Infrustructure Grant (MIG) and allocation of up to 10% of the MIG funding towards operations and maintainance.

The recent floods have severely impacted on water and sanitation services in the Ugu DM area and teams are currently assessing the damage to the infrustructure and working hard to restore water supply and recover the systems.

Prior to the floods, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) had been assisting with the water services challenges that are being experienced in the Ugu DM. The DWS is a member of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team that has been established by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal to determine the root causes of water supply interruptions in the various supply systems, develop implementable interventions, and monitor the progress made with implementation of the interventions.

The DWS is also a member of the Technical Task Team and the Water Supply Challenges WAR Room that is assisting the Ugu DM to implement immediate interventions to stabilise the supply systems and develop a turnaround strategy.

However, since the floods, support efforts have focused on restoring water and sanitation services to flood damaged areas and assessing the cost to restore the infrastructure. The DWS has also assisted the Ugu DM and the Provincial Disaster Mangement Centre with disaster relief funding applications.

(2) As part of the flood relief interventions, the DWS has also hired 20 additional water tankers to assist the Ugu DM to provide emergency relief across the District for 90 days. This will allow repairs to damaged infrastruture to be effected and the systems to be restored.

(3) As mentioned in 1 above, the DWS is part of the technical task team established by the Premier. This team is overseeing the interventions along with the Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and engineers from the Municipal Inftustructure Supprt Agency.

The DWS has also deployed a team of multidisciplinary engineers and technical experts to quantify and cost the flood damages.

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Reply:

There are no commercial contracts entered into by my Department or any of the Entities reporting to me with the govenment of the Russian Federation.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) revived the Green Drop programme in the 2021/2022 financial year. The Green Drop regulation programme sought to identify and develop the core competencies that, if strengthened, would gradually and sustainably improve the standard of wastewater management in South Africa. The Green Drop programme seeks to induce changes in behaviour of individuals and institutions to facilitate continuous improvement and adoption of best practice management of wastewater networks and treatment systems. The programme evaluates the entire wastewater management services over a one-year audit period. The Green Drop report was released on 1 April 2022, and it can be accessed on the departmental website www.dws.gov.za.

In the Green Drop report, it has been indicated that 64 (FS) and 33 (NW) Wastewater Treatment Systems have been identified to be at critical state in the Free State and Northwest Provinces respectively. The table below provides details systems at critical state in the two provinces. Letters of non-compliance in terms of green drop report audit findings have been sent to respective water services authorities responsible for the systems at critical state, requiring them to submit a detailed corrective action plan to the DWS.

Table of Systems at critical state in Free State and Northwest provinces

a) The department will from the financial year 2022/2023 onwards, through the Water Service Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) prioritise the approval of business plans from municipalities designed to refurbish and upgrade the diminishing wastewater treatment works. It should be noted that the department provides funding to municipalities for upgrading and refurbishing wastewater treatment works through the Water Service Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) on an ongoing basis. The department will continue supporting municipalities in collaboration with CoGTA, to ensure that the wastewater treatment works are complaint with the required standard in line with the green drop requirements.

b) The department allocates grants in line with the approved business plans of WSAs. The business plans are followed by supporting documentations such as cashflows and project plans documents. The department further allocates funds in terms of direct transfers and indirect transfers to municipalities. The department will monitor the expenditure of the grants to ensure that funds are not misappropriated. The department will further enforce Division of Revenue Act to ensure that the grant funding is spent in line with the requirements of the Act. Where there is misappropriation, required actions will be taken in line with the Act itself.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agent for the sanitation intervention in Emfuleni. Funding has been allocated to Rand Water to rehabilitate four wastewater treatments works and to increase the capacity of the Sebokeng wastewater treatment works.

In addition, contractors are currently on site replacing collapsed sewer pipelines and removing blockages in sewer pipelines to stop sewage spilling into people’s yards and into the environment.

Rand Water is also assisting Emfuleni Municipality to improve the operation and maintenance of its wastewater treatment systems. It is anticipated that the rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment works will be completed by the end of this year.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation uses the Green Drop Report as a performance baseline for the municipal wastewater fraternity to inform appropriate regulatory intervention with the objective to facilitate improvement. This is included in the Department’s Water Services Improvement Programme which includes sustainable intervention with the objective of ensuring a turnaround in the perfromance of the Municipal Water Services Sector.

The Green Drop Performance trends will be used to determine repetitive poor performance, to inform a more drastic approach to ensure a turn-around. This could include facilitating long-term intervention by either a capacitated water board or any other suitable mode of sanitation services support.

The results of the Green Drop Report dictates that wastewater services be a primary focus area of the government in targetted areas. Therefore, national government will ensure that grant funding allocated to the water sector is allocated with the objective of restoring the functionality of exisiting wastewater infrastructure according to the findings of this report.

The determination of the “Very Rough Order of Estimates” (VROOM), which informed the amount referenced in your question, was done to give an estimation of the capital requirement for the functionality restoration drive. This will be effected with the support of National Treasury.

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Reply:

(a) (i) The organogram makes provision for 73 water engineers and (ii) 34 structural engineers.

(b) Vacancies as of 28 February 2022

• Process controllers: 13
• Electrical Artisan: 1
• Mechanical Artisan: 1

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Reply:

a)  (i) The full Hydraulic assessment of the Pipeline from Welbedacht to Bloemfontein was conducted in February 2011 and a further assessment was conducted in October 2019 at one trajectory (Dehoek to Uitkyk) after a pipe failure occurred on that part of the pipeline.

(ii) The findings on the 2011 report indicated that:

• there were infrastructure components that required refurbishment,
• There were leaks on the pipeline which had to be addressed via the Bloem Water’s winter preventative maintenance shutdowns.

b) Since the inspections were conducted, Bloem Water has done the following as part of a proactive maintenance plan:

• Established a Pipeline Reaction Team in 2015
• Reworked its Preventative Maintenance Strategy
• Established its inhouse pipeline manufacturing workshop which assists with pipeline components and quick turnaround time of maintenance work on the main pipeline

These measures have assisted Bloem Water to reduce real water losses on its strategic infrastructure to less than 13% for the past 8 financial years. Furthermore, three years has passed since the last pipe burst on this 48-year-old pipeline.

In addition, Bloem Water is currently implementing the construction project of a mitigating parallel line which is 33.7km long as phase 1. This pipeline will be in operation by July 2022 and will further preserve the status of reliable uninterrupted bulk water supply to the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The new pipeline will replace the problematic portion of the mainline which frequently experience pipe bursts. Phase 2 of the remaining 72km is currently under planning. This pipeline will replace the old line from Welbedacht Dam to Bloemfontein, once completed.

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Reply:

1. The initial investigation determined that a concrete seal at the shaft failed as a result of a build-up of water inside the shaft. The water use licence for Kwezela Colliery’s Kromdraai site has a condition that requires groundwater monitoring through boreholes, but this was apparently not done. Proper groundwater monitoring would have given an indication of rising water levels in the shaft.

2. On 14 February 2022 the Mine indicated that it became aware of an uncontrolled release of mine-impacted water at Khwezela Colliery outside of eMalahleni, in the Mpumalanga Province. The Department of Water and Sanitation conducted a site investigation on 17 March 2022. The incident took place at the South Shaft which according to the mine was last operational in 1966.

3. The Department issued a verbal directive after the site investigation on 17 February 2022, and again issued a written directive confirming the verbal directive on 21 February 2022

The Department conducted a follow up inspection on 03 March 2022 and observed that the water was still flowing from the collapsed shaft, however it was trapped on a designed pit a few meters from the shaft to prevent further pollution of the water resource. The water was being pumped into a void called Ramp 8 for storage. The plan according to the mine is to pump the water from Ramp 8 into a pollution control dam called Lopies Dam. From Lopies dam the water will flow into the Lime Treatment Plant for further treatment before it is discharged into Kromdraaispruit.

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Reply:

The Department does not fund Metropolitan Municipalities for water and sanitation programmes since such municipalities receive the Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) from the Department of Human Settlements (DHS).

The USDG is intended to fund programmes related to the Built Environment for the provision of basic municipal services, including water and sanitation infrastructure.

The Department of Water and Sanitation engaged with Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) about short-medium term plans towards the eradication of bucket toilets in Section C of Botshabelo in Ward 32 and obtained the following report:

• Botshabelo is affected by bulk sanitation constraints. The main outfall sewer needs an upgrade at an estimated cost of R60 million. Additionally, the wastewater treatment works needs to be upgraded from its current capacity of 20Ml/d to 40Ml/d at an estimated cost of R380 million.

• The current hydraulic load at the WWTW is 18ML/d, which means that there is a spare capacity of 2ML/d. The upgrade of the main outfall sewer is expected to be completed by December 2023. The project to eradicate bucket toilets in Botshabelo Section D is planned for the 2022/23 financial year. The current bulk sanitation spare capacity is adequate to accommodate the additional imposed demand caused by the planned upgrade.

• MMM plans to install an upgradable alternative sanitation solution as a short-term measure to overcome bulk challenges. A budget of R94.5 million has been appropriated for the programme under USDG over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. A total of 5 300 units will be constructed and later converted to a full waterborne system after installation of the bulk infrastructure. The project is at the procurement stage and awaiting the National Treasury directive on procurement matters due to the constitutional court finding on the PPPFA.

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