The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson of the NCOP, Nyambose, [Masondo.], hon Deputy Chairperson, Ms Lucas, Cabinet colleagues that are here, hon Deputy Ministers of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi and Mr Mahlobo, Mr Dodovu, hon members of the NCOP, the director-general and senior managers of the Department of Water and Sanitation, chairpersons of boards and senior executives in all our entities, leadership of the stakeholders and the sector and civil society and fellow South Africans, I want to start by expressing our sympathies with the people of South Africa affected by storms and fire in particular places or provinces of our country. The Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape in particular. KwaZulu-Natal was particularly ravaged by the recent floods which cost substantial damage to property and infrastructure. The floods also regrettably claimed lives. Many, many lives.
I wish to take this opportunity therefore and express my sincere condolences and that of our leadership in the department to the families of those who lost loved ones in the floods. We would also like to express sympathy for all those who are without water and sanitation due to the floods and to assure them that we are working as fast as possible to restore this services. One of the things we will immediately attend to was the establishment of the Water and Sanitation War Room. This was done together with the worst affected ...
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The CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP. Can I make an appeal! Just a minute hon Minister. Can I make an appeal to hon the Lehihi and the hon Mmoiemmang!
Let us please co-operate and ensure that there is no disturbance in this sitting. Thank you very much and please proceed, hon Minister.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: The establishment of the war room was done together with the municipalities that were affected. Our department quickly hired water tankers, together with municipalities hiring theirs to supplement those available in the municipalities and a team of engineers and other specialists who were seconded to the war room to assist with the implementation of emergency repair work and to assess quantity and damage. We have stayed in that war room since today, where we meet every week.
Whilst progress has been made with regards to the restoration of water supply, there has been immense damage to water supply and infrastructure. Together with municipalities that are affected, we completed the costing of this damage and submitted the application to the department of Co-operative
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In February we convened a two-day National Water and
Sanitation Summit which was attended by a wide range of
stakeholders and experts. As a result of these engagements, we
have developed a though understanding of the water and
sanitation challenges facing the country, as well as a high-
level of consensus, regarding what needs to be done to turn
the tide.
The main thing that we came out with from the summit, was to
focus among other things on ensuring security of water for all
people in South Africa in all provinces.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, one of our priorities as the
Ministry of Water and Sanitation, is to ensure just that.
Water availability and provision which matches the demands
everywhere and every corner in our country. Currently, the
demand exceeds provision. We need to change that narrative and
that scenario. Match the demand and then ensure qualitative
measures through incremental access and quality.
Now, water is a fundamental right. Water is life, it is a
necessity and it is a must have for everyone. Whether you are
rich or poor, rural or urban, young and old, water is a must.
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However, we know out there that we still have communities who
have never had access to water. Let alone water coming out
from taps. This ends in addition ensuring that existing
infrastructure is maintained, we focus on projects which will
guarantee water supply for South Africa.
So first, we are dealing with just bulk to as close as
possible to communities all over in the country per province.
Let us start with Eastern Cape. Currently, one of our main
priorities there is the Umzimvubu Water Project which is aimed
at providing water to 750 000 people at a cost of R25 billion.
The designs are 80% complete.
The first round of fundraising began in January 2022 through a
Request for Information which is currently, being evaluated.
We are working with both the National Treasury and currently
we are looking for the dates in which we will meet with the
Minister of Finance and also with Infrastructure Fund to
develop the funding model for this project, if not finalising
it.
If it is found and it is not possible to raise private
funding, we will apply for full or partial funding of the
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project through budget process through the Budget Facility
Infrastructure. We are closer than we were last year, on
getting to grips with this particular project.
The next one is the Khuli Dam and Nooitgedacht Water Scheme
Project are both long-term water supply assurance projects for
the Nelson Mandela Bay area.
I must say that the most worrisome area currently in South
Africa is the Nelson Mandela Bay where it is estimated that by
the end of June we will be running almost completely short of
water. That is our most worry.
The R1,3 billion Khuli Dam Project is at procurement stage for
design and the R534 million Nooitgedacht Water Scheme Project
is at 98%, if not more, towards completion.
The breeding of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works Project
has resulted in an addition of 70 mega litres of water being
supplied on daily basis to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. This
has increased the supply of water to the metro by
approximately 30%. There is still a need for the metro to
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apply water conservation and demand management measures as
well as develop other sources of water such as design.
Now I must emphasize this for Nelson Mandela Bay that even
though there is this additional water via Nooitgedacht, that
place is not out of woods. Everyone there must conserve water.
It is a fact that all of us need to face.
In the O R Tambo Municipality, we were there to increase the
supply of water in Mthatha with the support of the Amatola
Water. The first phase of upgrading electrical infrastructure
at the Thornhill Water Treatment Works in Mthatha has been
completed. We have allocated a budget of R200 million for the
upgrading of the water treatment facility and for building
additional reservoirs. So, we are on course in Mthatha in
terms of security of water.
In the Free State, we have six priorities, following the
Imbizo which was convened by the President of the Republic,
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa. One is the delivery
of the Xhariep Pipeline Demons Water is a big project
R10 billion and is a completion of 72 kilometre of the
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companies, to fast-track water delivery to the communities and
mines in the Sekhukhune and Mokgalakwena Municipalities in
Limpopo by 2028, if not earlier. Government and the mining
companies will each fund approximately 50 of the project. We
are happy with this development, because it makes our quest
for partnership with the private sector a reality and no
longer a theory or a wish. We are assured as late as last week
that we are making a very quick progress in that particular
direction.
The R4 billion Giyani Water Service Project has been
repackaged and is being fast-tracked so that we put that
matter to rest once and for all. We will be going there for
the whole week next week to camp there and to make sure that
we live no stone unturned in terms of removing impediments of
whatever way, so that we move with speed on that particular
project.
In Mpumalanga, we know about the challenges and shortages of
water. However, we are now at the point where the Crocodile
East Reconciliation including Mbombela has identified a need
for a new dam. The feasibility planning has been initiated and
mine water reclamation has been implemented and so on.
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but not for one year, but for three years. It is divided into
those three years.
We will make sure that we use optimally, responsibly and in a
manner that is efficient and monitoring every cent out of it.
I have said in the past that is a very worrying factor that up
to now, we are allocating lots and lots of money to various
water service authorities in the country every year, but the
sad part of it is that water services continue to decline at
the same time. It is a contradiction, it is a worry and it is
something that we have to work on. I am repeating my words
here that we will stop this together with the municipalities
concerned. We have started to a large extent.
It is now my honour hon Chairperson, to end by saying indeed
we are honoured to be presenting this budget to yourselves. We
are looking forward to working together to optimise water
security and water services to the people of South Africa,
more than we have ever done in any other year in the past and
working with you and having your co-operation and
understanding. Together with the Department of Co-operative
Governance and Traditional Affairs and SA Local Government