Appropriations Standing Committee Report on Oversight Visit to Limpopo and Mpumalanga

Meeting Summary

The Parliamentary Research Unit had compiled, and took the Committee through, a draft Report on the Committee’s Oversight Visit to Limpopo and Mpumalanga, largely dealing with the Department of Water Affairs (the Department) and the situation around water provision. Members noted that there were some inconsistencies provided by the Department in answer to concerns raised; particularly the number of people who were actually provided with water, as against the number who should have been provided with access, and the fact that only R244.4 million of the R427 million allocated to the Inyaka Water Treatment Works had been spent. Members isolated other ongoing problems of high staff turnover in the Department and continual financial disclaimers, and also noted that the report provided to the Committee had not been signed. They were displeased at the attitude of the Department as well as its failure to adhere to correct procedures, particularly in regard to tenders for the laying of water pipes. The Committee discussed whether anything in this draft Report would affect ongoing litigation between the Department and the engineers responsible for laying of pipes, but noted that the draft would be checked again on this point, and for consistency, before it was finally approved. Members and the Researchers raised some typographical or grammatical errors and also suggested corrections to sentences for clarity. Another meeting would be arranged to finalise and adopt this Report. It was, however, noted, that the Committee would convey its concerns to the Department and the Minister, to ensure that the unseemly conduct of Departmental officials was addressed.