National Water Week: discussion

Meeting report

WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
26 February 2003
NATIONAL WATER WEEK: DISCUSSION

Acting Chairperson: Mr J van Wyk (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Committee Programme 2003 (Appendix)
Draft program for National Water Week

SUMMARY
The Department briefed the Committee on the provincial programmes for National Water Week in March.
Various events will take place around the country and Committee Members were urged to play an active part in these events. However, in view of the limited Committee budget for such activities, the Department agreed to meet some of the Members' expenses for their participation in the Water Week activities.

MINUTES
Election of Acting Chairperson
Mr J Van Wyk (ANC) was elected Acting Chairperson. He was nominated by Mr D Maimane (ANC) and seconded by Mr D Maluleke (DP). Mr van Wyk as the Acting Chairperson.

Briefing by Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)
Mr T Brutus briefed the Committee on the draft program in all provinces to mark National Water Week from 17 - 23 March 2003. The focus would be on how DWAF works together with communities, schools, hospitals and so forth on water issues. DWAF would rely on Members of the Committee to work together with them during National Water Week; Members could contact the National Water Week co-ordinators in the respective provinces. The theme of National Water Week would be "Water is our Future" and various countrywide events were planned. The official launch of National Water Week would take place in the Limpopo Province on 17 March 2003.
(See attached document)

Discussion
Mr van Wyk confirmed that a small gift and a card would be sent to Ms Sonjica, former Chair of the Committee and newly appointed Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Progress report of study tours to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape
Mr van Wyk reported that the Committee clerk would try to have the draft report of the study tours available in the next Committee meeting.

Mr Arendse (ANC) proposed that the draft report should be distributed the following week, discussed the following week and adopted the week after that.

Mr G McIntosh (DP) asked who was drafting the report.

Mr Arendse replied that Members who were part of the tour, administrative staff and Mr van Wyk would draft the report; the bulk of the work has already been done.

Mr van Wyk agreed to distribute the report before the next Committee meeting.

Committee Programme
Mr van Wyk informed the Committee that the Umgeni Water Board requested a meeting with the Committee. He requested that the Umgeni Water Board meeting be added to the agenda of 5 March 2003.

The Committee unanimously agreed to grant the request of the Umgeni Water Board.

Mr McIntosh requested that DWAF include a report with regard to the provision of water services in the Eastern Cape on 12 March 2003.

Mr van Wyk replied that the report of the study tour would replace the Strategic Plan by DWAF on 12 March 2003.

Draft programme for National Water Week
Mr Brutus (DWAF) briefed the Committee on plans in the provinces for National Water Week.

Mr van Wyk voiced concern over the involvement of Committee Members in the National Water Week in their various provinces.

Mr Maimane said that Committee Members can be drawn into activities in their various provinces and that the draft programme could be changed.

Mr Arendse said that once Members have the final document they could indicate which activities they could attend. He also said that apart from the Western Cape, it would be difficult for Members to be visible in other parts of the country. Attendance of Committee Members is dependent on Committee funds to attend these functions. Funds were not available to pay for expenses and as a result it was difficult to be involved in programmes in the past because of financial constraints.

Mr McIntosh said that he was greatly impressed with the draft document and that he would want to link up with programmes in his constituency.

Mr Brutus said thought that Mr Maimane was right in saying that Committee members could be more actively involved in National Water Week. Although money was tight, DWAF would be open to try and help get Members to the events.

Mr Arendse said that it would help if Members could be met halfway with their expenses to such events.

Mr van Wyk requested that Members be more involved in National Water Week as well as Arbour Week.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix:
Programme for the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry
Jan - May 2003

(Subject to change)