Committee Reports on DWS Quarterly Performance

Water and Sanitation

02 December 2022
Chairperson: Mr M Mashego (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

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Tabled Committee Reports

The Portfolio Committee considered and adopted the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation: Overview of the Fourth Quarter Expenditure Report (1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022) of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for the 2021/22 financial year. The Committee also considered and adopted its report on water and sanitation analysis, and the analysis of the first quarter expenditure report of the DWS for 2022/23.

Amendments were made to the reports concerning transformation of the construction unit. Members also asked about the War on Leaks programme and municipalities under S139. It was agreed these were matters to take up with the Department next year.

Meeting report

Report on Water and Sanitation Analysis of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation Analysis of the First Quarter Expenditure Report on the Department of Water And Sanitation (Vote 41) for 2022/23

The Committee Content Advisor took Members through the report, focusing on observations and recommendations.
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation: Overview of the Fourth Quarter Expenditure Report (1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022) of the Department of Water and Sanitation (Vote 41) for the 2021/22 Financial Year

The Committee Content Advisor took Members through the report, focusing on observations and recommendations.

Discussion
The Chairperson referred to the establishment of the construction unit and the Committee was concerned about the lack of transformation of the unit – the report should reflect this. Even the recruitment of young people should be considered as part of this transformation.

Ms G Tseke (ANC) agreed with the Chairperson, saying transformation was needed and recruitment should take place. The Committee was adopting a report emanating from its discussion with the Department.

Ms M Matuba (ANC) asked if the "War on Leaks" programme had been a success, and wanted to know the role of the Department in taking care of municipalities that did not have water and decent sanitation, under S139.

Ms Tseke clarified the Committee was adopting a report on previous matters discussed with the Department [of Water and Sanitation] and the Department was not available today to respond to general questions. Regarding the War on Leaks, there was some irregular expenditure on the programme years ago and there were investigations on the officials. The Department was requesting a condonation from National Treasury. The war on leaks was still a problem. Even the students trained to deal with the "War on Leaks" had not been absorbed by the municipalities and water boards. This is a matter of concern for the Committee which has been raised continuously. Resolutions should be elevated and captured in a dashboard somewhere to raise with the Department.

Ms M Pietersen (ANC) emphasised that young women should be recruited. She agreed with Ms Tseke that there should be resolutions in place.

The Chairperson said the Committee would park the issues raised by Ms Matuba under resolutions for future meetings. He said it was going to be difficult to succeed in absorbing the students because municipalities were not prepared to do that. One may find that the students were not budgeted for, and the students may no longer be young now, because they were trained in 2015.

The reports were adopted with amendments. The EFF reserved its rights on the reports.

There was a brief discussion on writing a letter to the Speaker reflecting on the Committee’s oversight visit to Limpopo.

As this was the final Committee meeting for the year, the Chairperson wished Members well.

The meeting was adjourned.

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