Question NW118 to the Minister Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation

Reply:

Honourable Member, I wish to first correct a very common misunderstanding. The Department of Water and Sanitation is responsible for ensuring water security for the whole country. This includes ensuring that water as a resource is allocated equitably and used beneficially in the public interest, while promoting environmental values. In accordance with the Water Services Act, 1997, Municipalities are responsible for ensuring that the right of access to basic water supply and sanitation which mandates that “everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation” is realised. Further, Section 11 of the Water Services Act mandates that “every Water Services Authority has the duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure efficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services.”

Rustenburg Local Municipality (LM) is a Water Service Authority (WSA) with a mandate to provide water and sanitation services within its jurisdiction, which includes areas such as Wonderkop and Marikana in the North West Province. The Department of Water and Sanitation has allocated R88 million through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to the Rustenburg Local Municipality for additional projects in the 2019/20 financial year.

The Rustenburg Local Municipality submitted their Business Plans for the three (3) projects listed below and funding was allocated accordingly by DWS.

No	Project Name and Description	Project Cost	Allocation	Progress
1	Marikana Upgrading Marikana rising mains, conservancy tank, size of the pumps, pump station.	R12 513 355,9	R12 513 355,9	The progress is at 67%
2	Rustenburg DMA Zones Water audit, meter replacement, sub-zoning, advanced metering infrastructure, reservoir telemetry, repair and replacement of infrastructure, pressure management, water monitoring dashboard and water conservation campaigns.	R37 000 000	R37 000 000	The progress is at 97%
3	Rustenburg North Replacement of AC pipes with PVC pipes and aged water meters, fire hydrants, valves.	R57 082 000	R38 486 645	The progress onsite is at 65%

The Department of Water and Sanitation does not have a mandate for reticulation and the installation of water taps in local government areas.

Furthermore, it should also be noted that the Wonderkop informal settlement is situated on privately owned land which belongs to a mine. The other portion of Wonderkop is under the jurisdiction of the Madibeng and Rustenburg Local Municipalities. The Rustenburg Local Municipality is currently providing water through tankers in the Madihloka area where the informal settlement is situated.

The Rustenburg Local Municipality together with Magalies Water will be implementing a groundwater development project in Wonderkop in the current financial year. The project will entail drilling, testing, equipping of three (3) boreholes, elevated storage tank, pipe connections and installation of communal taps. Unfortunately the current Covid-19 lockdown has delayed this project.