Question NW794 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
08 April 2024 - NW794
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1)Whether, considering that the Republic is a water scarce country while there are already two operational washing plants called Beethoven in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality area within a radius of 3 km of each other (details furnished), his department has given a water usage license for the new Hillside wash plant in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, which catchment dams and/or storm water trenches will be used to collect the 14 million litres of water per day to run this specific wash plant; (2) how it is possible that the Hillside wash plant has been built and/or are operational without the correct water use license; (3) whether his department issued a water usage license to the Hillside wash plant to use the natural fresh water of the Spookspruit allowing the excess water being dumped into the Spookspruit; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issued a Water Use Licence for the wash plant (attached hereto). The water which will be used to operate the wash plant is obtained from a borehole.
2. Hillside was issued with a water use licence which expired, and the company subsequently applied for a new water licence which has been granted.
3. The water use licence issued by DWS is for the use of water from a borehole and not for surface water from the Spookspruit.
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