Questions and Replies

Reply:

Section 18 (1) of the Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997 states that a Water Services Authority must report on the implementation of its development plan during each financial year. The reports must be made within four months after the end of each financial year and must be given to the Minister for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development, the relevant Province and every organisation representing municipalities having jurisdiction in the area of the water services authority.

Such reports are not submitted to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), but rather to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).

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Reply:

Although the Water Services Authorities have a duty to maintain a safe environment that is not harmful to people by managing and maintaining the sewerage systems and resolving sewer spillages into the environment, the state of sewerage systems is generally deteriorating, as shown in the 2023 Green Drop Report. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is also compelled by the Constitution to support municipalities and intervene where there is non-compliance with the compulsory national norms and standards.

The DWS has developed the Water Services Improvement Programme to guide, support and strengthen interventions measures that address the decline in water and sanitation services in municipalities. The Water Services Improvement Plan will be implemented within the existing legislative framework and regulations, and it consists of the following interventions amongst others:

a) DWS will issue updated and more comprehensive norms and standards for water and sanitation services in terms of section 9 of the Water Services Act.

b) DWS will publish a National Regulatory Dashboard showing the extent of compliance with national norms and standards for water and sanitation services for all Water Service Authorities, drawing on existing monitoring information, including from the Green Drop reports, National Treasury, and Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs reports. No new additional reporting requirements will be put on municipalities)

c) DWS will develop regional support and intervention plans based on the evidence in the Regulatory Dashboard and standards decision rules, in consultation with provincial governments, municipalities and District Development Model structures.

d) The support and intervention plans will draw on a range of support programmes which will be developed at national level.

e) DWS established the Water Partnerships Office to facilitate partnerships with the private sector in support of water and sanitation services.

The support provided to municipalities does not suspend this Department’s continuous compliance monitoring and enforcement function to deal with those municipalities that ignore their legal obligations in terms of sewer spillages. Stormwater management is the competency of the local government and this Department continues to offer support in strengthening the bylaws to ensure proper stormwater management.

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Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation advises Honourable member to request the exact cause of illness of 78 primary school learners in City of Tshwane from Department of Health. The name of the Primary School concerned will assist to expedite response.

b) The Department Water and Sanitation collected water samples at strategic points for analysis after the cholera outbreak. The points were Rooiwal discharge point, Apies River abstraction points, water treatment plant, distribution network and points of use. The samples were taken by the Department as well as the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) took additional samples as an independent laboratory. The department laboratory results established that points of abstraction and point of use were compliant with the SANS 241:2015 standard. Therefore, in the absence of confirmation of the exact nature of the illness, the department hereby confirms that water provided through Rand Water pipeline and water tankers is fit for human consumption.

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Reply:

The interventions that have been put in place by the Department of Water and Sanitation to assist the City of Tshwane (CoT) with the challenges relating to water services include the following interventions:

a) The Department has issued a directive to Magalies Water Board as per Section 41 of the Water Services Act,1997; for short to medium term measures to address water challenges in Hammaskraal while government is looking at a long-term solution.

b) Magalies Water Board has presented a proposal to the Department in the form of a business plan, which amongst others, proposes the construction of a water treatment package plant to provide immediate relief. The package plant will be situated at Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant premises.

c) The package plant will produce drinking water on a gradual basis water starting with 10 Ml/day up 40Ml/day which will be connected to the Temba water reticulation system. It is envisaged that the project will start delivering at least 10 Ml /day by end of March 2024.

d) An amount of R480 million has been availed by DWS through the budget adjustment (pending National Treasury approval) to ensure that this business plan is implemented by Magalies Water Board.

e) Furthermore, Magalies Water has applied to the DBSA for a loan for the remainder of the funding that is required to construct the package plant – this is pending approval from DBSA. In the meantime, Magalies Water is proceeding with planning and design work for the package plant to ensure that timeline committed is met.

f) As a result of the non-compliance of the Rooivaal waste water treatment works (WWTW) which might have resulted in the cholera outbreak, the city of Tshwane (CoT) has set aside R150 million in the 2023/24 financial year to upgrade and refurbish the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works. This will ensure that phase 1 of the Rooivaal Waste Water Treatment work upgrade is completed.

g) The CoT is finalising the appointment of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as the implementing agent for this phase of the project, while a technical team comprising of the DWS, CoT, Magalies and Rand Water is assessing the overall long-term plan to address the Rooivaal challenges and further improvements to the Temba water treatment works to ensure delivery of portable water which meets drinking water quality standards from the Temba water treatment work to Hamman kraal.

h) In the long term, the CoT is planning to upgrade the Rooivaal WWTW by an additional 80 Megalitres / day which requires close to R 2.5 bn. Currently there is no funding for available this. However, the CoT is approaching various funding institutions soliciting funding.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is responsible for conducting the Blue and Green Drop assessments which audit water service providers (water and wastewater systems) nationally and compile reports for public consumption. The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality is one of the 144 Water Services Authorities audited on its drinking water and wastewater systems countrywide.

1. The full departmental Blue and Green Drop audits are undertaken every two and in alternate years. In a year when the Blue Drop audit is done by the Department on all drinking water systems, the water service authorities conduct a Green Drop self-assessments to determine the risk rating that is reported as a Green Drop Progress Report. In the year when the Green Drop audit is done by the Department on all wastewater systems the water services authorities conduct a Blue Drop self-assessment to determine the risk rating that is reported as a Blue Drop Progress Report.

The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, together with all water services authorities, is required to monitor its drinking water quality in accordance with the national standards (SANS 241) and report the results on the DWS Integrated Regulatory Information System. Where there is non-compliance to the standard that poses a health risk to the community, they are required in terms of the Water Service Act and its norms and standards to notify the DWS as well as the Department of Health and to issue an advisory note to the areas affected. The Blue Drop audit verifies the adherence of water services authorities to these requirements.

The wastewater treatment works are regulated by water use authorisations and the National Water Act. The conditions of these authorisations set the performance conditions and reporting requirements. Compliance to these authorisations is monitored by the Compliance Monitoring unit within the DWS. The Green Drop audit incorporates a component of this work but looks at the complete system performance, financial aspects, and capacity of the water services Authority.

2. Complaints can be reported to the department via its toll-free number 0800 200 200, or email [email protected]. Complaints received are tracked in terms of the response and actions taken or to be taken. Reports are not prepared on these complaints, but the Department publishes the Blue and Green Drop Reports. In early October 2023, the Department will release its Blue Drop Report, the Green Drop Progress Report as well as its Compliance and Enforcement Annual report for 2022/23

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Reply:

a)  The Regulator Commission has eleven (11) members.

b) The Commission is not a separate entity. It is established as part of the internal systems to strengthen the regulatory autonomy in decision making. It is for this reason that the commission is provided for in the revised National Water Act and the Water Services Act.

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Reply:

The response for NA 2230 previously submitted to the National Assembly, was specifically in relation to repairs to the Sterkwater Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and not all the WWTWs in the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM).

The municipality has indicated that although the programme to restore the Sterkwater WWTW back to functionality is behind schedule, the following progress has been made:

• The municipality is using security cameras and armed response and managed to arrest the crippling cable theft.
• The municipality has started primary treatment of sewers such as mechanical screens and the screw pumps.
• Electric cables have been ordered and will be installed upon arrival. The municipality will begin testing all the stagnant equipment that needs to be repaired. The secondary treatment is affected in the main by this.

The MMM has also reported that instability at senior management level (position of Chief Financial Officer and City Manager) is also contributing to delays in implementation of some of the projects.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issued a Notice for intention to issue Directive in terms of Section 19(3) of the National Water Act, in July 2023 and will proceed to issue a Directive due to the fact that the Sterkwater WWTW has not been restored to functionality and sewer spillages continue to pollute the environment.

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Reply:

(a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) does not drill and equip boreholes in local or district municipalities. However, funding is allocated to prioritised district municipalities through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG), to accelerate backlog reduction and improve the sustainability of services particularly in rural municipalities.

(aa) In the 2020-2021 financial year, the DWS allocated R 471, 794,000 to various municipalities across the country, for the drilling and equipping of boreholes, mainly in the rural areas.

(bb) During the 2021-22 financial year the department further allocated R 537, 657, 000 towards projects for boreholes across various municipalities.

The funding provided by the DWS to municipalities for boreholes is meant to facilitate quick interventions where there are serious water shortages. It is also intended to ensure water availability in those areas where it is foreseen that construction of bulk infrastructure will take a long time.

However, it should be noted that there are instances where boreholes are drilled, tested, and found not to be viable due to the inability to yield enough water or where boreholes are operational for a limited period before drying up. These include instances where the water tables are low due to inadequate rainfall which prevents groundwater recharge or where localised drought causes a decline in groundwater available for extraction. The DWS may have in some instances funded boreholes in municipalities, which may have not yielded sufficient water to be viable or may have provided water for a limited period before drying up.

(b-c) The DWS can provide the details of funding transferred to municipalities for the drilling of boreholes but is not able to indicate the total volume of water supply added to each municipal jurisdiction through boreholes, due to the factors indicated above.

Information on municipalities that were funded by the DWS for the drilling of boreholes in each province is indicated in the table appended as Annexure A.

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ANNEXURE A:

No	Province	Municipalities funded for boreholes	Funding provided
		District Municipalities	Local Municipalities	2020/2021 fy	2021/2022 fy
	Eastern Cape	Amathole DM	Amahlathi, Great Kei, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba	R21,984,000	R14,600
		Alfred Nzo DM	Ntabankulu, Matatiele, Mbizana	R69,000,000	R45,000,000
		Sarah Bartman District Municipality	Blue Crane Route	R5,499,000
		Chris Hani DM	Emalahleni, Engcobo	R18,200,000	R10,170,000
		Joe Gqabi DM	Senqu, Elundini, and Walter Sisulu	-	R10,000,000
		Sarah Bartman District Municipality	Makana	-	R5,000,000
		OR Tambo DM	Qumbu, Tsolo, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff, Libode, Ngqeleni, Port St Johns & Mqanduli	-	R7,140.000
		Sarah Bartman DM	Dr Beyers Naude	-	R11,999,000
	Free State	Xhariep DM	Letsemeng	R13,800,000	R13,800,000
		Thabo Mofutsanyana DM	Phumelela	R1,892,000
		Thabo Mofutsanyana DM	Maluti a Phofung		R14,127,000
		Lejweleputswa DM	Tokologo		R15,921,000
	KwaZulu -Natal	uMkhanyakude DM	uMhlabuyalingana Jozini	R37,164,000	R61,288,000
		Amajuba DM	eMadlangeni & Dannhauser	-	R3, 000,000
		Zululand DM	Ulundi	R11,347.000
		Umzinyathi DM	Msinga	-	R38,799,000
			Mzimkhulu, Ubuhlebezwe, Dr Nkosazane Dlamini Zuma	-	R65,274,000
		King Cetshwayo DM	Nkandla, uMfolozi	-	R18,652,000
	Limpopo	Capricorn DM	Blouberg	R27,784,000	R13,606,000
			Lepelle Nkumpi	R14,078,000	-
			Molemole	R27,983,000	R3,800,000
			Polokwane	R38,000,000	R20,976,000
		Mopani LM	Greater Giyani	R15,600,000	R13,984,000
			Greater Letaba	R15,000,000	R18,455,000
			Greater Tzaneen	R10,000,000	-
			Ba-Phalaborwa	R10,000,000	-
			Maruleng	R10,000,000	-
		Waterberg DM	Lephalale	-	R30,114,000
			Mogalakwena	-	R8,928,000
	Mpumalanga	Nkangala DM	Emakhazeni	R2,500,000	-
		Gert Sibande DM	Mkhondo	-	R23.685,000
	Northern Cape	John Taolo Gaetsewe DM	Ga-Segonyana	R16,640,000	R952,000
			Gamagara	R11,072,000	R5,700,000
			Joe Morolong	R50,998,000	-
		Namakwa DM	Hantam	R4,200,000	R4,000,000
			Kamiesberg	-	R4,000,000
			Richtersveld	R5,167,000	R11,151,000
			Karoo Hoogland	-	R4,000,000
		Pixley Ka Seme DM	Emthanjeni	-	R5,300,000
			Ubuntu	-	R4,000,000
		ZF Mgcawu DM	Dawid Kruiper	-	R5,186,000
			Tsantsabane	-	R4,000,000
	North West	Bojanala Platinum DM	Kgetlengrivier	R22,542,000	-
		Dr Ruth S Mompati DM	Greater Taung	R1,344,000	-
		Ngaka Modiri Molema DM	Ramotshere Moiloa		R11,050,000
	Western Cape	Garden Route District Municipality	Kannaland	R10,000,000	R10,000,000
TOTAL	R 471, 794,000	R 497, 657, 000

Reply:

The department has not paid R65 million to contractors for water services in Emfuleni Local Municipality, and neither has Rand Water. Rand Water has been paying contractors to work on waste water treatment systems in Emfuleni. It is possible that Emfuleni Local Municipality might have appointed contractors to work on its water systems using its own funds, but DWS would not have this information.

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Reply:

Dikgatlong Local Municipality is a Water Service Authority and therefore is responsible for the provision of water and sanitation services to all communities within its area of jurisdiction, including Smith Mine which is a Communal Property Association (CPA). There is currently is no Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the CPA and Dikgatlong Municipality.

The municipality reported that the councilor is mediating for an SLA to be put in place to allow Dikgatlong to formally service these residents. Once the SLA is in finalised, formal arrangements will be made in terms of resources required from the Dikgatlong Local Municipality to provide water and sanitation services.

a) The Department supports the water services authority with construction, upgarde and refurbishment of infrastructure through conditional Water Services Iinfrastructure Grant (WSIG) and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) funding for project prioritised by Municpalities their water services development plans.

The Municipality and the Smith Mine community require a process of formalisation of the settlement into the township in order for the municipality to access the grant funding available for sanitation services.

b) The existing water infrastructure in the community was built by the mining company and is now under the custodianship of The Dikgatlong Local Municipality. The water supply system consists of boreholes and a reservoir in which chemical dosing was being done using a specialized purification system that is container based. The size of the reservoir is approximately 0.05ml/day, however, the municipality has reported that the purification plant was vandalised and is currently not functional. A case of vandalism and theft was opened by the Dikgatlong Local Municipality with SAPS. The Municipality has reported that procurement processess are currently underway for the repairs of the plant in order to restore water supply.

As an interim measure, the municipality is providing water to the residents of Smith Mine through water tankering from Barkley West Water Treatment Works. Two 10 000 litres water tanks are placed at strategic points and are filled by two 10 000 litre water trucks. The Municipality reports that water tanks are filled twice a week, and when necessary the ward councillor communicates any additional needs. The water tankering is fully funded by Dikgatlong.

In order for the municipality to access grant funding for water services refurbishment, augmentation or upgrading, the requirement is that the residential area be a formal township.

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Reply:

a)  The total number of applications that were received in terms of section 21(a) and (b) and section 21(d) from farmers or farming and/or agriculture entities in the past three financial years are indicated in the table below:

Year	Number of received applications
2020	395
2021	355
2022	393
Total	1143

b) The number of the specified applications that were issued with licences in each specified year (i) within 30 days, (ii) within 60 days, (iii) within 90 days and (iv) after 90 days of receipt thereof?

Licences issued
Year of application Submission	30 days	60 days	90 days	over 90 days	Total
2020	0	0	1	165	166
2021	3	15	26	113	157
2022	8	15	11	168	202
Total	11	30	38	446	525

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Reply:

a) According to the records of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), there is no authorisation that has been issued for water use activities associated with a chrome wash plant located on Portion 71 of Farm Groenkloof 464-JQ in Madibeng Local Municipality, North West.

The DWS has taken steps to address the alleged unlawful development of a chrome wash plant on Portion 71 of Farm Groenkloof 464-JQ and has taken the following actions:

• Site investigation was conducted on 19 September 2023
• The DWS is in the process of issuing a Notice of Intention to issue a Directive in terms of National Water Act to the company responsible for the unlawful water use through development of the chrome wash plant.

b) Further administrative action to be taken and compliance with the stipulated timeframe will be guided by the response of the owners of the chrome wash plant. Should the owners of this wash plant fail to comply with the prescripts of the Notice to be issued by DWS, the Department will proceed with further enforcement actions.

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Reply:

1. (a) There is no application that was submitted in terms of the Draft Regulations Published on 19 May 2023. The Regulations published on 19 May 2023 are not yet implemented because they were issued only for public comments.

(b) Refer to the response above.

(2) The total number of Licences received and issued to HDIs from 2019 – 2023 August is 457.

2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
84	60	141	117	55

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Reply:

Yes, as an asset owner the Department had some of the national water resource infrastructure declared as National Key Points, dependent on the criticality of specific government water schemes. All of these National Key points are guarded by qualified armed security guards which are officials in the department whereas non-strategic assets are guarded by private security companies. It must be noted that due to the nature of conveyance systems (including canals, pipelines and tunnels), it would be challenging to have sufficient security measures in place to completely mitigate the risk of vandalism.

However, there are operating and maintenance agreements with water boards and water user associations for government water schemes that are remotely located. These institutions assist with the safeguarding of these assets.

Water Boards have taken similar steps to have some of their critical infrastructure declared as National Key Points, but more is to be done for similar classification strategies to be followed at the municipal level; regarding local water and sanitation assets (owned by municipalities).

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Reply:

Rand Water has not reduced any water supply to City of Ekurhuleni during the period 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023. There has not been reduction in pressure, nor throttling during the same period. In instances where Rand Water observes that its customers’ consumption is increasing to a level where demand will outstrip supply, Rand Water formally engages with the relevant municipality and requests them to reduce consumption. This reduction of municipal consumption can be effected through municipalities implementing water restrictions within their supply networks, or joint water meter restrictions between the municipality and Rand Water.

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Reply:

a) (i) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has not printed annual reports since 2019. DWS submits electronic copies of annual reports to Parliament since 2020 to date.

(ii) Some entities of the DWS including Amatola Water, Lepelle Northern Water, Water Research Commission, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority and Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency; have also not printed annual reports since 2019. The details of entities that have printed annual reports, cost of the printing and suppliers are indicated in the table below.

a(ii)	(aa) 2020-21	(bb) 2021-22	(cc) 2022-23	(b)	(c) (i)	(ii)
Magalies Water	R252 782.19	R264 530.02	N/A	Black Moon Design and Advertising	100	100
Overberg Water	R144 104.53	R148 659.49	N/A	PE & R Business	200	200
Rand Water	R 521 132.57	R 582 251.90	N/A	2020/21- Blue Apple Publishing	200	200
				2021/22 – Interactive Web Works CC
uMngeni Water	R19 079	R56 590	N/A	2020/21- Intwenhle Media Services (PTY LTD)	130	200
				2021/22 Afro Spice
Mhlathuze Water	R 92 589.38	R 55 173.00	N/A	2020/21- AfroSpice Branding	250	120
				2021/22- Computer Artworks Zippy Press
Bloem Water	R150 535.00	R186 288.50	N/A	Molebatsi Graphics	200	200
Breede Olifants CMA	R40 252,33	R84 043,08	R61 575,00	2020/21- Apple Graphics	250	250
				2021/22 - Personalised Promotions
				2022/23 - Cinnabar Graphic Design		(22/23) 170

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Reply:

The Bethesda Hospital is connected to very old water supply infrastructure with serious limitations in terms of capacity and efficiency which cannot meet the current demands. The adverse effects of load shedding by Eskom have worsened the situation mainly because the purification plant at Mkuze was on a different schedule to the three booster pump stations (through the game reserve), resulting in the power being available at the booster pump stations whilst the Water Treatment Works is off. However, Eskom has since corrected this, and all systems are now on the same loadshedding schedule.

The Umkhanyakude District Municipality (UKDM) has prepared a detailed business plan to complete the upgrade of the Mkuze Water Treatment Works (from 4.5 ML/d to 9 ML/d) which is critical to resolve the current situation at Bethesda Hospital. The municipality has applied for R82 million from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for this upgrade. The Department of Water and Sanitation, through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) is funding the Hlabisa/Mandlakazi Bulk Water project to provide raw water from the Jozini Dam to the Zululand District Municipality. Provision for a tap off point (chamber) for the Mkuze WTW is being made under this project.

The DWS has also intervened through the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board in terms of Section 63 of the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997). Through this intervention, funding of R403 million has been allocated to deal with water issues under UKDM. The UKDM continues to monitor supply of potable water to Bethesda Hospital and further supplement with water tankering as and when required.

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Reply:

a)  The Green, Blue and No Drop reports are released every two years after the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) conducts comprehensive assessments of Water Treatment Works and municipal water distribution systems as well as wastewater systems in the country. Interim reports which are progress reports are released in the alternate year. The progress reports focus on the progress of municipalities in addressing the findings of the full Green, Blue and No Drop reports.

The intention of these uniquely South African regulatory tools is to improve municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management as well as water conservation and demand management. The Green, Blue and No Drop reports keep the public and stakeholders informed and updated with credible data and information about the state of water and sanitation services in the country. Water services institutions that achieve compliance and excellence in providing such services are also recognised for excellence. This serves as an incentive for water services institutions to improve their performance.

The reports identify what needs to be done to address each of the shortcomings identified in the reports. In this regard, the reports are a support mechanism, in addition to being a regulatory mechanism, because they provide the owners of the infrastructure (municipalities) with advice and guidance to improve water and sanitation services.

Beyond the comprehensive assessments of water and wastewater systems by the DWS and the continuous monitoring of progress made by municipalities, there are other mechanisms that Water Service Providers (WSP), including Water Boards and Water Service Authorities (WSA) must put in place to ensure compliance with the National Standards. Some of these include, amongst others:

• Municipalities and water boards are required by law to meet drinking water standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards in South African National Standard (SANS) 241 and must conduct regular tests on their treated water to ensure compliance with the standard. A water service provider or municipality must be agile and responsive when their tests indicate a challenge with the water quality compliance.

• The effluent from Wastewater Treatment Works which goes into rivers is also required to meet minimum standards, set by the DWS. Monitoring frequencies of these conditions are much higher than the Green Drop Assessments and water services providers must monitor compliance and provide corrective measures when required.

• WSAs and WSPs need to ensure proper metering, monitor and be responsive to reported water leaks to ensure timeous repairs of their infrastructure to reduce losses.

b) The following is being done to by DWS ensure compliance and provide support to municipalities and to improve the effectiveness of the monitoring tools:

• The Minister has agreed on action plans to address infrastructural deficiencies in many of the worst performing municipalities, and DWS is assisting municipalities with funding from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to address these deficiencies.

• DWS is taking regulatory action in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities that are non-responsive to regulatory actions taken by the DWS.

• DWS is drafting amendments to the Water Services Act to strengthen its role as the regulator of municipal water and sanitation services and to enable the Minister to intervene effectively when there is non-compliance with directives to stop pollution.

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Reply:

1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is aware of water supply challenges being experienced in the Ugu District Municipality (DM) on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The water demands in the Umtamvuna water supply system exceed the available treated water primarily due to a shortage of power to pump and treat sufficient water. Due to constraints in the power grid in the area in KwaZulu-Natal, negotiations are currently underway to secure additional power from the Eastern Cape. The DWS is unaware of sewage issues in the Banners Rest area. This matter will be investigated.

2. The DWS has intervened in the area by participating in a technical task team and establishing a War Room to monitor the implementation of turnaround plans and projects that will improve water supply for the communities of the district. The DWS is very concerned about the impact of water supply interruptions on tourism, business, and the communities and has allocated an additional R150m of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant to the Ugu DM to implement interventions. The WSIG allocation to the Ugu DM is R327,35 million over the medium-term expenditure framework.

The additional R150 million will be utilized to provide operational stability through improved bulk metering, valve refurbishment and telemetry, pipeline replacement and an emergency borehole programme, with over 20 boreholes already pumping clean drinking water to communities. In addition, the DWS is supporting the Ugu DM with the detailed planning for other regional bulk water supply projects including Harding Weza, Umtamvuna and Vulamehlo regional schemes. It is anticipated that this planning will take about 12 months to complete.

In the longer term, to ensure there is sufficient water resources to supply the area, the Minister of Water and Sanitation has issued a Directive to Umngeni-Uthukela Water Board to fund and implement the Cwabeni Dam, an off-channel storage dam with a capacity of approximately 70 million cubic meters to augment the Bhobhoi / Mzimkhulu supply system in Port Shepstone and surrounding areas. The project involves the construction of a dam, as well as associated infrastructure such as spillways, a water treatment plant, and a pipeline to convey water to the existing water supply system. The project is expected to cost R1.8 billion and is planned to be completed by 2033.

In relation to sewer spillages, in other parts of the Ugu DM, the DWS issued a Directive to the municipality on 13 May 2022 following the April 2022 floods. The War Room mentioned above is also aimed at addressing sanitation challenges in the area. Furthermore, each instance of pollution reported to the Department is investigated and communication sent to the municipality.

3. The DWS is working hard to support the Ugu DM to ensure that they fulfil their constitutional responsibility of water service provision. The DWS is confident that the support projects and the capacity support provided by CoGTA has already resulted in improvements in water supply in some areas. Unfortunately, not all interventions will yield immediate improvements, however, the DWS is providing significant financial support and technical oversight in the Ugu District Municipality and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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Reply:

a)  Rand Water has an allotment of water for each municipality as summarized in the table below:

Municipality	Allocated amount (Ml/d)
1.	City of Johannesburg Metro	1356
2.	City of Ekurhuleni Metro	1022
3.	City of Tshwane Metro	667
4.	Emfuleni Local Municipality	239
5.	Mogale City Local Municipality	93
6.	Metsimaholo Local Municipality	51
7.	Rustenburg Local Municipality	68
8.	Govan Mbeki Local Municipality	106
9.	Midvaal Local Municipality	28
10.	Merafong Local Municipality	86
11.	Rand West Local Municipality	91
12.	Lesedi Local Municipality	23
13.	Ngwathe Local Municipality	7
14.	Victor Khanye Local Municipality	17
15.	Royal Bafokeng Administration	10
16.	Madibeng Local Municipality	8
17.	Thembisile Hani Local Municipality	31

(b) The total amount used by each municipality from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023 is as follows:

Actual Average Monthly Consumption (Ml/d)
Municipality	Jan ‘23	Feb ‘23	Mar ‘23	Apr ‘23	May ‘23	Jun ‘23
City of Johannesburg Metro	1751	1738	1731	1735	1751	1750
City of Ekurhuleni Metro	1009	987	1019	989	982	980
City of Tshwane Metro	765	754	790	784	789	796
Emfuleni Local Municipality	299	308	304	291	285	288
Mogale City Local Municipality	102	95	94	97	98	99
Metsimaholo Local Municipality	45	39	39	40	39	41
Rustenburg Local Municipality	96	91	97	96	97	97
Govan Mbeki Local Municipality	93	93	83	84	87	87
Midvaal Local Municipality	36	35	37	35	34	32
Merafong Local Municipality	75	71	80	74	74	72
Rand West Local Municipality	78	76	76	75	77	78
Lesedi Local Municipality	23	24	21	19	23	22
Ngwathe Local Municipality	8	8	8	7	9	8
Victor Khanye Local Municipality	18	18	17	16	11	16
Royal Bafokeng Administration	16	13	18	17	15	16
Madibeng Local Municipality	15	14	12	12	12	13
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality	33	32	29	30	31	33
Grand Total	4461	4396	4453	4401	4415	4426

c) The allocated amounts per municipality are the optimal amounts needed by each municipality. Any demand above the allotted amounts renders Rand Water non-compliant with the abstraction conditions imposed by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

(d) The main reasons for the allotment are to:

• Encourage the municipalities to improve their water use efficiencies and reduce their demand in line with the current abstraction conditions.
• Assist Rand Water to comply with the abstraction conditions from the DWS.
• Ensure sustainable abstraction of water from the resource (Integrated Vaal River System)

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Reply:

 

 

a)  The root cause for most municipalities being non-compliant is poor management and leadership that do not prioritise budgets for maintenance and operation; as well as poor billing and revenue collection leading to deterioration of infrastructure. Non-adherence to standard operating processes for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment is caused by municipalities failing to hire the necessary staff with the correct skills and qualifications.

Rapid rural-urban migration coupled with housing developments, has also resulted in increased connections to water-borne sewage systems. However, many municipalities have not invested in upgrading their sewage collection and treatment infrastructure to cater for this increase, and many wastewater treatment systems lack the capacity to deal with the increased sewage load. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has estimated that it would require approximately R50 billion to address this backlog in wastewater treatment system capacity.

b) The Department has initiated an action plan to address the worst performing municipalities (scoring less than 10%) in terms of the Blue and Green Drop Watch reports. In developing this plan together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and National Treasury (NT) it was established that half of the 30 municipalities which scored less than 10% in the Green Drop and / or Blue Drop assessments are also on COGTA’s list of 66 dysfunctional municipalities.

A quarter of the 30 municipalities are also on National Treasury’s list of 79 municipalities in service delivery and financial crisis or in serious financial trouble and requiring intervention. NT has recommended that Provinces implement mandatory interventions in terms of Section 139(5) of the Constitution and Chapter 13 of the MFMA for these municipalities. Whilst national interventions are provided for in the Constitution, the capacity to intervene at national level is limited and Provinces must lead such interventions.

c) The Department has commenced with the amendment of the Water Services Act to strengthen its water services regulatory framework and its ability to effectively rectify contraventions. This will be done through the introduction of an operating license system for Water Service Providers (WSP), to be managed by DWS as the national regulator. This will require that water services only be provided by an entity (municipality or other entity) that has an operating license. This will enable WSAs to ensure that WSPs have minimum competency, capability, and performance levels to provide the required standard of water services.

A further amendment will be made to Section 63 of the Act, which currently only provides for an intervention under the Constitution, to enable the Minister, to issue administrative action similar to the National Water Act but additionally, as a last resort, to force separation of the water services function from the municipal administration where there is persistent failure to meet license conditions. In such instances, the Water Services Authority will be required to contract with a licensed Water Service Provides (after a S78 Systems Act process). The appointed licensed WSP will take over all the functions related to providing the water service, including billing and revenue collection, Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management. Currently S63 is impractical because it does not provide for all these functions to be taken over – the amendments will enable the licensed WSP to be funded. This amendment Bill is en-route to Cabinet for approval to embark on public consultations.

 

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Reply:

Yes, The Minister of Water and Sanitation invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act (108 of 1997) in July 2021 and subsequently appointed Rand Water as the Implementing Agent (IA) to conduct the assessment and implement the necessary intervention to gradually address challenges. The Water and Sanitation Masterplan was compiled with the implementation protocol to guide with infrastructure management, refurbishment, upgrades, operation and maintenance. The implementation protocol involves Rand Water, Emfuleni Local Municipality, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Rand Water is currently assisting Emfuleni Local Municipality to improve revenue collection and debt management as part of the Section 63 intervention. Rand Water is assisting the Municipality with water conservation and demand management (WCWDM) and with capacitation of the water and sanitation department of the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

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Reply:

1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has taken steps to address the various complaints received in relation to sewage leakages affecting Blue Crane Route Local Municipality (BCRLM) communities. These have been investigated and the DWS in its regulatory role, has taken the following actions:

• Issued a Directive dated 31 October 2019 for the failing Somerset East sewage pump station.
• Notice of Pollution dated 19 December 2020 for the Aeroville pump station.
• Notice of failure to comply with license conditions dated 18 February 2021.
• Non-compliance letter for poor Green Drop Report Audit Findings dated 08 April 2022.
• Directive for failure to address pollution of the Somerset East Irrigation canal dated 22 February 2023.
• Notice of breach of obligation for sewer spillages in Cookhouse and Somerset East dated 25 July 2023.

2. The DWS takes a range of regulatory actions in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities. Criminal charges has not been pursued as yet because the municipality has been responsive to the non-compliance directives and directives as indicated below:

• The municipality has submitted a suitable action plan to address various non-compliances. The implementation thereof is being monitored by the DWS. To this end, all blockages have been cleared and vandalised cables replaced, however the mechanical and electrical Professional Services Provider is awaiting delivery of spares and refurbished pumps for the high lift pump, the Mayele pump station and the Memese pump station all at Somerset East.
• The municipality has also appointed a new Water Services Manager who commenced duty on 01 August 2023
• The Ministry met with MEC of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Mayor and Leadership of BCRLM on 16 August 2023 during the Ministerial visit to the Eastern Cape, where provincial and municipal leadership committed to work towards improving wastewater management.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has put measures in place to prevent underspending on the grants and transfers allocated for the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure. Some of the strategies and/or steps includes the following:

• Collaboration with Implementing Agents to address challenges emanating from Supply Chain Management.
• Reprioritising the budget towards projects with acceleration plans and effective contract management.
• DWS is improving project audits and ensuring compliance for both direct and indirect grants funded projects to mitigate against poor performance.
• The DWS has established and is capacitating its Water Services Branch with engineers and project managers to improve monitoring of all projects across the country.

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Reply:

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), has found the main reasons for the deterioration of the water and sanitation systems are:

• Infrastructure is in a poor condition, caused by a lack of maintenance, which is in turn caused by non-prioritization of budgets for maintenance and operations as well as poor billing and revenue collection, which are in turn caused by poor leadership and management.
• Non-adherence to standard operating processes for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment, caused by municipalities failing to hire the necessary staff with the correct skills and qualifications as well as poor management in the municipalities. These factors are as important as infrastructure condition, if not more important, as contributors to poor performance.
• DWS, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Department of Human Settlements (DHS) allocate approximately R20 billion per annum in water and sanitation infrastructure grants to municipalities, but often this money must be used to repeatedly repair and refurbish infrastructure which has deteriorated rapidly due to a lack of maintenance by municipalities.
• Vandalism and metal theft are an increasing cause of infrastructure failure, but this is partly a result of inadequate security being provided by the municipalities.

b) The DWS released its Green Drop report in 2022, which indicated that the performance of many municipal wastewater treatment systems has deteriorated. The report identified 334 wastewater systems in a critical state of performance, in 90 municipalities. Blue Drop assessments are also being conducted by the DWS to all Water Services Authorities to measure all aspects contributing to a sustainable Water Services Business, and provision of safe water to the citizens of South Africa. The Blue Drop report is due to be released at the end of September 2023. Beyond producing the Blue and Green monitoring reports, DWS is engaged in several initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of pollution of rivers by municipal wastewater treatment works in the following ways:

• Firstly, the Minister has agreed on action plans to address infrastructural deficiencies in many of the worst performing municipalities, and DWS is assisting municipalities with funding from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to address these deficiencies.

• Secondly, DWS is taking regulatory action in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities.

• Thirdly, DWS is drafting amendments to the Water Services Act to strengthen its role as the regulator of municipal water and sanitation services and to enable the Minister to intervene effectively when there is non-compliance with directives to stop pollution.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Rand Water, working with all Water Service Authorities (WSA) within the Gauteng Province, have put in place the following measures to curb shortages of bulk water in the province:

• Rand Water commissioned the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant on 31 August 2023. The Zuikerbosch WTW will provide an additional 150ML/d into the water supply system and WSAs are expected to provide DWS with detailed plans on how the additional water will be used more efficiently.
• Municipalities are encouraged to fix leakages that result in high non-revenue water losses.
• Rand Water and Water Service Authorities are implementing Water Conservation/Water Demand management measures.
• Municipalities are raising awareness to water users to reduce consumption of water.
• DWS is also engaging all municipalities in Gauteng to build more reservoirs to curb water outages.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)has sent a Notice of Intention to issue a Directive in terms of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) to the Lesedi Local Municipality in relation to the operations and maintenance of Devon Waste Water Treatment Works. In addition, a non-compliance letter was issued to the municipality in terms of the 2022 Green Drop audit findings.

The DWS has provided support to the municipality in the 2022/2023 financial year through the Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). The WSIG transfer went towards Devon Wastewater Treatment Works for:

• Upgrading of power supply
• Refurbishment of critical Mechanical and electrical equipment
• Licensing of the works to ensure compliance with Green Drop Certification programme.

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Reply:

a)  791 water use licence applications were approved since 10 February 2022

b) 198 of the 791 water use licence applications were issued to Historically Disadvantaged Individuals.

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Reply:

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation convened a joint workshop with Water Boards, National Treasury, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and South African Local Government Association on 5 December 2022. The purpose of the workshop was to develop strategies to improve Billing and Revenue Collection in the water sector. The resolution from that workshop was to draft standardised operating processes (SOP) for debt recovery, to cater for both the Water Boards and the Department’s Water Trading Entity.

b) The proposed actions and strategies in place to tackle the municipal debt include the following:

• DWS will collaborate with National Treasury to ensure that equitable share allocations are withheld from non-paying municipalities.
• DWS will ensure that standardised credit control and debt recovery processes are put in place across all the water boards. This will include consistent enforcement of water restrictions on non-paying municipalities and legal processes to attach municipal bank accounts where necessary.
• Bulk prepaid meters will be installed by water boards in municipalities with a poor payment record.

c) The Minister has finalized the consultation process with 144 Water Services Authorities on the outcome of the above-mentioned workshop. The Minister is currently engaging with the Water Boards regarding the measures to address municipal debts to the Water Boards.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has not been informed of the tap water in Ward 5, Riemvasmaak in the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality (LM). The Kou-Kamma LM has not captured water sampling results on the Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS) of DWS, which led to regulatory notices being issued to Kou-Kamma LM.

a) Following an investigation, it was found that the Riemvasmaak is a community of about 40 informal houses within Woodlands the area. The community is served by one stand-pipe tap linked to the reticulation of the Woodlands Water Treatment Works (WTW). Kou-Kamma LM officials have provided copies of sample results for Woodlands WTW and water supply area. Results from water samples taken on each of the following dates 08 March, 12 April and 10 May 2023 showed that each test result complied with the microbiological health parameters of E.coli, total coliforms and total bacteria. The chemical results from March showed a lower pH (on acidic side) and levels of dissolved Iron and Manganese exceeding the aesthetic limits and dissolved Manganese exceeding the chronic health limit (SANS 241:2015). This dissolved Iron & Manganese could be the cause of brown discoloration.

b) Kou-Kamma officials reported that contact with the Clinic serving Woodlands and Riemvasmaak areas has not observed or recorded any increase of diarrhoeal cases. The following measures are put in place:

• A tender for laboratory analysis to increase monitoring,
• Commitment to capture monitoring results on Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS).
• Investigation into the reason for; and treatment options, to remove the Iron & Manganese found at the Woodlands WTW.

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Reply:

A water quality monitoring programme is being implemented by the Musina Local Municipality in relation to the compliance to South Africa National Standard 241(SANS 241) following the visit by the Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation to Musina in 2022. The following measures were implemented to improve the drinking water quality:

• Cleaning of reservoirs
• Chlorination/disinfection of water before distribution
• Monitoring programme of water quality was initiated from 26 May 2022 at seven monitoring points including Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Musina Hospital, Gateway Ext 8, and Beitbrige.

The outcome of the water quality compliance monitoring indicated the following:

• Microbiological - three sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9 and Beitbridge)
• Chemical - all sampling points complied
• Physical - six sampling points complied (Oorplaas, Musina Municipal Main Office, Musina Intermodal Terminal Ext 9, Venetia Guesthouse, Messina Hospital, and Gateway extension 8)

Recommendations to correct the failing sampling points were made to the municipality by the Department of Water and Sanitation. A follow up was done on 29 June 2022 to check progress made at the Musina Intermodal Terminal, Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Venetia Guest House, Oorplas, Oorplas Inlet, Beitbridge PS. The outcome of the water quality compliance indicated the following:

• Microbiological- seven sampling points complied (Gateway Primary School, Bergview Reservoir, Messina Municipality, Messina Borehole, Messina Hospital, Messina Borehole, Oorplas, Beitbridge PS)
• Chemical- All sampling points complied
• Physical – All sampling points complied

As indicated above, water quality results indicate that there has been improvement on the microbiological compliance as a result of the remedial actions implemented by the municipality.

(2) (a) The municipality continues to monitor water quality on a monthly basis on Conductivity, Chloride, E.coli, Fluoride, Free Chlorine, Iron, Manganese, pH, Sulfate, Total Coliforms, Total Dissolve Solids and Turbidity since the establishment of the monitoring programme.

(2) (b) Tests conducted during May 2023 found that free chlorine was lower than the range of 0,2mg/l and 0,5mg/l. This non-compliance does not pose any health risk since the municipality is compliant with regard to microbiological compliance.

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Reply:

a)  The costs for water tanks that are hired by municipalities are borne by the municipalities as Water Service Authorities. DWS does not have this information.

b) The StatsSA General Household Survey (GHS) showed that 89% of households have access to operational services, while reliability is only at 63%.

The Department is embarking on the development Five Year Reliable Water and Sanitation Services Delivery Implementation Plans for all 44 DMS that will, after completion, produce a pipeline of projects for each WSA with the associated schedule and costing. National grant funding programmes will then be aligned with these needs.

Currently, the Department is spearheading the progressive implementation of various water and sanitation projects through the various programmes such as the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). It is estimated that the water and sanitation sector requires R90 billion per year for the next 10 years in order to achieve 100% reliable water and sanitation service provision in South Africa.

c) Water tankering is meant to be a temporary measure utilised by municipalities to ensure that communities are provided with water where there are water supply interruptions resulting from disasters such as floods or droughts or other temporary challenges. However, in many instances, the use of tankers to supplement inadequate water supply by municipalities has become part of the ‘normal’ system to supply communities with water. In some instances, there are allegations that infrastructure is vandalised to facilitate continuation of business opportunities via provision of water tankers to municipalities. Municipalities have been advised by the DWS secure water infrastructure and prevent vandalism and theft of infrastructure which causes water supply interruptions.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation office regularly conducts inspections and audits on the operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Collector Systems (WWCS) including wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and sewer networks in all Water Services Institution (WSIs) in the Free State Province including the Mangaung Metro Municipality. The inspections are intended to assess if WWCS are operated and maintained in a manner that does not pose risks contamination of water resources thus increasing risks to human health and the environment.

The final effluent released back to the water resource is also monitored to ensure compliance with water use authorization conditions or general authorization limits where water use authorization is not available. Administrative Enforcement by issuing of non-compliance notices or directives is done to the WSIs. This is to ensure that there is improvement on the status of sanitation infrastructure operation and maintenance and the quality final effluent released back to the water resources. In areas where there are material breaches, DWS can follow the civil or criminal measures.

Ward 6 in Mangaung is served by the Sterkwater WWTW and Bloemspruit WWTW. The Sterkwater WWTW is non-operational while the Bloemspruit WWTW is partially operational. The non-functionality of the wastewater systems affects sewer network and causes sewer spillages in. The DWS issued with Directive in 2021 by DWS for poor operation and maintenance which causes sewer spillages with respect to the Bloemspruit WWTW.

The DWS is in the process of issuing with a Notice for intention to issue a Directive with respect to the Sterkwater wastewater plant. During routine inspections, Sterkwater WWTW was found to be operational albeit with some operation and maintenance problems. Upon follow up in July 2022, the plant was found to be non-functional.

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) was funded with R100 million through the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) in February 2023 to address the refurbishment of WWTWs and pump stations and eradicate sewer spillages amongst other municipal challenges. The scope of work for the water and sanitation projects included the following:

• Condition assessment and refurbishment of sewer pumpstations, WWTW as well as bulk and reticulation sewer networks.
• Preventative maintenance on the sewer network components
• Emergency attendance to sewer infrastructure blockages and failures

Based on the report submitted by MMM to DWS in June 2023, the status of the project to refurbish the Bloemspruit WWTW was at 50% while the status for the project Sterkwater WWTW project was at 35%.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Nkomazi Local Municipality (LM) conducted a site inspection that included Ericsville and surrounding villages including Ericsville, Ka-Hhoyi, Goba and Mbangwane. The inspection covered six reservoirs (three concrete and three elevated steel tanks) as well as the Masibekela Water Treatment Works.

The water scheme comprises of three phases of 7ML/day per phase producing a total of 21ML/day. The Nkomazi LM reported that 10.5ML of water is supplied to the eastern side of the scheme, which Ericsville is part of, and 10ML of water is supplied though the Sibande Water Supply Scheme on the western side.

However, the Masibekela Water Supply Scheme was damaged by the February 2023 floods which resulted in about 90% of the raw pumping house being submerged in the Komati River. More damage was caused to the two 55kw water pumps were damaged which were subsequently replaced with one emergency 37kw water pump. Due to the reduced capacity of the Masibekela scheme, the Nkomazi LM currently relies on the three 7ML concrete reservoirs that are on southern side of Mbangwane to store and supply water to the community.

The municipality reported that Ericsville has grown rapidly over the years and that the water supply status in the area is as follows:

• There are portions of Ericsville that are reticulated but are not receiving water on a daily basis due to damage sustained by the Masibekela water supply scheme in February 2023.
• The new extension of Ericsville where the 100 households are located, is not yet reticulated and is part of 10 other villages that are supplied by a 18 000L water tanker owned by the municipality.
• The bulk line that supplies reservoirs at Mbangwane also has illegal connections which also contribute to water shortages in Ericsville.
• There are plans for the municipality has plans to procure two more water tankers in the 2023/24 financial year as a short term measure to address water supply shortages.

The municipality also reported that it has received disaster funds R8 million to restore the pumpstation at Masibekela so that can operate at full capacity. While this will not eliminate water shortages for all the households in Ericsville, it will assist the communities that are reticulated to receive water more frequently.

The municipality indicated that it requires R740 million to implement long term interventions to upgrade the water treatment works, bulk and associated infrastructure to ensure the communities in Masibekela are supplied with water sustainably. The DWS will provide financial support of R90 million for reticulation projects in the municipality over the medium term through the Water Supply Infrastructure Grant. The municipality will have to apply to the DWS to access Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant funding for the upgrade of the Masibekela water supply scheme and associated bulk water infrastructure projects.

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Reply:

Raw water is drawn from rivers and dams and treated in Water Treatment Works by either water boards or municipalities before it is supplied to households. The treated water is required by law to meet drinking water standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards in South African National Standard (SANS) 241. Municipalities and water boards are also required to conduct regular tests on the treated water to ensure that it complies with the standard.

After the water has been utilised by households, it goes through the sewer system to municipal Waste Water Treatment Works. The Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) processes the sewage and effluent is discharged into the rivers. The effluent from WWTW is also required to meet minimum standards, set by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

In terms of SANS241 and the norms and standards issued by DWS under the Water Services Act, when the tests carried out by a municipality indicate that the water supplied poses a health risk, the municipality must inform its consumers that the quality of the water that it supplies poses a health risk. To date, the original sources of the cholera infections in different parts of the country have not been located.

It is important to note that cholera is not only spread through polluted water. Outbreaks of cholera are caused either by people ingesting sewage-polluted water, or by faecal-oral means; through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food, or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Sewage pollution of rivers can also result in cholera bacteria entering the rivers via the faeces of an infected person or people.

In terms of the National Water Act, the Department issues compliance Notices and Directives to municipalities that are not compliant with norms and standards, instructing them to remedy the non-compliance. Where the Notices and Directives are not acted upon, the Department institutes legal action against the municipalities.

The Department is also supporting and intervening in many municipalities across the country with grant funding to address infrastructure deficits and improve water and sanitation services. The Department, collaborating with Water Boards is also assisting the municipalities with technical expertise and management support.

The Department is in the process of strengthening its role as the regulator of water services. This includes developing more comprehensive and more stringent norms and standards for water service and standardising its regulatory processes so that it is more consistent with its regulatory actions.

To conclude, the results of the 2023 Watch Reports also indicate that legislative reforms may be required to ensure that water service providers are professionally managed, capable, efficient and financially viable institutions. The Department is in the process of consulting with water sector stakeholders regarding such reforms.

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Reply:

Outbreaks of cholera are caused either by people ingesting sewage-polluted water, or by faecal-oral means - through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. Sewage pollution of rivers can result in cholera bacteria entered the rivers via the faeces of an infected person or people.

DWS released its Green Drop report in 2022, which indicated that the performance of many municipal wastewater treatment systems is deteriorating. The report identified 334 wastewater systems in a critical state of performance, in 90 municipalities. This means that many municipalities are discharging effluent from their wastewater (sewage) treatment works which does not meet the specified treatment levels, which in turn is resulting in pollution of rivers. The Vaal River is one of the worst polluted rivers in South Africa.

DWS has been carrying out weekly tests for cholera in the Vaal River at the point in Ngwathe where AfriForum tests initially indicated the presence of cholera bacteria, which was as a result of the proximity of a sewage-spilling manhole situated near the watercourse. DWS tests at the

site have not yet identified cholera bacteria. However, this does not mean that the AfriForum tests were incorrect. Cholera-infected faeces can be present at a particular point in the river at a particular time but may later flow downstream. DWS will conduct further tests downstream.

DWS has been informing members of the public that rivers, dams, and streams contain raw (untreated) water, and this water is not suitable for human consumption. Members of the public are therefore urged to avoid consuming untreated water sourced from such water bodies unless it is first disinfected. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has also set out guidelines that should be followed regarding safe drinking water.

Municipalities are required by law to carry out regular tests of treated drinking water before it is provided to communities. Drinking water provided by municipalities is safe to drink if municipalities are carrying out the tests as required and if the tests show that the water meets the standards for drinking water as set by the South African Bureau of Standards.

Beyond producing the Blue, Green and No Drop monitoring reports, DWS is engaged in several initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of pollution of rivers by municipal wastewater treatment works. Firstly, the Minister has agreed on action plans to address infrastructural deficiencies in many of the worst performing municipalities, and DWS is assisting municipalities with funding from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to address these deficiencies. Secondly, DWS is taking regulatory action in terms of the National Water Act, including issuing non-compliance notices, directives, taking civil action, and as a last resort, laying criminal charges against polluting municipalities. Thirdly, DWS is drafting amendments to the Water Services Act to strengthen its role as the regulator of municipal water and sanitation services and to enable the Minister to intervene effectively when there is non-compliance with directives to stop pollution.

a) Since the announcement of the cholera outbreak in the Free State Province in May 2023, in the Ngwathe Local Municipality (Vredefort and Parys), DWS has been collecting water samples on weekly basis to ensure that communities are receiving drinking water which is compliant to the South African National Standard (SANS) 241 and is safe for human consumption. Water samples were also collected at drinking water sources such as:

• Boreholes and Water Treatment Works (WTW) from the 2 towns (Parys and Vredefort)
• Raw water at the inlet into both Parys and Vredefort WTW
• Effluent discharged back into the Vaal River from both the Parys and Vredefort Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).

b) The DWS has been working with all relevant stakeholders to deal with the cholera outbreak in Free State and is is part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) established to deal with the cholera outbreak in Ngwathe Local Municipality (LM). The team includes the Ngwathe LM, Fezile Dabi District Municipality (DM), and Department of Health. This team meets twice a week a week and the RRT briefs the Member of Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Health in the Free State on a number of issues including water supply and quality issues every Sunday evening.

To maximise the impact on the ground in terms interventions, a task team has also been established to coordinate the responses specifically on the improvement of water quality. This team is led by the DWS, and includes the Department of Health, Fezile Dabi DM, and Ngwathe LM. Sample collection is carried out as follows:

• • The DWS collects samples from all the drinking water sources (boreholes and WTW) in Vredefort and Parys, raw water at the inlet at the Parys and Vredefort WTW, and

Wastewater final effluent discharged back into the Vaal River from both the Parys and Vredefort Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW).

• • The Fezile Dabi DM collects samples in the distribution network for the Vredefort and Parys towns including the water tanks.
  • The Ngwathe LM continues with their operational monitoring including parts of the distribution network.

c) DWS has been providing financial support to the Ngwathe LM with water and Sanitation projects through its grants. There is a project to refurbish the Parys WTW intended to bring relief to the area and ensure that water quality is compliant with norms and standards. For the 2023/24 financial year, the DWS has allocated R50 million under RBIG and R14,021 million under WSIG for water and sanitation interventions in Ngwathe LM.

The DWS also established a War Room with the Ngwathe LM to deal with all the water supply and water quality challenges in the municipality so that immediate interventions can be implemented. The War Room is comprised of the Ngwathe LM, Fezile Dabi DM, the DWS, CoGTA and MISA. The meetings are held twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) monitors the condition of municipal water and sanitation infrastructure through three incentive-based regulatory mechanisms:

• The Green Drop Report, which focuses on sanitation (waste-water treatment systems and effluent quality)
• The Blue Drop Report, which focuses on water (water treatment and water quality)
• The No Drop Report, which focuses on non-revenue water and water losses through leakages

The Blue and Green Drop Assessments results have shown that numerous municipalities lack the financial and technical capacity to manage water services adequately. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has a constitutional obligation to support municipalities, as well as to regulate the provision of water and sanitation services. The Minister has crisscrossed the country visiting those municipalities with severe challenges with water and sanitation services. In many of the worst performing municipalities, Minister and municipal leadership have agreed on improvement plans. In certain instances, the Minister has set-up both Political and Technical Committees comprising of various institutions to oversee and drive the implementations of these plans/projects.

b) Based on the Blue and Green Drop assessment findings, municipalities are required to develop and submit corrective action plans to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). The improvement plans include a range of short, medium, and long-term projects to improve water and sanitation infrastructure.

Furthermore, the DWS together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Department of Human Settlement and National Treasury are in the process of developing the National Action Plan to implement the corrective or improvement plans.

Both these plans will be funded through the DWS’ Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and CoGTA’s Municipal Infrastructure Grant.

Furthermore, the Minister is strengthening the capacity of Water Boards to assist municipalities to implement these improvement plans. There are a number of projects that are being implemented throughout the country with the assistance of Water Boards and the DWs’ Construction Unit.

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Reply:

The roles of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) are defined in the National Water Act and Water Services Act. DWS is the regulator of the sector, issues water use licenses, and has responsibilities relating to water resource planning and catchment management. Water provision to marginalised communities in municipalities is the responsibility of municipalities. However, the Department has a responsibility to support municipalities, this includes providing allocation to municipalities from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG).

The DWS engaged the Thembisile Local Municipality and they confirmed that the pipeline supplying Zakheni village was damaged by the floods for a period of three (3) to four (4) months which affected water supply. The status is reported as follows:

• The contractor was appointed, and repairs to the damaged pipeline were completed on 30 April 2023.
• Water has been restored in the area and is supplied on rationing scheduling.
• Other areas still receive water through the water tanks to augment the unconnected or unserved areas.
• The municipality is building a new reticulation pipeline.
• The long-term water supply plans for the area are as follows: The Thembisile Hani Local Municipality is supplied by Rand Water and the City of Tshwane based on agreed contracts as it does not have a dedicated water source to supply water to the residents of the municipality. The water supply contracts with Tshwane and Rand Water are under review to increase the current water supply.
• The community of KwaMhlanga and Zakheni will also benefit from the Loskop Bulk water supply scheme once it is completed. The anticipated completion of the project is planned for November 2024.

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Reply:

The Department has identified issues that need to be addressed and measures to be implemented for water security and effective water services management:

• Introducing more specific minimum requirements to operate water and sanitation services, to include this in an operating license. This will mean strengthening enforcement through directives and amending Section 63 of the Water Services Act - to follow a more effective approach used in the National Water Act, clearly defining what functions the WSP is accountable for, what to report on and performing, which will mean regulation amendments in order for the department to effectively intervene where there is non-compliance.

• Broadening of South Africa’s water resource mix is critical for water security as there are now limited opportunities for further surface water developments. Additional sources to surface water like groundwater; desalination of sea water; return flows from treated waste-water systems; reuse of other poor-quality water such as acid mine drainage must be explored. Timeous implementation of large-scale investment in all the above types of water resource development projects is required to ensure water security.

• The Department is continuously identifying delivery hotspots at provincial level through Ministerial visits and deliberations/consultations with Local Municipalities. The Department has intervened through the implementation of over 70 projects that have been identified as Ministerial Priority Actions to address hotspot areas across the country. In some Provinces, both Political and Technical Steering Committees have been established to engage and monitor progress of these interventions, with involvement of The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the Water Boards.

• The Department is currently implementing a national programme to develop Five-Year Water and Sanitation Services Reliability Implementation plans at Water Services Authority level. These plans will look at the demographics of all areas, water and sanitation needs assessments, infrastructure functionality status, infrastructure refurbishment requirements, water security and governance issues. In consultation with all municipalities, this process will result in a comprehensive situational assessment of all water and sanitation services at community level and through the implementation of reliability principles a pipeline of projects being developed that will integrate all grant funding to specifically address the provision of reliable water and sanitation services.

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Reply:

MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION

a) Progress made towards the realignment of water boards is indicated in Annexure A below.

b) The reconfiguration of the Water Boards was intended to improve financial sustainability, extend services to areas that are not currently serviced and address institutional confusion caused by having multiple Water Boards serving the same area.

The Minister initiated the reconfiguration of Water Boards to:

• Strengthen the capacity and capability of the entities in Provinces (leveraging on existing technical skills)
• Improve and enhance institutional efficiencies and rationalise the number of institutions in the water sector to ensure economies of scale,
• Maintain financial viability and enhance the ability to raise capital from the market for infrastructure projects.
• The Department has reviewed the Water Boards in terms of financial sustainability, servicing areas that are not currently serviced and institutional confusion caused by having multiple Water Boards serving the same area.

The Minister initiated the reconfiguration of Water Boards to:

• Strengthen the capacity and capability of the entities in Provinces (leveraging on existing technical skills)
• Improve and enhance institutional efficiencies and rationalise the number of institutions in the water sector to ensure economies of scale,
• Maintain financial viability and enhance the ability to raise capital from the market for infrastructure projects.

c) The provinces in the Republic have been most affected by the realignment process are indicated in Annexure A.

d) Timelines that have been set for the completion of the reconfiguration processes are indicated in Annexure A.

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ANNEXURE A

(a) Progress made with realignment of Water Boards	(c) Affected areas and/or regions	(d) Timeline and milestones
Disestablishment of Sedibeng Water	Free State, North West and Northern Cape	February 2022 to 1 August 2022
Sedibeng Water was disestablished in July 2022. The assets and liabilities in the North West were transferred to Magalies Water and the Free State and Northern Cape assets and liabilities were transferred to Bloem Water as of 1 August 2022.
Sedibeng Water was delisted as a schedule 3B of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999) (PFMA).		28 Mach 2023
Reconfiguration of Bloem Water	Free State and Northern Cape	1 August 2022 to July 2023
Bloem Water services the entire Free State and Northern Cape and has taken over the staff, assets and liabilities from Sedibeng with effect from 01 Aug 2022.
The Gazette Notice for comments to be published for thirty (30) days outlining the intention to change the name of Bloem Water to Vaal Central Water Board was published
Final Gazette to change the name of Bloem Water to Vaal Central Water Board to be published
Reconfiguration of Umgeni & Mhlathuze	Kwa-Zulu Natal	July 2022 to 01 July 2023
The Minister consulted with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government in terms of Section 28 of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997).
Minister published the Gazette Notice for thirty (30) days to change the name Umgeni Water to uMngeni-uThukela Water with effect from 01 July 2023.		19 June 2023
Minister published a final gazette notice extending the boundary of Umgeni Water to include Mhlathuze Water to form a single Water Board in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, disestablish Mhlathuze Water, the transfer of staff, assets and liabilities to uMngeni-uThukela Water with effect from 01 July 2023		19 June 2023
Advert calling for nominations for a new Board Members for the single Water Board in KwaZulu-Natal (uMngeni-uThukela Water) published		25 June 2023
Rand Water boundary to be extended to cover Mpumalanga and Gauteng Province	Gauteng and Mpumalanga	October 2022 to March 2024
The Minister published a Gazette Notice on 28 November 2022 in terms of Section 28(1) of the WSA for sixty (60) days outlining his intentions to extend the service area of Rand Water to Provide Bulk Water Services to the entire Mpumalanga Province.
Final due diligence is due on October 2023
Lepelle boundary will be extended to cover the entire Limpopo Province.	Limpopo	October 2022 to January 2024
High level desktop due diligence analysis is due by end of September 2023
Gazette notice to be published on the extension to cover Limpopo Province.
Transfer of Rand Water’s asset in Rustenburg from Rand Water to Magalies Water and transfer of Magalies Water assets to Rand Water	Gauteng and North West	July 2022 to December 2023
Final due Diligence is due on September 2023
Amatola Water Board will be extended to cover the entire Eastern Cape Province.	Eastern Cape	October 2022 to December 2023
The Minister published a Gazette Notice on 14 November 2022 in terms of Section 28(1) of the WSA for sixty (60) days outlining intentions to extend the service area of Amatola Water to cover the entire Eastern Cape Province.
High level desktop due diligence analysis is due by end of September 2023
Overberg Water Board will be extended to cover the entire Western Cape Province	Western Cape	November 2022 to December 2023
The Minister published a Gazette Notice on 3 November 2022 in terms of Section 28(1) of the WSA for sixty (60) days outlining intentions to extend the service area of Overberg Water to cover the entire Western Cape Province.
High level desktop due diligence analysis is due by end of September 2023

Reply:

Water tanks are an interim measure employed by municipalities in areas where there is insufficient infrastructure and shortages of water supply through the water distribution system. This interim measure ensures availability of water to those affected communities as an alternative.

It is a costly exercise and should be properly managed by municipalities to ensure that these services are procured through a competitive bidding process. The key solution is proper operations and maintenance of the available infrastructure, to avoid water supply interruptions. The department is also supporting municipalities through its grants to fund refurbishment and upgrades, including the development of new infrastructure to meet the water demands efficiently, with proper water services to all.

All water sources or water services provided through tankers must be tested for acceptable water quality before being dispatched to the communities concerned. This water testing exercise should be conducted daily and consistently to ensure compliance with SANS on water quality. The norms and standards of the department prescribe that if traces of poor water quality are identified, the municipalities must immediately inform the communities.

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Reply:

1. The Department has issued Notices and Directives to the City of Tshwane (CoT) Metropolitan Municipality and the Department is currently engaging CoT to reach an agreement that will be approved by the Courts. This is yet to be finalised.

2. The Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) consists of three (3) works: Rooiwal North, Rooiwal West, and Rooiwal East. The biofilter effluent of Rooiwal West must be further treated by the activated sludge system of the Rooiwal North Works. Rooiwal East is biofilters with a separate effluent stream.

A project to upgrade the WWTW was started in 2008 and completed in 2012, with the following deliverables:

• Replacement of centrifugal blowers on the Rooiwal Northern Works.
• The replacement of return activated sludge (RAS) pumps at Rooiwal Northern Works.
• The structural refurbishment of 3 anaerobic digesters at Rooiwal Western Works.
• New mechanical and electrical equipment for anaerobic digesters at Rooiwal Western Works and EW.
• Extension of the sludge drying pans.
• SCADA for blowers and RAS pumps

3. Maintenance is being performed on all the infrastructure. Details of the dates and status of planned maintenance are enclosed in Annexure 1 attached.

Despite the above, Rooiwal WWTW is dysfunctional and under-capacitated. In June 2023, the Tshwane City Council voted R450 million for short-term repairs to the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works and DWS, National Treasury, the DBSA and the City are in the process of developing a financing plan for the medium upgrading of the capacity of the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works. This will involve the upgrading of the plant’s treatment capacity by 130 Ml of waste water per day (ML/day), coupled with desilting of sludge at the Leeukraal dam. The desilting of the dam will enable the Temba Water Treatment Works to function better and produce drinking water which meets minimum standards. The current capacity of the plant is 250 ML/day. The capacity will be increased to 380 ML/day. This will be sufficient to treat the current and future projected waste water load in Hammanskraal. The project is due to start in July 2024 and end in June 2026.

ANNEXURE 1

Rooiwal East and West Wastewater Treatment Works

Ref No.	AREA	Required Maintenance	Planned Start Date	Planned End Date	Estimated Costs	Status	Actual Costs (R)
		Rooiwal East WWTP
		Inlet Works
1.1	Screens	Service screen No. 1 and 2	10-Jan-23	28-Feb-23		Completed	804471.80
1.1.1	Screens	Repair screen no.1	Emergency	repairs		Completed	61238.94
1.1.2	Screens	Repair screen no.2	Emergency	repairs		Completed	62555.90
4	Grit Classifier	Repair Grit Classifier No. 2	01-Aug-22	30-Sept-22	366 000	Complete	295000.00
5.1	Degritter	Service Grit pump No.1 and 2	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22	50 000	Complete	171892.88
6.1	Degritter	Service Grit scrapper No. 1 and 2	01-Nov-22	30-Nov-22	110 000	Complete	59190.51
6.1.1	Degritter	Remove sand from Degritter no.1 and 2	Emergency	repairs		Completed	65000.00
7	Degritter	Replace Grit scrapper rubbers	01-Nov-22	30-Nov-22		Complete	25000.00
		Primary Settling Tanks
10.1	PST	Remove sand from PST no.1 to 8	Emergency	repairs		Completed	1120838.39
11	Raw sludge sump	Service Fine screens No. 2	01-Sept-22	30-Jan-23		Completed	475737.93
12	Raw sludge sump	Service Fine screens No. 1	01-Mar-23	30-Mar-23		Screen removed for repair	475737.93
13.1	Raw sludge pump station	Repair Raw sludge pump no.2	Emergency	repairs		Completed	15930.40
		Rooiwal West WWTW
		Humus Pump Station
1.1.2	HPS	Repair Humus pump and motor	Emergency	repairs		Completed	134907.84
		Anaerobic Digesters
4	Anaerobic digesters	Service digested sludge pumps non-return valves	30-Oct-22	30-Oct-22		Complete	297402.82

Rooiwal North Wastewater Treatment Works

No.	AREA	Required Maintenance	Planned Start Date	Planned End Date	Estimated Costs	Status	Actual Costs
		Inlet Works
1.1	Inlet Works	Service screen No. 1	01-Jul-22	30-Jul-22		Completed	367227.89
1.2	Inlet Works	Service screen No. 2	01-Aug-22	30-Aug-22		Completed	367227.89
1.2a	Inlet Works	Repairs on Screen 2 and 3	Emergency	repairs		Completed	158017.82
3.1	Inlet Works	Service Conveyor belts	01-Oct-22	30-Oct-22		Complete	167816.92
4.1	Inlet Works	Repair Grit Classifier no.2 motor and gearbox	Emergency	repairs		Complete	160882.92
4.2	Inlet Works	Repair grit pump no.2	Emergency	repairs		Complete	49909.97
		Inlet Works
4.3	Inlet Works	Repair grit pumps x 4	Emergency	repairs		Complete	166336.56
		Primary Settling Tanks
5.1	PST	Remove sand PST 1	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Complete	252359.20
5.2	PST	Remove sand PST 2	10-Jan-23	30-Jan-23		Complete	252359.20
5.3	PST	Remove sand PST 3	01-Apr-23	30-April-23		Complete	252359.20
7	PST	Refurbish PST Panel boxes	01-Oct-22	30-Oct-22		Service provider busy	121537.48
9.1	PST	Service PST 1 Rotating Bridge	01-Jul-22	30-Jul-22		Complete	28752.24
9.2	PST	Service PST 2 Rotating Bridge	01-Aug-22	30-Aug-22		Complete	15868.68
9.3	PST	Service PST 3 Rotating Bridge	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Complete	31115.96
		BNR Reactors
15.1	Reactor 1	Repair leaks on gas pipes, main gas pipe actuator and gearbox	Emergency	repairs		Leaks closed, service provider still busy	548701.80
18	Reactor 3	Repair Internal Recirculation Pump x 1	01-Aug-22	30-Aug-22		Complete	29037.47
20.2a	Reactor 2	Repair Screw pump no.2 gearbox	Emergency	repair		Service provider busy with repairs	342833.84
		Blowers
24.1	Blowers 3	Quarterly maintenance	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Service provider awaiting spares	442750.00
24.1a	Blowers	Repairs on Blowers main supply	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	407662.00
24.1b	Blowers	Repairs on Blower 2 and 5	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	115943.36
24.1c	Blowers	Repairs on Blower 5	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	68642.30
24.1d	Blowers	Repairs on electric panels of Blower 2,3,4,5 and 8	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	147193.46
24.4	Blowers 8	Quarterly maintenance	01-Dec-22	30-Dec-22		Busy with repairs	442750.00
24.6	Blowers 4	Quarterly maintenance	01-Feb-23	28-Feb-23		Service provider awaiting spares	442750.00
24.7	Blowers 5	Quarterly maintenance	01-Mar-23	30-Mar-23		Service provider awaiting spares	442750.00
24.9	Blowers 2	Quarterly maintenance	01-May-23	30-May-23		Service provider awaiting spares	442750.00
26	Blowers 1-9	Level 3 Electric Motor Preventative Maintenance	01-Aug-22	30-Aug-22	1 900 000	Included in quarterly maintenance quotations
		Clarifiers
29.1	Reactor 2 Clarifiers	Service Clarifier Rotating bridges	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Complete	132000.00
29.1a	Reactor 2 Clarifiers	Repair Clarifier 2.6 Rotating bridge	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	19702.26
29.2a	Reactor 1 Clarifiers	Repair Clarifier1.4 Rotating bridge	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	19593.62
29.2b	Reactor 1 Clarifiers	Repair Clarifier 1.5 Rotating bridge	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	21540.98
29.3	Reactor 3 Clarifiers	Service Clarifier Rotating bridges	01-Nov-22	30-Nov-22		Complete	148048.78
29.3a	Reactor 3 Clarifiers	Repair Clarifier 3.3 and 3.5 Rotating bridges	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	22502.26
29.3b	Reactor 3 Clarifiers	Repair Clarifier 3.6 Rotating bridge	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	23048.95
29.3c	Reactor 3 Clarifier	Repair Clarifier 3.4 Rotating bridge	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	66000.00
30.1	Reactor 1 Clarifiers	Service tip valves	01-Dec-22	30-Dec-22	35 000	Serviced 1.1; 1.2 and 1.3	97365.28
31.1	Reactor 1 Clarifiers	Service bottom valves	01-Jul-22	30-Jul-22		Serviced 1.5 bottom valve	13435.24
31.2	Reactor 2 Clarifiers	Service bottom valves	01-Aug-22	30-Aug-22		Serviced 2.6 bottom valve	15645.80
		Dissolved Air Floatation Pump Station
32.1a	DAF Screen	Electrical repair on Rake screen	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	55307.38
33	DAF sump pumps	Service DAF Bypass pumps x 2	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Serviced pump no.2	57633.29
33.1	DAF sump pumps	Repair DAF Bypass pumps no.1	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	116107.90
		Aerobic Digester
34.1	Aerobic pump station	Repair Sludge Pumps non-return valves x 2	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	138856.88
34.2	West Anaerobic Digesters	Repair Digested sludge pump	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	157607.86
34.3	West Humus Pump Station	Repair Humus sludge pumps	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	134907.84
34.4	West Farmers Pump Station	Repair Farmers pump motor	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	319711.90
35	Aerobic digester	Service Fine Screens x 2	01-Oct-22	30-Oct-22		Quotation for approval	726211.80
		Chlorination System
37	Chlorine building	Replace Chlorine pump no1 rotating unit	01-Jul-22	30-Jul-22		Complete	253416.00
Transformers
42.1	Transformers	Service of transformers	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Complete	493141.80
Flow Meters
44.1	All Works	Calibrate flow meters	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		Complete	46946.40
Other Equipment
48	Bin trailers	Repair bin trailers x 3	01-Sept-22	30-Sept-22		1 x trailer repaired	3205.00
51	Grass Slasher	Repair grass slasher x 2	01-Oct-22	30-Oct-22	16 000	Complete
52	Computers	Repair computers x 3	01-Jul-22	30-Jul-22	47 000	Call logged with IT

Rooiwal Belt Filter Press Maintenance

No.	Area	Required Maintenance	Planned Start Date	Planned End Date	Estimated Costs	Status	Actual Costs
		Bottom Belt Presses
53	Press no. 5	Refurbish Belt press	01-Sept-22	30-Jan-23		Spares used to repair others 4 Belt Presses	860718.65
54	All Presses	Service	01-Jul-22	30-Jun-23	2 200 000
54.1	All Presses	Preventative maintenance	01-Jul-22	30-Aug-23		Complete	245477.60
54.2	Press no.2	Repair poly pump, actuator valve	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	368413.93
		Top Belt Presses
61.1	Press no. 4	Replace top and bottom belts	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	198172.96
61.2	All Presses	Preventative maintenance	01-Sept-22	30-Oct-23		Complete	334247.04
61.3	Top Belt Presses	Repair rear gate to Sludge Hopper	Emergency	Repairs		Complete	19840.57

Reply:

 

MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION

The table below provides breakdown of the procurement allocation for the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) main account, and Water Trading Entity (WTE):

Entity	Procurement budget allocations/ Goods and services budget	(i) small-medium- and micro-enterprises inclusive of (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises (iv) rural enterprises
DWS	2021/22	EME 2021/22 23.84% QSE 2021/22 29.65%
	2023/24	EME for the month of April 2023: 21.30% QSE for the month of April 2023: 9%
WTE	2021/22	EME 2021/22 36 % QSE 2021/22 14 %
	2023/24	EME for the month of April 2023: 19.80% QSE for the month of April 2023: 23.32%

*QSE – Qualifying Small Enterprises *EME – Exempt Micro Enterprise

The table below provides breakdown of procurement spending for Entities reporting to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. It is important to note that there is not set aside Policy in Government in relation to entities. Water Boards procurement budget for financial year 2021/22 was over R7 billion, whereas the expenditure for the year under review is more than R3 billion spent on small-medium- and micro-enterprises which is more than 45%. Water boards financial year 2022/23 information provided for Quarter 1 - 3 where one quarter is still to be reported.

Entity	Procurement budget allocations/ Goods and services budget (Procurement Spend)	(i) small-medium- and micro-enterprises	% expenditure
Amatola Water	2021/22	R341 831 000 00	R179 034 721	52%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R338 475 000 00	R58 636 363	17%
Bloem Water	2021/22	R 654 691 452.40	R327 345 726	50%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R 405 108 729.98	R189 820 724	49%
Magalies Water	2021/22	R43 202 395,00	R25 375 240	59%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R56 110 892	R43 563 827	78%
Mhlathuze Water	2021/22	R81 200 512	R72 539 878	89%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R92 480 611	R84 279 883	91%
Lepelle Northern Water	2021/22	R86 178 147	R84 924 548	99%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R121 537 981	R109 000 283	90%
Overberg Water	2021/22	R38 196 000	R18 817 984	49%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R43 306 845	R14 486 033	33%
Rand Water	2021/22	R3 944 513 179	R1 626 145 171	41%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R2 84 501 288	R1 337 017 292	47%
Umgeni Water	2021/22	R1 937 886 136	R 842 676 591	43%
	2022/23 (Q1 to Q3)	R2 471 551 556	R 1 201 835 802	48%

Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Nkomazi Local Municipality (LM) conducted a site inspection at 2ML reservoir in Ka-Hhoyi area. It was established that the concrete reservoir was leaking at the bottom. The Municipality indicated that a contractor will soon be appointed to inspect and repair the leaking reservoirs and several other water storages within the jurisdiction of Nkomazi LM.

The Municipality reported that a visual structural assessment was conducted to water storages within the jurisdiction and the report is in possession of the Municipality. Currently the Municipality advertised tender for the refurbishment of the water storages, which closed on the 24th of April 2023. The procurement process for appointment is planned to be concluded before end of September 2023. The project is funded by Nkomazi Local Municipality and the ward 11 water storage is one of the infrastructures that will benefit from the programme.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation is not aware of any dysfunctionality which exists within the Amatola Water Board.

Any allegations that are brought to the attention of the Minister, that involves the Water Boards, are investigated, and addressed accordingly.

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Reply:

The Board of the Amatola Water had 12 meetings and 10 special board meetings, in the past 12 months. The prescribed number of meetings per year is six (6).

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Reply:

The table below provides breakdown of the procurement allocation for the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) main account, and Water Trading Entity (WTE):

Entity	Procurement budget allocations/ Goods and services budget	(i) small-medium- and micro-enterprises inclusive of (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises (iv) rural enterprises
DWS	2021/22	EME 2021/22 23.84% QSE 2021/22 29.65%
	2023/24	EME for the month of April 2023: 21.30% QSE for the month of April 2023: 9%
WTE	2021/22	EME 2021/22 36 % QSE 2021/22 14 %
	2023/24	EME for the month of April 2023: 19.80% QSE for the month of April 2023: 23.32%

*QSE – Qualifying Small Enterprises *EME – Exempt Micro Enterprise

The table below provides breakdown of procurement spending for Entities reporting to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation. It is important to note that there is not set aside Policy in Government in relation to entities. Water Boards procurement budget for financial year 2021/22 was over R7 billion, whereas the expenditure for the year under review is more than R3 billion spent on small-medium- and micro-enterprises which is more than 45%. Water boards financial year 2022/23 information provided for Quarter 1 - 3 where one quarter is still to be reported

 

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Reply:

 

To date, 26 out of 37 appointments of contractors have been concluded by the Implementing Agent of the project, the Mopani District Municipality. Progress is indicated in the table below:

ITEM	VILLAGE NAME - PROJECT	PROGRESS
1	Bambeni Reticulation – Pipeline D	75%
2	Homu 14A Reticulation – Pipeline B	47%
3	Ngove Reticulation Contract B – Pipeline D	43%
4	Skhunyani Reticulation Contract B – Pipeline D2	05%
5	Bode Reticulation Contract B – Pipeline D2	06%
6	Makoxa Reticulation Contract A – Pipeline F1	35%
7	Maswanganyi Reticulation Contract A – Pipeline D2	02%
8	Kamninginisi Block 2 Reticulation – Pipeline F2	05%
9	Muyexe Reticulation – Pipeline F2	24%
10	Dzingidzingi Reticulation – Pipeline D2	05%
11	Xikukwane Reticulation Contract C – Pipeline F1	Site establishment
12	Mhlaba Willem Reticulation – Pipeline F2	25%
13	Risinga View Reticulation Contract A – Pipeline F1	05%
14	Nwakhuwani Reticulation – Pipeline B	05%
15	Makoxa Reticulation Contract B – Pipeline F1	05%
16	Gawula Reticulation – Pipeline A	05%
17	Vuhehli Reticulation – Pipeline B	04%
18	Homu 14 B – Pipeline B	03%
19	Muyexe Reticulation Contract B – Pipeline F2	05%
20	Mageva Reticulation Contract A -Pipeline D	05%
21	Mahlathi Reticulation – Pipeline A	04%
22	Mapayeni Contract A – Pipeline B	03%
23	Maswanganyi Contract B – Pipeline D2	Site establishment
24	Xikukwani Contract A – Pipeline F1	04%
25	Risinga View Contract B – Pipeline 1	Site establishment
26	Xikukwani Contract B – Pipeline F1	Site establishment

*

Reply:

 

MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION

1. The Department has built 10 new dams since 1995.

1. Details pertaining to the new dams are summarized in Table 1 below:

No	Name of the dam	Completion	Location	Nearest Town	(ii) Capacity (m3)	(iii) Cost (ZAR)*
1.	De Hoop Dam	2006	Lat: 24º 54’ 33,7”	Steelpoort	347 400 000	3,4 Billion
			Long: 19º 3’22,2”
2.	Berg River Dam	2007	Lat: 24º 57’ 26,9”	Franshoek	130 000 000	1,5 Billion
			Long: 29º 57’ 24,5”
3.	Spring Groove Dam	2013	Lat: 29º 19’ 8,4”	Rosetta	139 500 000	582 million
			Long: 29º 57’ 56,6”
4.	Qedusizi Dam	1998	Lat: 28º 32’ 31”	Ladysmith	0	273,5 million
			Long: 29º 44’ 41”
5.	Injaka Dam	2001	Lat: 24º 53’ 5,9”	Hazyview	125 027 000	635 million
			Long: 31º 5’ 2,5”
6.	Nandoni Dam	2005	Lat: 22º 58’ 50”	Thohoyandou	164 000 000	813 million
			Long: 30º 35’ 52”
7.	Ludeke Dam	2014	Lat: 30º 44’ 37,6”	Bizana	14 500 000	191,6 million
			Long: 29º 44’ 46,6”
8.	Bizana Dam	1997	Lat: 24º 54’ 33,7”	Bizana	95 000	7,5 million
			Long: 19º 3’ 22,2”
9.	Modjadi Dam	1997	Lat: 23º 35’ 8”	Musina	1 860 000	67,5 million
			Long: 30º 20’ 59”
10.	Botterkloof Dam	2002	Lat: 29º 19’ 8,4”	Clarens	600 000	15,9 million
			Long: 29º 57’ 56,6”

* Figures are rounded off

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Reply:

 

 

(1)(a) There are currently no new dams under construction. Current projects such as the raising of Tzaneen and Clanwilliam dams, are upgrades of existing dams.

(2)(a) The following 8 new dams that are being planned for construction in the foreseeable future:

1. Nwamitwa Dam
2. Lusikisiki Regional Water Supply Scheme - Zalu Dam
3. Coerney Dam
4. Foxwood Dam
5. Mzimvubu Water Project (Stage 2) - Ntabelanga Dam
6. uMkhomazi Water Project Phase 1 - Dam at Smithfield
7. Cwabeni Off-Channel Storage Dam
8. Stephen Dlamini Dam

(2)(b) The details pertaining to the planned dams are as follows:

Name of Dam	Location	Capacity
Nwamitwa Dam	Limpopo Province	87 million m3
Lusikisiki Regional Water Supply Scheme - Zalu Dam	Eastern Cape Province	17.3 million m3
Coerney Dam	Eastern Cape Province	4.69 million m3
Foxwood Dam	Eastern Cape Province	55 million m3
Mzimvubu Water Project (Stage 2) - Ntabelanga Dam	Eastern Cape Province	490 million m3
uMkhomazi Water Project Phase 1 - Dam at Smithfield	KwaZulu-Natal Province	251.4 million m3
Cwabeni Off-Channel Storage Dam	KwaZulu-Natal Province	15.5 million m3
Stephen Dlamini Dam	KwaZulu-Natal Province	9.78 million m3

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