Questions and Replies

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:

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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:

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Reply:

The Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works in Hammanskraal does not have sufficient capacity to deal with the amount of sewage flowing into it and has not been well-maintained for many years. The inadequately effluent from the Rooiwal Waste Water (sewage) Treatment Works is polluting the Apies River which flows into the Leeukraal Dam from which water is abstracted by the City’s Temba Water Treatment Works, which provides water to Hammanskraal residents. The Temba Water Treatment Works is supposed to clean the raw water abstracted from the dam and treat it so that it is fit for human consumption. However, the water in the dam is so polluted that the Temba Water Treatment Works is not able to treat the water such that is meets the required standards for drinking water. Hence the people of Hammanskraal have not been having a reliable or safe supply of drinking water for many years.

Since 2011, DWS has taken numerous regulatory actions (non-compliance notices and directives) against the City for it to stop the pollution of water resources in the area from its Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works. Since 2019, the Department has been engaged in legal action against the City for a court order to instruct the City to address the issue.

It is possible that the cholera outbreak which started in Hammanskraal in Tshwane is related to the pollution of water sources in the area from the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works. An investigation is underway into the source or sources of the cholera outbreak. Technical teams from the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the provincial and national Department of Health as well as relevant municipalities are carrying out water quality tests at distribution points and at water treatment works in areas in Hammanskraal where people have become infected. They are also engaged in tracking and tracing of infections. Cholera has not yet been identified through the tests. The Water Research Commission has also commissioned a verification of the DWS and CoT tests as well as independent tests, the results of which should be available shortly. It is important to note that cholera is not only spread through polluted water – it is also spread through poor hygiene, eating contaminated food or by coming into contact with the faeces of an infected person. To date, the original source of the cholera infection has not been located.

The City has warned the residents of Hammanskraal) not to drink the water from the Temba water treatment works (which is the water coming out of taps in Hammanskraal) and is supplying them with drinking water from tankers. The water tankers abstract water from Magalies Water and Rand Water sources, which is compliant with drinking water standards.

In the light of the cholera outbreak it is imperative that the repair and upgrade of the Rooiwal WWTW be dealt with as a matter of national urgency. DWS does not have voted funds to provide to Metros for water and sanitation. Metropolitan municipalities are supposed to use a portion of their USDG grant to supplement their own budget allocations for water and sanitation.

DWS has estimated the cost of a full rehabilitation and upgrade of the Rooiwal WWTW over the next three financial years to be in the region of R4 billion. The project can be implemented in stages, with an emphasis on work to stop or reduce the pollution from Rooiwal in the early stages.

The Mayor and the City have indicated that the City does not have the capacity on its own to address the sanitation challenges, nor does it have sufficient funds to address the challenges timeously on its own. The Mayor has also indicated that the City’s SCM processes are corrupted.

In this context, the CoT, DWS and National Treasury have recently agreed that:

• The DWS and the City will partner together to jointly manage a project to fix the Rooiwal WWTW in Hammanskraal.
• Tshwane will contribute a portion of its USDG allocation. Council approval for R450 million to be allocated over the MTEF has been granted.
• The DBSA will be appointed by CoT as the implementing agent for the project.
• A financial task team consisting of NT, DWS, the City and DBSA has been put in place to develop a financing plan for the project. Various options are being considered, including but not limited to, increasing the City’s contribution from its USDG allocation, shifting funds from other grants, and DBSA loan finance.

DWS and the City will have formed a joint technical steering committee to oversee the project.

In the short-term, an alternative drinking water source will be put in place by Magalies Water for Hammanskraal through the emergency construction of a 30-40 Ml/day package-plant at Klipgaart WTW. The plant will provide drinking water in the Hammanskraal water distribution system. The Package Plant will be implemented in a phased approach with 10Ml/day at a time. The units will be in place starting from October 2023 at Klipgaart WTW and will be completed by March 2024.

In the meatime, CoT will continue with mobile water tankering services for Hammerskraal residents, from designated water filling points, with regular testing of water provider from tankers. Community structures will be requested to participate in a structure with the City to monitor the tankers and testing of water from the tankers.

The repair and upgrading of the Rooiwal will be implemented in phases which will be run concurrently, between September 2023 and June 2026. The upgrading will result in an increase in the capacity of Rooiwal from 250 ML/day to 380 ML/day.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regularly conducts inspections and audits on the operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) in all Water Services Institution (WSIs) within the Free State. The inspections aim to assess whether WWTWs are operated and maintained in a manner that does not pose risks of pollution resulting in contamination of water resources and increasing risks to human health and the environment.

There are seven (7) WWTWs owned by Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality serving Bloemfontein area. From these WWTWs, three (3) are operational, three (3) are partially operational and one is non-operational. The three operational and three partially operational WWTWs discharge wastewater which is not compliant to the General Limits for wastewater, and therefore there is potential to pollute water resources and the environment. The 2022 Green Drop report has found two WWTWs to be at a critical state, while the remaining five are at a very poor state. The table below provides details on the status of the 7 WWTWs:

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Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is responsible for bulk water supply in the country and plays role of regulator of water and sanitation services and water resources. In the event of municipal failures, the DWS provides support to municipalities as Water Service Authorities and providers who grapple with sewage spillages. There are interventions in place to provide relief to the residents of (i) Dikgatlong, (ii) Sol Plaatje and (iii) Magareng in the Northern Cape summarised in the table below:

b) It is the responsibility of the municipalities to provide proper sanitation services and a healthy environment. The Department regulates through the Green Drop best practise system and investigates non-compliance through administrative enforcement. Wherever necessary, DWS also provides funding and support to municipalities that apply for available grants earmarked for addressing water services infrastructure challenges.

c) Department ensures protection of water resources, which can be achieved by initiating rectification measures against the identified non-complaint water users and polluters. When municipalities fail in their mandate to ensure compliance in terms of wastewater and effluent spillages, various legal frameworks can be initiated to address the contraventions. In instances where a water user fails to comply with any of the license conditions, the Department first exercises administrative enforcement actions in the form of Notices and Directives in accordance with the National Water Act. This is meant to afford the water users an opportunity to rectify non-compliances within certain timeframes.

When users are non-responsive, the Department proceeds with either or both criminal and civil enforcement actions. Criminal sanctions can also be instituted against the municipalities guided by Criminal Procedure Act on violations related to wastewater and effluent spillages. Section 151 of the National Water Act provides legal basis for laying of criminal charges against the municipalities that are intentionally or negligently pollute water resources or engage in unlawful water usage. Offenses under Section 151 of the National Water Act can be used to address pollution of water resources, making it a criminal offense to discharge pollutants into water resources without the necessary authorisation

d) Support is provided through health and hygiene awareness campaigns, and financial support through the WSIG and the RBIG. The administrative enforcement requires rehabilitation of impacted areas. Where municipalities fail to rectify and rehabilitate, the Department can take legal action.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation has held numerous engagements with Rand Water and the municipalities within Gauteng, wherein municipalities were requested to present their plans to mitigate against the water supply challenges in the province and to implement turn-around strategies.

The DWS has advised Rand Water and municipalities to develop projections of future demand and implement infrastructure development programmes to cater for growing demand. The following will be prioritised by all municipalities in Gauteng to mitigate water supply challenges:

• Reduction of water losses by addressing illegal connections in formal settlement areas where water theft is occurring
• Regularisation of authorized unbilled consumptions in areas such as informal settlements
• Reduction and control of unplanned human settlements in various municipal areas.
• Implementation of Water Conservation and Demand Management (WCDM) measures to reduce demand.
• Construction of additional spare storage capacity through construction of additional reservoirs.

The DWS has undertaken the implementation and acceleration of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project II to augment water supply to the Gauteng Province through the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS). The target date for completion of this project and associated infrastructure is December 2027

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Reply:

There have been numerous projects over the last few years to investigate the feasibility of utilising Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) as a possible source of potable and/or grey water to add to the current water available to the Gauteng Province.

The objective, and one of the recommendations from the report: “Feasibility Study for a Long-Term Solution to Address the Acid Mine Drainage Associated with The East, Central and West Rand Underground Mining Basins, 2013" completed by Trans-Caledon Tunnel Agency, was to utilise the partially treated AMD from the three basins to potable standard to supplement the Vaal System.

Various technologies as well as alternative uses for AMD have been scrutinised and a report detailing the outcome and recommendations on how the Long-Term Solution should be implemented has been reviewed and will be released in the current financial year. Some of the options being considered include

1. Treating AMD effluent to potable standard and irrigation with mine water (treated and untreated).
2. Irrigation of crops using gold mine impacted waters as a Long-Term sustainable solution for mine water from the Witwatersrand Basins. In terms of this, a pilot project is being implemented under the guidance of the Water Research Commission and run by the University of Pretoria, is currently underway in the East Rand (Springs) and the results thereof will be released in due course.

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Reply:

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has reported that it is providing communities the in Cato Crest informal areas with different types of sanitation services. In the informal settlement areas, the municipality is providing communities with Community Ablution Blocks (communal ablution facilities providing full waterborne sanitation) as well as portable chemical toilets in areas where CABs cannot be constructed due to there being no water borne wastewater infrastructure or when the relocation of families to formal housing structures is imminent.

Further to this, the eThekwini Metro has reported that the municipality is not aware of the 30 families that are sharing one pit toilet in the Cato Crest informal area. However, should the municipality be assisted to identify the families mentioned in the question, they can be assisted through the municipality’s existing programmes for sanitation services for informal settlements areas in the form of chemical toilets as a short-term intervention and Community Ablution Blocks as a medium-term solution that can be completed within a period of six months.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (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 of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regularly conducts inspections and audits on the operation and maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) in all Water Services Institution (WSIs) in the Free State, including Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM). The inspections aim to assess whether WWTWs are operated and maintained in a manner that does not pose risks of pollution resulting in contamination of water resources and increasing risks to human health and the environment.

The Sterkwater WWTW was operational even though there were some issues owing to poor maintenance of the plant. In July 2022 it was discovered that the WWTW is in a dilapidated state. DWS then conducted detailed investigations and found that theft of electrical cables has rendered the core process units of the WWTW non-operational. Following this initial investigation, a non-compliance letter dated 03 October 2022 was issued to the municipality. The Municipality did not respond to the non-compliance letter with an action plan to address the problems.

DWS conducted routine inspections at the WWTW again in January 2023, which found that the WWTW was still non-operational and the sewage from the inlet works was being diverted to the stormwater channel. DWS sent follow up correspondence in March 2023 regarding the poor conditions of the Sterkwater WWTW.

The DWS will proceed with administrative enforcement, thereby issuing a Notice for intention to issue a directive in June 2023, following the Mangaung Municipality’s failure to respond to the non-compliance letters issued. Although the municipality has not responded officially in writing to DWS letters, municipal officials indicated that Mangaung received a Special Grant from National Treasury to address the Sterkwater WWTW challenges, and the following measures are in place to restore its functionality:

• The municipality has stripped the electric motors and other electric and mechanical equipment that need repairs to determine the work to be done for restoration of the equipment.
• Electric cables have been ordered.
• The security company has been appointed to render armed response to protect the new cables to be installed.
• The plant should be running in the next three months.

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Reply:

a) The Department is aware of the water supply interruptions in Rustenburg Local Municipality. Seven urgent notices were issued by the municipality on between February and May 2023 informing consumers of the expected water shortages owing to load shedding and routine maintenance which resulted in Water Treatment Plants not operating optimally and water supply interruptions. The municipality had reported a 40% reduction at the Vaalkop system which has since recovered and is back at 100% supply. However, the Bospoort system is still operating at an average of 85-90% supply.

The supply of treated effluent from the Rustenburg Wastewater Treatment Works to Anglo American and Impala Platinum mines was authorised in the water use authorisations for the mines as a way of promoting the re-use of grey water. At no point is the treated effluent pumped to any water supply reservoirs.

b) The municipality began implementing a Water Demand Management Strategy in October 2022 as a mitigation measure. Based on the strategy, water supply is isolated and rotated to specific areas at a time and a schedule has been issued detailing the supply times for different areas.

The municipality has requested Eskom to exempt the Bospoort Water Treatment Works (WTW) from load shedding to mitigate water supply challenges, the request was approved for Stage 2 loadshedding.

In addition, a back-up generator has been leased by the municipality as a preliminary measure. The municipality has indicated that the long-term plan is to solution to water supply interruptions caused by loadshedding to isolate the transformer supplying electricity to the Bospoort WTW to exempt the plant from loadshedding.

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Reply:

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) currently has numerous interventions being implemented across the various municipalities within the Mpumalanga Province. The table below provides information in interventions for the municipalities including Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emakhazeni Local Municipality, Dr J S Moroka Local Municipality, Victor Khanye Local Municipality, Lekwa Local Municipality, Dipaliseng Local Municipality, and the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.

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Reply:

1. (a) In May 2022, the Minister issued a directive to Amatola Water in terms of Section 41 (1) and Section 63 (1) of the Water Services Act, to urgently intervene and address water shortages in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality (NMBMM) owing to the ongoing drought. The required scope of work for the intervention was to address the following:

• Governance of the water services function within Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality.
• Represent the Minister in terms of Section 73 in fulfilling the Water Services Authority function for the duration of the Section 63 intervention.

• Assisting the municipality with the implementation of the Drought Alleviation Action Plan towards prevention of a “Dry Tap” scenario (especially in the western part of the Metro), through, amongst others: implementing and enforcing water restrictions; implementing a drought awareness communication plan; providing assistance with the water conservation and demand management strategy.

b) The outcomes of the intervention include:

• Accelerating the move of the Impofu barge which stretched available water on the Kromme system from 16 days to 375 days
• Working with the provincial Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to ensure restrictions are developed and are reasonable while ensuring that the local dams are given the maximum opportunity to recover
• Furthering work towards transforming the water and sanitation business into a resilient professional and reliable service entity
• An improved drought communication strategy was rolled out in collaboration with NMBMM and Mandela Bay Development Agency
• Facilitating work done by non-governmental Organisations and private sector stakeholders like Coca-Cola Beverages SA on drilling boreholes at municipal owned properties around the municipality
• Eliminating the backlog of leaks in July 2022, and immediately attending to new ones
• Encouraging private sector support, such as the Business Chamber leak repairs and the Strategic Water Partnership Network Memorandum of Understanding
• Creating enabling conditions to accelerate municipal processes
• Supporting the downward trend of water demand
• Supporting water augmentation projects.
• Finalising the capacitation of key positions in the technical team

The Amatola Water Board's approach has been collaborative and initiating a partnership with the NMBM to identify and unblock challenges.  The experts have been using their experience and skills to amongst others; advice; share best practices; anticipate challenges and propose common solutions. Close collaboration with the Political Oversight Committee; City officials and organized business has contributed a great deal in moving Day Zero much further from becoming a reality.

2. a) Please refer to the response above in question 1 (b).

b) The total expenditure that was incurred by the Board in relation to the NMBMM water crisis is as follows:

3. The Department did not instruct any independent auditor and/or monitoring group to oversee the expenditure of Amatola Water Board. Board members are paid based on the DWS Policy on Board Practices and the remuneration of board members of entities reporting to the Minister of Water and Sanitation. According to this policy, Board Members are remunerated on an hourly rate basis for meetings attended. The maximum number of hours that may be remunerated per month for the Chairperson of the Board is 50 hours and Board Members is 40 hours. Any additional hours to be remunerated such as may arise in extraordinary circumstances, should be approved by the Minister prior.

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Reply:

The Minister and department have advised water boards and municipalities to:  

• Revise their minimum operational levels for reservoirs
• Increase water treatment and reservoir storage capacity
• Revise water treatment schedules to maximize water treatment while electricity is available or other measures to ensure security of water
• Requiring water boards and municipalities to revise the minimum operational levels for reservoirs
• Develop alternative sources of electricity supply to meet their electricity needs, either through off-take agreements with independent power producers or embedded generators, or through direct ownership. This could include for example, solar panels coupled with inverters and batteries.
• Develop alternative sources of electricity supply to meet their electricity needs, either through off-take agreements with independent power producers or embedded generators, or through direct ownership. This could include for example, solar panels coupled with inverters and batteries.
• Where electricity is supplied from municipality, Water Boards and Water Services Authorities shall, where practically possible and through municipal electricity departments, isolate water and sanitation infrastructure.  
• Develop integrated response plans to maintain drinking water and drinkin water and wastewater standards during loadshedding, covering water and sanitation, electricity, and other divisions of the Water Service Authority. 

The Department has also requested Eskom to exempt water boards and water service authorities from penalties for exceeding the notified maximum demand during periods of load shedding. Eskom has not yet acceded to this request.

The DWS is also in the process of issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for the private sector to invest in renewable energy generation coupled with energy storage capacity to supply DWS with its electricity needs, based on long-term electricity off-take agreements with DWS. This will incrementally reduce the reliance of DWS on the electricity grid over time.

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Reply:

a) Over the past few years, the Ugu DM has experienced significant water supply challenges throughout the district due to several challenges outlined in the table below:

• The current operational treatment capacity of the Ugu DM WSA (excluding boreholes) is approx. 130 Ml/day. The 2020 water demand model indicates a current water demand of approximately 200 Ml/day (immediate 70 Ml/day shortfall) and a future predicted (2050) water demand of approx. 330 Ml/day. Water supply shortages are exacerbated during the peak holiday periods when demand often doubles.
• Due to shortage of bulk water and bulk storage capacity any interruptions in supply from bursts, equipment failures, leaks and power outages result in the systems emptying rapidly and systems destabilising and resulting in water interruptions. Due to demand outstripping supply, systems can take extensive periods to stabilize.
• There are staff disputes and ongoing vandalism.
• Damage to assets and infrastructure during the July 2021 unrest.
• Problems with the billing system, revenue collection and dissatisfaction with service have reduced revenue and sustainability of service.
• Illegal connections resulting in water losses, reduce revenue and demands on systems.

b) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has been actively participating in different structures and the inter-Ministerial Task Team and other structures established by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal in January 2022. The participants include the Planning Commission, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), DWS, Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).

The Task Team was intended to determine the root causes of water supply interruptions in the various supply systems in the municipality and develop actionable interventions. In addition, the Minister of Water and Sanitation established a WAR room in November 2022 to monitor the progress made with implementation of the interventions being implemented in the area.

In line with its mandate, the DWS has focused support to ensure availability of sufficient water resources to supply the area. The Minister issued a Directive to Umgeni Water 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/ uMzimkhulu supply system which feeds Port Shepstone and surrounding areas. This project will increase the yield of the raw water supply system and reduce the risk of non-supply during dry periods.

The DWS is also supporting the Ugu DM with the detailed planning for other regional bulk water supply projects including Harding Weza, Mtamvuna and Vulamethlo regional schemes that are required to ensure there is sufficient water to meet the growing demands in the area. It is anticipated that these planning studies will take about 12 months to complete.

Furthermore, during the 2022/23 financial year the department transferred R150 million from the Water Service Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to Ugu DM, to accelerate the infrastructure refurbishment. Allocations over the MTEF are indicated below:

T

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Reply:

The Department, collaborating with the Amatola Water Board, mobilised the operations team from Amatola Water to join the Makhanda team to investigate the reason for the non-functionality of the Waainek Water Treatment Plant. Investigations pointed to the inability of pumps to abstract water from the Howisons Poort Dam to Waainek Water Treatment Works in the western side of Makhanda. Specialist Divers were called in to investigate any blockages on valves on the dam wall and removed some debris that was found. The pump was taken off-site for further testing and found to be functional. Current investigations on the pipeline are ongoing and divers with specialist equipment are again hard at work to investigate and resolve the current water challenges. Furthermore, the following is being done to assist the municipality:

The Department, in consultation with provincial government is mobilising further resources to enable Amatola Water to start with critical emergency work within Makhanda. Amatola Water has already costed the works and its proposal has been submitted to Cogta and Office of the Premier for funding.

As part of its ongoing regulatory activities, the Department also engaged the Makhanda Municipality regarding non-compliance on loading drinking water monitoring data on the Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS)

The levels of E.coli levels have since been brought under control and the water supply is being closely monitored. In addition, the boil water notice was issued by the municipality.

Ongoing construction of the James Kleynhans (Phase 2), funded under the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) to the upgrade the Water Treatment Works from a 10Mℓ/day to a 20Mℓ/day plant which supplies the town. Construction started on 18 January 2023 and the practical completion is planned for 15 December 2023. An additional 10Mℓ/day project to upgrade the existing system will commence by end of June 2023.

It should be noted that the Moeggesukkel community mentioned in the question could not be located nor is it known by the Makhanda Municipality, however reported leaks in the municipality are being addressed as an ongoing activity.

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Reply:

In August 2022, the Minister established a Regulatory Commission comprising of eleven (11) Commissioners who, as a collective panel of experts, possess various sets of economics, financial, social and technical qualifications and experience. The Commission was established in terms of Section 99 of the National Water Act and serves as the Minister’s advisors and provides a level of autonomy in improving the transparency and predictability in regulatory decision making.

The Minister is of the view that this regulatory model needs to be given a chance. Therefore, the required legislative provisions were made in the revised draft National Water Act to empower this Commission.

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Reply:

1. (a) Compliance monitoring audits are non-financial performance audits conducted to determine conformity by municipalities with the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998. There is no direct financial legislation applicable.

(b) There were no relevant financial legal obligations involved in conducting compliance audits.

(2) (a) (i) and (ii)

(b) (i) and (ii) All municipal wastewater treatment plants were audited in the period between 2009-2023.

(c) Authorisations issued to the wastewater treatment plants have conditions prescribing how much waste and concentrations can be released into the environment. The teams that conduct compliance audits are trained Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) capable of determining whether the conditions have been breached or not. In cases of non-compliance resulting in pollution of the environment, such pollution can be quantified in terms of its impact on the environment. This involves sampling the polluted medium, analysis of the samples, and interpretation thereof.

(d) In instances where a water user fails to comply with any of the license conditions, the Department first exercises administrative enforcement actions which are in the form of Notices and Directives to afford the water users an opportunity to rectify any non-compliance. When users are non-responsive, the Department proceeds with either or both criminal and civil enforcement actions.

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Reply:

a)  The Department of Water and Sanitation (the Department) works together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to ensure that municipalities receive the necessary support and grant funding to refurbish and maintain water and sanitation assets. Water Service Authorities (WSAs), through their Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), allocate funding for refurbishment of some of Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). Depending on availability of funds, the Department also funds WWTW refurbishment and upgrade projects that meet the criteria of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).

b) The Department ensures protection of water resources, which can be achieved by initiating rectification measures against the identified non-complaint water users and polluters. When municipalities fail in their mandate to ensure compliance in terms of wastewater and effluent spillages, various legal frameworks can be initiated to address the contraventions.

In instances where a water user fails to comply with any of the license conditions, the Department first exercises administrative enforcement actions in the form of Notices and Directives in accordance with the National Water Act. This is meant to afford the water users an opportunity to rectify non-compliances within certain timeframes.

When users are non-responsive, the Department proceeds with either or both criminal and civil enforcement actions. Criminal sanctions can also be instituted against the municipalities guided by Criminal Procedure Act on violations related to wastewater and effluent spillages. Section 151 of the National Water Act provides legal basis for laying of criminal charges against the municipalities that are intentionally or negligently pollute water resources or engage in unlawful water usage. Offenses under Section 151 of the National Water Act can be used to address pollution of water resources, making it a criminal offense to discharge pollutants into water resources without the necessary authorisation.

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Reply:

The Giyani Water Project comprises of three different but interlinked projects namely Nandoni-Nsami Pipeline (Giyani Water Project); Giyani Water Services (reticulation to reservoirs) and Reticulation to 55 villages.

The overall progress for the Nandoni-Nsami Pipeline (Giyani Water) Project is 72%. The 40 km pipeline has been completed. The remaining work includes permanent river crossings, chambers, and pressure testing. Water is being pumped from the Nandoni Dam to the canal at Xixukwana and gravitates to the balancing dam at the Nsami Water Treatment Works. Practical completion for Nandoni to Nsami pipeline was achieved on 05 April 2023. The final completion is anticipated for 30 June 2023.

The overall progress for the Giyani Water Services (reticulation to reservoirs) Project is at 60% with 300km of the 325km pipeline installed. Of the 66 planned connections to the reservoirs, 20 (30,3%) have been completed and are supplying bulk water to the community. However, water is currently supplied on rationing basis due to reduced capacity at Nsami WTW. This is being addressed through refurbishment project for the WTW which is currently under construction. Completion of the project is planned for December 2023.

The Giyani reticulation programme was initiated to complete the water service value chain (source to tap) in August 2022. The reticulation program extends the supply from bulk pipelines to households. The reticulation project will be implemented in two phases.

• Phase 1 for reticulation to 24 villages has commenced. A total of 24 out of 37 contractors have been appointed and are at varying stages of implementation phase. The duration of each contract is for 12 months per village.
• Phase 2 for reticulation to 31 villages is planned for commencement and completion in the 2024/25 financial year.

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Reply:

The Giyani Water Treatment Works (WTW) was upgraded by the Mopani District Municipality (DM) through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding administered by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). That component of the WTW functioned briefly after completion but was subsequently shut down due to structural defects at the pump station. The Mopani DM is handling the matter internally to in terms of applying consequence management against responsible parties that were involved in the project.

During the 2022/23 financial year, the Department approved business plans and provided funding through Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to address the capacity constraints at the Giyani WTW. The project is implemented in two phases as follows:

• Phase 1 includes, refurbishment of the existing 30Ml/d WTW to restore its capacity to provide water to the 55 villages.
• Phase 2 includes upgrade of the WTW with additional 10Ml/d to meet the current and future water demands in Giyani. This will include refurbishment and upgrade of some components of the failed 6,5Ml/d WTW.

Implementation of Phase 1 is underway with overall progress at 13%. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by December 2023. Phase 2 is being planned and will be funded through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG). The implementation of this project is planned to commence in April 2024.

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Reply:

The Mopani District Municipality has the responsibility of developing and maintaining water and sanitation services infrastructure within its area of jurisdiction as a Water Service Authority (WSA). The Department of Water and Sanitation is supporting the Municipality through various programmes to ensure infrastructure is developed for the efficient provision of water services to communities. This support is provided through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) for groundwater development (drilling, equipping and distribution) to augment water supply to communities in Mopani DM.

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Reply:

a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has issued 83 directives from January 2021 to date against municipalities that have failed to manage sewage and causing pollution.

b) (i) The table below depicts a breakdown of the directives issued per province.

ii) The consequences of DWS’ enforcement actions are indicated below:

• Five criminal charges laid against municipalities because of non-compliance with the Directives issued.
• Two criminal charges were laid and finalised against Randfontein and Thaba Chweu Local Municipality whereby both municipalities pleaded guilty of all the charges. Both municipalities were subsequently fined by the courts for failure to adhere to the provisions of NWA, among other violations.
• Three cases were referred to National Prosecuting Authority for a decision. The Department has initiated three court interdict applications against the non-compliant municipalities, seeking Court Orders from the courts.

(iii) The DWS conducted 49 follow-up inspections whereby compliance with the provisions of the Notices and Directives is established.

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Reply:

a) The DWS is participating in nationwide discussions to find sector wide solutions to the impact of loadshedding on delivery of water and sanitation services. This challenge requires collaboration with municipalities, water boards and ESKOM, among other institutions. DWS proposed recommendations for consideration are as follows.

1. Water Boards and municipalities should maximize water treatment while electricity is available.
2. Water Boards and municipalities should revise the minimum operational levels for their reservoirs to increase storage capacity.
3. Water Boards and municipalities should endeavour to increase their water treatment and reservoir storage capacity to enable them to better manage periods of load shedding. Households should be encouraged to install their own storage capacity, such as rainwater catchment tanks.
4. All municipalities and Water Boards should either apply to Eskom for exemptions from load shedding (where they obtain electricity directly from Eskom) or work with their municipal electricity departments to isolate their water and sanitation infrastructure. In some cases, where water and sanitation infrastructure cannot be isolated from local electricity grids, it may not be possible. In some instances, making this effective might require additional switching and cabling to limit the size of affected electrical supply zones. Where Eskom directly supplies a strategic installation (such as a major Water Board pump station) it may be necessary for Eskom to limit the electricity supply zone area so as not to impede their load shedding options.
5. Municipalities which are water service authorities should develop integrated response plans to keep water flowing during load shedding. These response plans should be integrated across the water and sanitation, electricity, and other divisions of the municipality.
6. Eskom should quickly review its processes for dealing with requests for exemptions from load shedding for water and sanitation infrastructure, with a view to making them more simple and quicker.

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Reply:

1. The DWS has no records of water use registration nor authorisation for the properties in question.

2. The DWS has no records of water use registration nor authorisation for the property in question.

3. The DWS has no records of water use registration nor authorisation for the properties in question.

The department will investigate whether there is unlawful use of water at the properties enquired about.

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Reply:

The intensity of the flood conditions has necessitated a review of the operating rules for government water schemes to ensure that there is some level of attenuation in the impoundment areas of large dams. Cognisance is taken of the changes in weather patterns caused by climate change. The department is putting in place flood mitigation operation strategies to ensure readiness to mitigate the impact of floods in the large dams and other government schemes. Notwithstanding the efforts of the department, there will still be risks where extreme weather conditions result into peak surface runoff over concentrated areas, since this could result in flood conditions within a very short period.

a) In urban areas, it will be required from municipal town planning units to review stormwater conveyance capability as well as to maintain such systems to reduce the impact of such rainfall.

b) The Department’s Water Resource Planning unit is collecting information which will assist with the review of operating rules to further mitigate the risk associated with flood related peak flows.

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Reply:

a) Lady Frere (known as Cacadu) is supplied by the Machubeni Water Supply Scheme through the Macubeni Water Treatment Works (WTW). The water interruptions currently experienced are caused by ongoing power/electrical outages that resulting in reduced pumping hours from Machubeni WTW. The short-term interventions in place to ensure water availability include:

• On-going water carting to the affected areas including Cacadu town.
• A backup diesel generator at the WTW
• A long-term intervention to resolve the water supply challenges at Lady Frere is through construction of a bulk pipeline from the Lubisi Water Treatment to supplement water supply to the supply Cacadu town and the surrounding villages. The project started in March 2019 and is planned for completion by 31 August 2023.

The Ngqushwa Local Municipality has an existing Bulk Water Supply Scheme that is managed by Amatola Water which distributes water to the communities of Ngqushwa. The limited capacity of the Peddie Water Treatment Works (WTW), water losses and with loadshedding impact negatively on reliable water supply. Two water tankers are currently carting water to the affected areas of Ngqushwa and surrounding villages as an interim measure to ensure water availability. The medium to long-term interventions include:

• Management of water losses by replacing sections of pipelines from the Peddie Water Treatment Works towards Lover’s Twist through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant. The project is in progress and is planned for completion by 31 July 2023.
• An upgrade of the Peddie Water Treatment Works from 6Ml/day to 11Ml/day
• Upgrade of the Sandile Water Treatment Works from 17Ml/day to 27Ml/day to augment water supply to Ngqushwa. The project is in progress and is planned for completion by 31 August 2023

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Reply:

The reliability of municipal water and sanitation services is generally deteriorating, evidenced by the Green Drop and Blue Drop assessments. To mitigate the total collapse of services/infrastructure, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is strengthening its regulatory role over municipal water and sanitation services.

During this financial year we will be consulting on updated and more comprehensive norms and standards for water and sanitation services, in terms of the Water Services Act. We will also publish a National Regulatory Dashboard showing the extent of compliance with the national norms and standards for water services for all Water Service Authorities, drawing on existing monitoring information. We are also in the process of introducing standardised regulatory enforcement protocols to be implemented by all our regional offices, to make our regulatory actions more consistent.

One of the underlying causes of the decline in municipal water services, both in terms of the reliability of service delivery and in terms of financial sustainability, is the non-implementation of certain key requirements of the Water Services Act by municipalities. The Act distinguishes between Water Services Authorities and Water Service Providers and requires municipalities to separately manage and account for the roles of Water Services Authority and Water Services Provider. It further requires Water Services Authorities to ensure that Water Service Providers provide access to efficient and sustainable water services to everyone. Almost all Water Service Authorities have been failing to do this.

To address this, we are considering introducing some amendments to the Water Services Act, with the aim of further clarifying the roles, responsibilities and functions of Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers; setting minimum standards for the functioning of Water Services Providers which must be enforced by Water Services Authorities; and providing the Minister with powers to regulate these matters. We will be consulting on these proposed amendments with a view to taking them through the cluster system to Cabinet during this financial year.

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Reply:

(1) Details of grant funding paid to the Uthukela District Municipality in KwaZulu Natal from 1 July 2016 to 31 January 2023 provided in table below:

(c) Conditions attached to each payment:

• RBIG condition: Funds are to be used for implementation of the Driefontein Bulk Water Project
• WSIG condition: Funds are to be used to implement projects approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation

(2) Yes, funds were expended in terms of the conditions imposed and for the purposes prescribed in terms of the grant frameworks gazetted every year. The details of the conditions are mentioned in 1(c) above. With regards to the purpose, the details are as follows:

RBIG:

• To develop large regional bulk infrastructure serving numerous communities over a large area within a municipality.

WSIG:

• Facilitate the planning and implementation of various water and sanitation projects to accelerate backlog reduction and enhance the sustainability of services;
• Provide basic and intermittent water and sanitation supply that ensures provision of services to identified and prioritised communities, including spring protection and groundwater development;
• To implement water conservation and water demand management projects.

(3) No funds were paid to the municipality for the payment of outstanding debt with Umgeni Water. The RBIG funds were used for implementation of the Driefontein Bulk Water Project. The WSIG funds were used for implementation of projects approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The projects that were implemented with the WSIG funds are as follows:

1. Ezakheni/ Ladysmith Water Conservation and Demand Management (Lombardskop)
2. Mimosadale Water Project
3. Indaka & Okhahlamba Boreholes
4. Wembezi Water Conservation and Demand Management
5. Imbabazane ward 7 sanitation
6. Kwanobamba/Ezitendeni Water Supply Project (phase 1F)
7. Wembezi Water Conservation and Demand Management
8. Ezakheni/ Ladysmith Water Conservation and Demand Management
9. Reticulation to Ennersdale , Epangweni and Bhekuzulu
10. Estcourt Industrial Pipeline Upgrade
11. Moyeni/Zwelisha Water Treatment Works Upgrade and Bulk Rising Main
12. Spring Protection District Wide
13. Ladysmith Network Pipeline Replacement
14. Loskop (Mqedandaba) Water Reticulation Phase 1

(4) None of the RBIG and WSIG funds were paid to Umgeni Water by the municipality.

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Reply:

a)  The total cost of the partially achieved Vaal River Intervention Programme since its inception is as follows:

b) The projected cost for the entire intervention has been estimated at a value of R7.6 billion.

Reply:

The Victor Khanye Local Municipality is supported by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to implement Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WCWDM) projects to reduce non-revenue water.

The DWS approved funding of R68 million over a period of three financial years (2022/2023 -2024/2025) to be allocated to the municipality for the WCWDM projects. The intended outcomes are:

• To reduce water losses in Botleng Ext. 3 to 7
• Ensure that water is supplied to Botleng Ext. 3 to 7 through the reconfiguration of existing pipelines and installation of new pipelines to address the intermittent water supply
• Ensure installation of water meter in every household
• Management of different water pressure in the water supply systems in Botleng Ext. 3 to 7
• Raise awareness on water conservation.

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Reply:

Gauteng has been experiencing water shortages in recent weeks. Water supply interruptions have largely been a function of unstable electricity supply as well as incidents of vandalism. Rand Water has always maintained that their infrastructure capacity is sufficient to meet the current real demand. Nevertheless, Rand Water has ringfenced R42 billion to rehabilitate and augment their infrastructure. Rand Water has sufficient funding headroom to fund this programme and does not require additional government funding yet.

The improvement of supply is being ensured through engagements with Eskom and other electricity suppliers. To this extent, Rand Water is also implementing their own strategies towards an energy mix approach which includes hydropower generation, photovoltaic and installation of generators to mitigate the risk of energy supply. These initiatives are all underway and being implemented.

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Reply:

a)  The Department through the Bucket Eradication Programme implemented 5 projects in David Kruiper Local Municipality from 2013 to 2017. These include

b) Several areas or settlements are being formalised which still use the bucket toilet system and are considered “new” buckets. These cases occurred after the implementation of interventions aimed at reaching the target set in 2015, hence they have not yet been addressed.

c) The Department has noted the moving target however, an implementation plan will be developed to attend to the remaining bucket toilets including the required bulk services necessary for planning and budgeting purposes.

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Reply:

The Mbashe Local Municipality is supported by the Department of Water and Sanitation through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and is implementing two water augmentation projects over a three-year period to address water supply challenges in the municipality. The table below provides details of the projects:

The Xhora and Sundwana Bulk Water Schemes (BWS) currently being implemented by the Amathole District Municipality funded by DWS through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG). The Sundwana Bulk Water Scheme is at an advanced stage of planning which is expected to be concluded in 2023/2024; whilst commencement of construction is planned for 2024/2025. Construction on the Xhora BWS which includes a dam, Wastewater Treatment Works, reservoirs, and bulk pipelines has been completed. Construction for additional pipelines and reservoirs is at 61% and planned for completion in September 2023. The summarised details for both projects are indicated in the table below.

Areas affected by outages due to the electricity crisis are provided with water through water tankering. There are ongoing discussions between the municipality and Eskom for the exemption of water infrastructure from loadshedding.

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Reply:

There has been sporadic water supply especially in the high lying areas such as the Rampodi and Thabeng sections in the Motlhabe Village due to increased demand, unauthorised household connections in the area and ongoing loadshedding.

In the short-term, the Moses Kotane Local Municipality (LM) has made funds available for drilling and equipping of additional boreholes to augment the current water supply. It is envisaged that this work will be completed by end of June 2023. The municipality is providing water through water tankers in the affected areas, whilst exploring medium to long term interventions.

In addition, the municipality has resolved that all unauthorised household connections should be formalised and metered to ensure sustainability of water supply as most of these connections are on the main pipeline supplying the village.

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Reply:

a) As a response to the specific skills shortage challenge affecting both the Department and the national water sector, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) established the Learning Academy in 2007 which is a technical and scarce skills development programme. It represents an investment in sustaining quality in DWS entry level human resources, thereby ensuring that in the long term, the DWS will remain competitive and be able to deliver on its mandate.The Learning Academy is designed to meet specific organisational requirements, lead a sustained campaign to secure a steady supply of high-level skills in water-related science, engineering, and technical disciplines in order to meet projected demands within DWS and the water sector as a whole.

The Learning Academy responds to the imperatives mentioned with a dual focus by addressing both the academic and professional development components that will provide aspiring engineers, scientists and technicians with the opportunity to be exposed to real-time professional experiences and valuable work experience in order for them to register with relevant professional bodies such as the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the South African Council for Natural Science Professions (SACNSP) and the Geomatics Council for Surveyors (ex PLATO).

The Learning Academy has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with strategically selected Institutions of Higher Learning. The Institutions of Higher Learning serve as administrators of the bursaries and administer the funds on behalf of DWS. As the bursary scheme feeds the Professional Development Component, bursaries are granted pre-graduate to post-graduate levels within a wide variety of scarce, critical and technical skills that can address the needs of DWS and the water sector. The DWS has allocated 1050 comprehensive bursaries to deserving students since 2007.

The Work Integrated Learners are defined in the context of the Learning Academy as individuals who must successfully undertake a period of Experiential Training in order to obtain their academic qualifications. There are 358 Work Integrated Learners that have completed the work since 2007.

The Professional Development Component deals with the development of Graduate Trainees. The Graduate Trainees are predominantly bursars of DWS who, on completion of their qualifications, are appointed and placed in the workplace for a minimum period of four years, where they are exposed to real-time service delivery aspects, skills development and Departmental projects (on-the-job training) under the guidance of a mentor. The trainees are thus guaranteed practical, instructional and hands-on experiences which will allow them to acquire relevant professional knowledge and skills and attain formal professional registration and recognition through the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the Geomatic Council or the South African Council for Natural Science Professionals (SACNASP). All Learner Interns and Graduate Interns are appointed as per Directive on Developmental Programme in the Public Service (18 May 2018). In total the Learning Academy has contracted 855 Graduate Interns since April 2007.

b) With regard to the integration of young and established professionals in the water sector, the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) has an established board of Young Water Professionals that have created a community of Young Water Professionals all over South Africa. The Department has recently established a branch for Young Water Professionals to integrate our newly registered Young Water Professionals into this community and by doing this, empowering them with the latest and best information in the Sector.

In addition to this, the Department has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Wetskills (a Netherland organisation) which will give South African Young Water Professionals the opportunity to participate in international competitions to expose and integrate them into the international water community.

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Reply:

(a-b) It is the responsibility of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to ensure adequate water availability through the development and management of infrastructure for water resources, as well as enhance the provision of sustainable and reliable water supply and sanitation by local government. The responsibility to supply water and sanitation services lies with municipalities that are Water Services Authorities (WSAs). Regional Bulk infrastructure is provided and managed through Water Boards as water providers.

To deliver on its mandate, the DWS’ plans for water and sanitation services are to:

• Implement 25 large bulk infrastructure projects over the medium term.
• Supporting 44 district municipalities with developing water and sanitation reliability plans over the medium term.
• Assess annual municipal strategic self‐assessments across all WSAs authorities on an ongoing basis.
• Transfer funds and monitor the performance of municipalities that receive funds through the regional bulk infrastructure grant and water services infrastructure grant in terms of the annual Division of Revenue Act.

The 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.

(i) There are several initiatives underway to improve the management of water and sanitation countrywide which include the following:

• National Government will ensure that grant funding in the water sector is allocated with the objective of restoring functionality of existing wastewater infrastructure according to the findings of the Green and Blue Drop reports. VROOM-informed restoration-focussed grant management will be effected with support from National Treasury.
• DWS as a Regulator will improve the implementation of Section 19 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) to ensure that directives are issued with timeframes for implementation. Failure to respond will trigger remedial action being taken at cost of the non-complying entity or municipality.
• DWS will take steps to improve its capacity to be more effective in this duty. There are engagements with the Department of Cooperative Governance as well as National Treasury to explore ways of utilising conditional grants for the purpose of remedial intervention.

(ii) The DWS has allocated R23billion from the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant and R15bn from the Water Services Infrastructure Grant over the medium term. The purpose of the grants is to provide financial support to municipalities to:

• Build new bulk water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Refurbish and upgrade ageing infrastructure.
• Provide secondary bulk infrastructure (new or augmentation projects).
• Develop sources such as boreholes and spring protection.
• Implement water conservation and water demand management projects.

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Reply:

a) Since January 2021 to date, a total of eighty-three (83) directives have been issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) against municipalities that have failed to manage sewage and causing pollution.

b) (i) The table below depicts a breakdown of the directives issued per province.

(ii) The consequences of DWS’ enforcement actions are indicated below:

• Five criminal charges laid against municipalities because of non-compliance with the Directives issued.
• Two (2) criminal charges were laid and finalised against Randfontein and Thaba Chweu Local Municipality whereby both municipalities pleaded guilty of all the charges. Both municipalities were subsequently fined by the courts for their failure to adhere to the provisions of NWA, among other violations.
• Three cases were referred to National Persecuting Authority for a decision. The Department has initiated three court interdict applications against the non-compliant municipalities, seeking Court Orders from the courts.

(iii) The DWS conducted forty-nine follow-up inspections whereby compliance with the provisions of the Notices and Directives is established.

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Reply:

a) The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government of Finland and Republic of South Africa was signed at the United Nations (UN) Water Summit in New York on 22 March 2023. The MoU focuses on water resource management with the following as agreed areas of cooperation:

• Adaptation and mitigation of climate change in water resources management.
• Transboundary water management.
• Water supply services covering supply, sanitation, reuse and policies.
• Governance management and technologies.
• Response in water-energy nexus for mutual benefit.
• Hydro informatics including monitoring, data transfer and platforms, modelling and assessment.
• Education and capacity building.
• Cooperation on other areas of mutual interest.

b) The renewed Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Netherlands and the Republic of South Africa, also on water resources management, was signed on 22 March 2023 in New York. The MoU focuses on water resource management with the following as agreed areas of cooperation: Strengthening water governance including strategies, planning and operations.

• Monitoring and information management.
• Climate change adaptation, water management and resilient.
• Water management in transboundary/river basins.
• Water efficiency, water re-use and use of alternative water resources in municipalities, agricultural and industry.
• Groundwater management.
• Wastewater treatment, agriculture, domestic and industrial.
• Sanitation and drinking water supply.
• Implementation of the Water and Sanitation Master Plan of South Africa.
• Capacity building and knowledge exchange in municipal water management and supply.

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Reply:

1.  The projections for capital requirement to address the water infrastructure backlogs over the next 10 years include (a) refurbishment and renewal of ageing infrastructure; (b) upgrades to serve increases in service levels and sustain effective service delivery; as well as (c) new infrastructure for growing human settlements and new economic nodes. The estimated cost requirement is R89,9 billion per annum over the next 10 years and is summarized below.

2. (a) According to the 2021 data, about 1 349 797 000 kl/ annum (at an average of 3 698 074 kl/day per day) is lost as a result of infrastructure failure, overflows from reservoirs and other leakages from municipal distribution systems.

(b) The commercial losses (336 559 712 kl/annum) are estimated to be 20% of total water losses and include unauthorised connections, meter inaccuracies and data transfer errors. Illegal connections are is estimated to be about 6% (20 193 583 kl/annum) of commercial losses. The estimated average cost of supplying water per kl in South Africa is R 12,41/kl and therefore the cost related to unauthorised connections (theft) is R 250 602 365 per annum.

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Reply:

1.  The Department has been informed of the water supply challenges in Heidelberg and Ratanda areas. The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) supplies electricity to the pumpstation which is operated by the Rand Water.). Rand Water and CoE are in discussion regarding efficient and sustainable electricity supply to this infrastructure. The options being explored include:

• Exemption of this water supply infrastructure from load shedding by the COE.
• Rand Water, with support from CoE, applying to Eskom for direct supply of electricity and thereafter be exempted from loadshedding as a critical facility.

2. A statement will be made once an agreement has been concluded.

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Reply:

1. (a) Delays in implementation of Stage 2 to 4 of the project were due to funding constraints. Consequently, the Department explored alternative options for implementation through an RFI process. Prior to the finalisation of this process, engagements between the Department and National Treasury resulted in a decision to fund the project through direct funding from the fiscus as this was a more feasible option. The project has also been streamlined to make it more affordable.

(b) Stage 1 is scheduled for completion in June 2023 and construction of Stage 2 is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.

(c) The Project Oversight Committees and the Project Liaison Committee have been established as part of social facilitation. The Community structures’ meetings are taking place as and when required. The workshops on the tendering process for local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) was held on 13th and 14th July 2022.

2. (a) (i) The hydropower element of the project has been allocated to a later stage. DWS is currently negotiating with Eskom regarding Eskom’s possible involvement in the hydropower project.

(ii) 726 616 people will benefit from clean water

(b) An estimated 7070 direct and indirect employment opportunities per year will be created through the implementation of this project.

3. Inclement weather caused delays in the completion of Stage 1 of the project. Geographical and/or environmental challenges that may impact on Stage 2 of the project have not yet been determined.

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Reply:

(1) The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) 2022 Green Drop Report provided a detailed overview of the state of wastewater management in the country. The findings of the report presented a concerning trend across the country which showed that wastewater management has deteriorated notably since 2014.

Water Service Authorities responsible for wastewater collection and treatment systems that achieved less than 30% during Green Drop Assessment were issued with non-compliance letters and instructed to submit corrective action plans. Implementation of the corrective measures will be monitored through a dashboard developed as part of the Water Services Improvement Programme (WSIP). The Department has also collaborated with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to assist municipalities on the development of these action plans, to ensure improvement in the management of wastewater treatment plants. The DWS and SALGA have also rolled out the water and sanitation councillor induction across the country on wastewater quality management and drinking water management.

The DWS, in collaboration with the SALGA, has also taken steps to support Water Service Authorities through:

• Capacitating the Water and Sanitation portfolio-based councillors throughout their term of office.
• Training of Process Controllers to augment wastewater operations and maintenance capacity. Energy and Water Sector Training Authority (EWSETA) will facilitate the training so that it complies with Wastewater Quality Management regulations.
• Ensuring that all wastewater management environmental hazards are mapped and mitigated

(2) The Department ensures protection of water resources by serving suspected transgressors or polluters with notices and directives in accordance with the provisions of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA). These notices and directives instruct the identified transgressors to make representations, which may take the form of action plans in other instances. The representations are then submitted to the Department to assess and advise on the implementation thereof. The Department then monitors implementation of the action plans and adherence to the timeframes committed to control the causes of pollution and remedy effects thereof.

The Department may also lay criminal charges against polluters liable for offenses stipulated under Section 151 of the NWA, where the outcome is a fine imposed against an offender or institute civil action by applying for a court interdicts against polluters. The court may, upon examining the application, issue an order the polluter to take remedial action.

Since January 2020, the Department has taken administrative enforcement action by issuing 374 notices and directives under sections 19, 20, and 53 of the National Water Act (NWA).

The Department has also pursued criminal action against 13 water users found to have caused pollution of water resources. To date, 9 case dockets were finalized and handed to the NPA for a decision to prosecute whereas 2 plea sentencing agreements were reached where the court-imposed fines against the municipalities. Additionally, the Department initiated 3 court interdict applications against water users found to have caused pollution of water resources, and 1 court order was granted in this regard.

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Reply:

1. The details for boreholes in the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality are indicated in the table below:

2. The telemetry system is only functional in Graaff-Reinet. The municipality has plans in place to install / upgrade telemetry in all the other towns. The department has been informed that the plans to install or upgrade telemetry systems are dependent on budget availability in the 2023/24 financial year. Non-revenue water, is currently at 37% due to:

• non-payment by users for water
• incorrect metering
• no metering (unmetered connections),
• unforeseen pipe bursts, illegal connections
• real water losses.

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Reply:

Civil engineering designs for water storage infrastructure i.e. Dam Walls, are designed for a safety evaluation flood (SCF) of 1:10 000 year flood conditions to ensure that the structural integrity of the wall would not be compromised by forces anticipated to be associated with such conditions. In addition, the Department is also prohibiting the erection of permanent structures within the 1:100 flood line adjacent to the full supply level of a dam and rivers as a means to safeguard life and livelihood. Wherever water conveyance structures (i.e. large pipe-lines and canals) are elevated and exposed at stream or river crossings, the bridge structure is designed to withstand 1:100 year flood conditions.

The Department takes note of the impact the intense flooding had on trenched pipe-lines during the 2022 floods and will work with research institutions to consider an amendment to engineering design factors, as influenced by climate change.

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Reply:

a) The Department has put in place internal control processes to continuously curb underspending including:

• Increased focus on forecast controls over expenditure commitments for projects in year and over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to mitigate risks of under expenditure.
• Stringent expenditure controls for sound financial management principles, ensuring that public resources are utilized efficiently; incurred obligations are cleared in a timely manner; and abuse/misappropriation of public money is prevented.
• Collaborative service delivery implementation plans with capacity building initiatives are also being implemented with diverse stakeholders within the water sector including Water Boards, Municipalities, Provincial Governments, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and National Treasury.
• Regular monitoring of progress and management of areas of underperformance to proactively redirect funds to projects with capacity to absorb additional budgets.
• The Department is implementing the Infrastructure Procurement Strategy and Policies.

b) The following have been identified as root causes of underspending:

• Lack of financial governance skills amongst Water Service Authorities
• Inadequate project management capacity by Implementing Agents resulting in under-expenditure
• Court Judgement issued on 25 February 2022, which prohibited advertising of new bids for goods and services and impacted on capital expenditure for major and mega projects
• Complex public procurement system that contributed to delays in the procurement of goods and services

Implementation of these interventions by the Department has resulted in significant improvements from the last financial year expenditure to the year-to-date expenditure.

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Reply:

a)  The Department carries out its regulatory function through its Dam Safety Office, which reported to Parliament that of the top 20 largest state dams, only 2 complied 100% with Dam Safety Regulations. The Department’s presentation to Parliament indicated that the shortcoming which was identified by the Dam Safety Office which prevented the other dams from being 100% compliant with the Dam Safety Regulations was that the required five- yearly dam safety evaluations were overdue.

Five-year Dam Safety Evaluations are required to be conducted by an Approved Professional Person (APP). These five-year evaluations are over and above the quarterly and annual inspections conducted by the Department’s operational engineering staff. There is a shortage of APPs in the Department, and this has led to the Department falling behind with its five- yearly dam safety evaluations.

The Department is in the process of finalising the appointment of a panel of Approved Professional Persons (APPs) which will assist to complete and review all required dam safety evaluation reports.

The department has prioritised 18 of the 20 largest dams to have compliant dam safety evaluation reports. with the intension to have the compliance issue resolved by the end of fourth quarter 2022/23 financial year. Unfortunately, contractual negotiations took longer than anticipated, implying that 25% of the largest 20 state dams will be achieved within this timeframe, and the remaining 75% by May 2023. With this additional professional engineering capacity, all outstanding and due dam safety evaluation reports will be completed within the next 18 months.

Even though there are inherent risks to not submitting 5 yearly dam safety evaluations reports on time, it does not necessarily equate to the dams being unsafe, since there are various systems and mechanisms in place to monitor the structural health and performance of our dams. These include routing inspections by dam operators and the monitoring of our dam’s behaviour by Dam Safety Surveillance through various instrumentations, some of which are communicating this data in real-time. All these measures are preventative in nature (serves as early warning) and are aimed at safeguarding our dam infrastructure as well as the public from potential harm.

In addition to general maintenance, the Department also implements a Dam Safety Rehabilitation programme which was established in 2006 to ensure that the lifespan of dam structures is prolonged and to improve the safety of these structures. Since its inception, rehabilitation projects at 43 dams have been completed. Currently, there are 6 dam safety rehabilitation projects underway with 19 projects in the design phase.

(b) The Department is finalising dam safety evaluation reports per dam, and not in consolidated fashion, because the due dates for these reports are staggard and not all due on the same date.

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Reply:

1. No, my department is not aware of any complaints pertaining to dangerous mining chemicals polluting a water stream and the environment in the Wonderfontein Catchment Area. However, there are various platforms available to report such incidents through the DWS Hotline 0800 200 200 or via email: [email protected] or directly to officials (whose contact details are also on the internet webpage under customer care www.dws.gov.za responsible for the catchment area). Specific details pertaining to this question will be appreciated and investigated once received.

2. No, my department is not aware of any allegations that some government officials and politicians are colluding with mining bosses to pollute waterways. However, should there be such allegations, they must be reported to enable the department to investigate.

3. No, there is currently no official of my departmental being investigated regarding allegations of collusion with mining bosses.

4. Current routine monitoring results do not indicate any pollution incidents in this area. Anomalies detected in water quality would normally also be relayed to the local municipality so that the information is publicised through local radio stations and newspapers if necessary.

The JB Marks Local Municipality (under which the towns of Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp falls) implements a Water Safety Plan, which is aimed at identification and prioritisation of risks associated with water supply. In line with this plan, the municipality identifies risks associated and encountered at the catchment, treatment and distribution network and employ mitigation measures to ensure water supplied is safe for human consumption. The municipality has reported that it has not detected any irregularities in the catchment.

Areas under the jurisdiction of JB Marks Local Municipality receive treated water with a microbiological compliance for the year to date at 94.5% (when measured against SANS241 limits).

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Reply:

a)  To address governance challenges among Water Boards and enhance the role that these entities will be playing to enhance service delivery at local government level; the Department has reviewed the Water Boards in terms of financial sustainability, governance matters and extending services to areas that are not currently serviced. The review and reconfiguration of Water Boards is intended to achieve the following:

• Better economies of scale
• Enhance market capitalisation for infrastructure projects
• Increase water access to un-serviced rural areas
• Enable better cross-subsidisation and increased financial sustainability
• Facilitate differential service delivery levels and tariff modelling across the province
• Enable better working relationships with provincial governments - there has been a general effort to align water boards boundaries with provincial boundaries
• Enable Water Boards to better support Water Services Authorities (WSAs).

b) It should also be noted that non-payment of Water Boards by municipalities threatens financial viability of Water Boards. To address this, the Department of Water and Sanitation in collaboration with National Treasury has put in place the following measures to strengthen billing and revenue collection and address the escalating debt of municipalities to water entities:

• The Department of Water and Sanitation (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 is in place across all the water boards. This includes consistent enforcement of water limitations/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.
• The Minister is further consulting the 144 Water Services Authorities on the outcome of the above-mentioned workshop.

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Reply:

a)  There are no recent complaints regarding potable water quality that were received by the Department of Water and Sanitation from the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. All previously reported cases were closed after the municipality implemented corrective measures to address the reported complaints.

b) The Department received complaints regarding poor water quality in Emalahleni Local Municipality and has initiated an investigation. The findings of the investigation were that some of the mines were discharging non-compliant water into the water streams or systems. The Department issued notices of intention to issue directives on 17th February 2023, through the provisions of Section 19 of National Water Act to the mines. These mining companies were given until the end of April 2023 to implement corrective measures. Failure to comply and submit these to the Department will result in the Department issuing a Directive.

(i) The Department has assisted the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality with funding under Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) for the refurbishment and upgrading of the Vaalbank Water Treatment Works to improve process performance and ensure acceptable drinking water quality. The construction of the 20Ml/d reverse osmosis plant and a filter system to reduce turbidity and sulphate concentration is underway. The project is due to be completed in November 2023.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the Department is currently conducting a feasibility study to investigate the provision of bulk water supply for the Emalahleni Local Municipality that is aimed at identifying and developing alternative solutions to address the bulk water supply infrastructure deficiencies. Construction is planned to commence in 2024.

(ii) In addition, the Department also rendered financial support for the two municipalities as indicated in the table below:

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