Questions & Replies: Water & Environmental affairs
2013-03-05
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Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO. 585
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 10 of 2013 NW740E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 28 March 2013
Dr P J Rabie (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) How many permits were issued to undertake whale and dolphin watching in the (a) Struisbaai and (b) Arniston areas of operation on 24 June 2011;
(2) on what grounds does the company Ihulu Enterprise have a permit?
Dr P J Rabie (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) The Struisbaai and Arniston areas are combined into one designated area for allocating Boat-Based Whale and Dolphin Watching (BBWW) permits. In keeping with the maximum number of permits earmarked for each of the BBWW areas set out in Government Notice No. 32457 of 31 July 2009, only one permit was issued for the Struisbaai/Arniston area on 24 June 2011.
(2) A BBWW permit was allocated to a company called Ikhula Enterprise (not Ihulu Enterprise) in the Struisbaai/Arniston designated area. The permit was issued to Ikhula Enterprise since it obtained the highest scores (of four applicants for the area) during the adjudication of applications for permits in the BBWW sector that was launched on 14 August 2009 and concluded (after consideration of appeals) on 24 June 2011.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 533
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 09)
533. Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Why was she not available to attend the scheduled Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) hearing on 12 March 2013? NW690E
Reply:
I was not available to attend the hearing of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on 12 March 2013 because on the same day I had to be in Carolina, Mpumalanga Province to attend the National Council of Provinces' programme relating to the "Taking of Parliament to the People" which took place on 11-15 March 2013. My participation was strictly on 12 March 2013.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 500
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 09)
500. Mrs C N Z Zikalala (IFP) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
What are her departments doing to align itself with the National Development Plan? NW654E
REPLY
The National Development Plan identified economic infrastructure actions that relate to water resources. These are:
· A comprehensive management strategy including an investment programme for water resource development, bulk water supply and wastewater management for major centres.
· Creating regional water and wastewater utilities and expanding mandates of the existing water boards.
· Reviewing existing allocation in areas where water use already exceeds reliable availability.
In response to the above–mentioned actions, Department of Water Affairs (hereinafter the Department) plans to implement the following over the medium to long term:
Comprehensive Investment Programme for Water Resource Development
Over the medium term, the Department has a total of 106 water projects of which 11 are water resource development (i.e. augmentation) and 95 are water services infrastructure (i.e. regional bulk) projects that are at various levels of implementation. In addition, the Department plans to support 880 resource poor farmers with access to water. A further 2400 rainwater harvesting tanks will be installed for food production.
Over the medium to long term, the Department will also implement the community infrastructure water projects through the Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme, as well as the interim and basic water supply programme within the 24 priority district municipalities.
Over the long term, the Department has planned a total of 94 water projects of which 12 are water resource development (i.e. augmentation) projects and 82 are water services infrastructure (i.e. regional bulk) projects.
Creating regional water and wastewater utilities and expanding mandates of the existing water boards
Over the medium, an institutional option for economic regulation will also be finalised and this will be implemented over the long term.
Review existing allocation in areas where water use already exceeds reliable availability
Over the medium term, the Department has committed to complete compulsory licenses in three catchment areas.
Annexure A below shows the medium term water resource projects and the major water services projects.
Annexure A
Comprehensive investment programme for water resource development over the medium term to long term
Water resources development projects
· Olifants River water resources development project phase 2A (De Hoop Dam and related infrastructure)
· Olifants River water resources development project phase 2B, C and D (Bulk Distribution System)
· Vaal River Eastern Sub-System Augmentation Project (VRESAP) Abstraction works-pump house and pipeline to Knoppiesfontein
· Phase 1 of Mokolo River Augmentation
· Komati Water Supply Augmentation Project (KWSAP)
· Mdloti River Development (Raising of Hazelmere Dam)
· Raising Clanwilliam Dam wall
· Mooi-Mgeni Transfer Scheme (MMTS-Phase 1)
· Greater Letaba River Water Resources Project (N'wamitwa Dam)
· Greater Letaba River Water Resources Project (Raising of Tzaneen Dam)
· Lesotho Highlands Water Projects Phase 2
· Mzimvubu Water Project
· Mkomazi Water Project
Water services projects
· Inyaka Water Treatment Works
· Nandoni WTW and Distribution
· Nandoni Distribution replacement of glass reinforced plastic pipeline
· Great Letaba Water Resource Project (GLeWAP) Phase 1: N'wamitwa Distribution Phase
Regional Bulk Projects
A list of the Regional Bulk Projects. Is attached as Annexure B
Interim Water Supply Projects
The budget is allocated against the 24 District Municipalities. The Department is currently finalising its business plans to ensure the projects that will be dealt with.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO. 500
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 9 of 2013 NW654E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22 March 2013
Mrs CNZ Zikalala (IFP) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
What are her departments doing to align itself with the National Development Plan?
Mrs CNZ Zikalala
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
In respect of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA):
The DEA actively engaged in the various activities implemented by the National Planning Commission (NPC) aimed at the participatory development of the NPC's first National Development Plan. These activities included, among others: (i) Minister Trevor Manuel's High Level Dialogue on a Transition to a Low Carbon Economy Workshop held from 28 February to 1 March 2011 at Liliesleaf Conference Centre in Rivonia, Sandton; (ii) the follow-up High Level Dialogue on a Transition to a Low Carbon Economy held from 18 to 19 July 2011 at the Zulu Nyala Country Manor, Fourways, Johannesburg; (iii) the NPC's Government Roundtable held on 23 August 2011 in Room 159, East Wing, Union Buildings; and (iv) the Just Transition to a Low Carbon Resilient Economy and Society: Summation workshop held on 22 September 2011 at Liliesleaf Conference Centre in Rivonia, Sandton.
Following the publication of the NPC's National Development Plan – Vision for 2030, dated 11 November 2011 (hereinafter the ''NDP 2030''), all sections of the DEA were involved in the compilation of departmental comments on the NDP 2030 and these initial comments were discussed with a NPC delegation in Cape Town (through a video link to Pretoria) on 9 February 2012. The DEA's comments were then finalised and formally submitted to the NPC.
Following this commenting period, the DEA continued to actively engage in the additional activities implemented by the NPC including, among others: (i) the NPC hosted Low Carbon Round Table Discussions – (a) MEC Round Table, 7 March 2012, Johannesburg, (b) Lock In/Infrastructure Round Table, 4 April 2012, Liliesleaf, Rivonia, (c) Carbon Budgets Round Table, 5 April 2012, University of Cape Town, (d) Mitigation Targets and Fact Base Round Table, 16 April 2012, Johannesburg and (e) Carbon Pricing Round Table, 17 April 2102 at Liliesleaf, Rivonia, Johannesburg; and (ii) the Reference Group Meeting for the Low Carbon Work Stream on 8 May 2012 at the WWF Offices in Cape Town (also through a video link from the WWF Offices in Johannesburg).
Following government's endorsement of the National Development Plan last year, the DEA carried out a full and detailed analysis of the final plan and presented this analysis to the MINTECH meeting with provinces: Environment Workshop held from 28 to 29 January 2013.
In essence, the analysis concluded that the work of the DEA was already very much aligned with the NDP 2030, especially it's Chapter 5: Environmental Sustainability and Resilience, as the following selected examples illustrate:
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to indicators for natural resources and the publication of annual reports on the health of identified resources to inform policy, there are various natural resource health-type indicators already included in, for example: Presidential Outcome 10 (e.g. ambient SO2 and particulate (PM10) concentrations, rehabilitation of land affected by degradation, percentage land mass under conservation, percentage of coastline with partial protection, improvement in the management effectiveness of protected areas, and proportion of species threatened with extinction); the 5-yearly South African Environmental Outlook (i.e. the national state of the environment report); various provincial and local State of the Environment Reports; and the National Biodiversity Assessment 2011, Review of the State of Management of Protected Areas, State of the Oceans Report.
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to a target for the amount of land and oceans under protection (presently about 7.9 million hectares of land, 848 km of coastline and 4 172 square kilometre of ocean are protected), in terms of the DEA's current Strategic Plan, over the medium term, the DEA will focus on expanding the conservation estate to ensure that all ecosystems and geographic areas are represented in line with the protected areas expansion strategy. In this regard, the DEA is looking at land protection and rehabilitation being increased in terms of the percentage of land mass under conservation from 6% to 9%, the percentage of coastline with partial protection being increased from 12% to 14% by 2016, the percentage of the coastline with full protection being increased from 9% to 11%, and 80% of protected areas having at least 68% management effectiveness.
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to achieving the peak, plateau and decline trajectory for greenhouse gas emissions, with the peak being reached around 2025, the DEA is currently rolling out the carbon budgeting approach described in the National Climate Change Response Policy 2010. Once carbon budgets and desired emission reduction outcomes (DEROs) have been clarified and/or established, the DEA will use the atmospheric emission regulatory mechanisms in the Air Quality Act to regulate significant point sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the DEA is currently setting up the climate change monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system described in the National Climate Change Response Policy 2010 including the national greenhouse gas inventory and significant greenhouse gas mitigation intervention impact monitoring systems.
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to an economy-wide carbon price entrenched by 2030, the DEA is already working very closely with the National Treasury on the use of economic instruments for greenhouse gas emission mitigation. In this regard, the DEA has already commissioned a study aimed at ensuring alignment between its carbon budgeting activities and the Treasury's carbon tax and related work, and the DEA's planned M&E system will effectively monitor the impact of all significant greenhouse gas mitigation-related economic interventions. In this regard it should also be noted that this M&E system will also monitor other NDP 2030 objectives including: the impact of all significant greenhouse gas mitigation building standard-related interventions and key climate change impact indicators.
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to absolute reductions in the total volume of waste disposed to landfill each year, this is a core function of the DEA and the environment sector in general. Indeed, one of the DEA's Strategic Objectives is ''less waste, better managed'' with, for example, an indicator framed as ''Percentage increase in waste recycled and recovered.'' Furthermore, the DEA and the environmental sector are already implementing numerous activities that are being measured against the following Outcome 10 indicator: 3.3.3 of municipal waste diverted from landfills for recycling."
In terms of the NDP 2030 objective relating to at least 20 000 MW of renewable energy contracted by 2030, the DEA has already centralised the implementation and management of all significant energy-related developments including the rollout of renewable energy generation capacity. The DEA is about to initiate a renewable energy rollout Strategic Environmental Assessment aimed at specifically streamlining the environmental impact management system in respect of the rollout of renewable energy generation capacity and related infrastructure.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO. 480
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 9 of 2013 NW438E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22 March 2013
Mr P F Smith (IFP) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether she has taken a position in respect of the findings of the 2011 National Biodiversity Assessment of the SA Biodiversity Institute that (a) only 11% of the country's existing wetlands is well protected and (b) 71% is not protected at all; if not, why not; if so,
(2) whether she has found that the Government should be doing more to protect the country's wetlands; if so, what form should this take;
(3) whether she intends not merely to further protect existing unprotected wetlands, but to reinstate some of the 50% of the country's original wetlands which are no longer extant?
Mr P F Smith (IFP)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
480 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS
(1) Yes
The position was taken a year before the publication of the 2011 National Biodiversity Assessment: that for protected area systems must be fully representative, wetlands should be incorporated into the expansion of the protected areas estate through the implementation of the National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy (NPAES).
(2) Yes
This should take the form of the inclusion of wetlands ecosystems in the expansion of the conservation estate.
(3) No
Once incorporated into one of the Protected Areas categories, the Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003), allows the Minister to prohibit activities that detrimentally affect the ecological integrity of ecosystems.
The Water Resource Classification System (WRCS) established under Chapter 3 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) is a principal mechanism for determining the balance between the use and protection of individual water resources (rivers, springs, wetlands, lakes, surface water, estuaries and aquifers). This classification process is one of the most significant opportunities to secure key water ecosystems like wetlands.
Furthermore, Working for Wetlands is a programme intervention focusing on rehabilitating degraded wetlands throughout the country.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 467
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 08)
467. Ms B D Ferguson (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Whether she has taken any steps to remedy the situation of alleged fraud and corruption at Bloem Water; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW622E
REPLY:
Yes. The following steps have been taken to remedy the situation of alleged fraud and corruption at Bloem Water, namely:
· We have conducted preliminary investigations through my Advisors in the Ministerial Office and will utilize the outcome of that investigation to further investigate through other forensic investigation bodies if need be.
· Based on these reports and should any allegation of corruption be found, action will be taken..
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 462
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 08)
462. Ms B D Ferguson (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether, with reference to the recommendations of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in 2011, she or her department has taken steps to tackle the problem of (a) water pollution and (b) water sewage treatment systems; if not, why not; if so,
(2) whether she has found that the specified steps have turned around the quality of (a) water and (b) waste-water effluent in (i) rural and (ii) peri-urban towns; if not, in each case, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details in each case;
(3) whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW616E
Reply:
(1) (a) An Enforcement Protocol has been established in my Department to tackle water pollution, specifically for organs of state. This is a business process for resolving non-compliance in the water sector. It is a national, uniform process that facilitates and ensures regulatory predictability and transparency, whilst following co-operative governance principles. The aim of this process is to define the steps from notification of an issue of possible non-compliance through to resolving the issue including where there are no pollution problems that needs t be attended to. The compliance Unit also deals with compliance, prevention and assurance
(b) With respect to Waste Water Treatment Works my Department has established a Rapid Response Unit. This is a multi-disciplinary team consisting engineers and scientists, also assisted by Water Boards. The unit's purpose is to respond to emergencies and potential crises within the sector in all aspects of the water value chain. The unit deals with any emergencies that may arise throughout the country.
(2) Interventions have been accelerated and there are improvements in areas such as Carolina on water issues, Colesberg where a new waste water treatment works has been built and recently came into operations. These interventions have also served as a support structure where the Blue and Green Drop assessments have identified shortcomings. In Marquard the team intervened by providing interim measures such as boreholes, water tankers and installation of package plants. Assessments on waste water infrastructure have been completed and resulting in 24 Districts (comprising mainly of rural communities) being identified for priority intervention. The success of such interventions will only be known once the next annual reports are published.
(3) The status of drinking water quality and waste water quality will be announced by me at the annual publication of Blue Drop Progress Report (for drinking water) and Green Drop Report (for waste water) in July 2013 at the 4th Municipal Water Quality Conference.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO. 456
INTERNAL QUESTION NO.8 of 2013 NW609E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15 March 2013
Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Whether her department has taken cognisance of the study that has revealed the reason for the recent crocodile deaths in the Olifantsriver in the Kruger National Park; if so, what steps does she intend to take to deal with the matter?
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
456 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
It is not clear to which report the Honourable Member is referring to, however the definitive cause for the crocodile mortalities in the Olifants River in the Kruger National Park has not yet been determined. There are various possible causes for the pansteatitis, including the introduction of the alien invasive silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) to the system. However, the role of anthropogenic pollution has not been ruled out. Research is on-going and the Honourable Member will be furnished with the outcome once the research has been concluded.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 440
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 08)
440. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether a certain person (name and details furnished) has been suspended; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) why and (b) on what date was the specified person suspended;
(2) what is the current gross monthly salary package of the specified person;
(3) who has been appointed in an acting capacity in the specified person's post;
(4) whether she is seeking the termination of employment of the specified person? NW591E
Reply:
(1) Yes, the person referred to (name furnished) was placed on precautionary suspension on allegations of misconduct and incapacity which are currently being investigated. I, as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, signed the letter of his suspension on 15 February 2013.
(2) The current remuneration package of the Director-General is R1 406 796 per annum.
(3) The Chief Operating Officer of the Department has been appointed as the Acting Director-General.
(4) The termination or otherwise of employment of the person in question will depend on the outcome of the Department's internal processes.
Reply received: April 2013
QUESTION NO 439
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 MARCH 2013 (lNTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 08)
439. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
With reference to her reply to question 3146 on 4 December 2012, what is the (a) total outstanding amount of money owed by municipalities to water boards as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) breakdown of this amount in terms of (i) current debt, (ii) debt in arrears and (iii) money owed by each municipality to each water board?
NW590E
REPLY
(a) The total outstanding amount of money owed by municipalities to water boards as at 30 January 2013 is R2, 245,656,454.
(b) The table below gives a summary breakdown of amount in terms of (i) current debt; (ii) debt in arrears and (iii) money owed by each municipality to each water board as at 30 January 2013.
| No | Water Board | Number of Municipalities supplied by the Water Board | (b)(i) Current dept | (b)(ii) Dept in Arrears | (b)(iii) Total Owed by Municipalities |
| 1 | Amatola Water | 03 | R 17 664 921 | R 5 633 337 | R 23 298 258 |
| 2 | Bloem Water | 04 | R 37 356 957 | R 44 456 196 | R 81 813 153 |
| 3 | Botshelo Water | 03 | R 5 804 758 | R 93 739 236 | R 99 543 994 |
| 4 | Bushbuckridge Water | 03 | R 17 420 571 | R 292 415 499 | R 309 836 070 |
| 5 | Lepelle Northern Water | 11 | R 25 945 702 | R 196 053 906 | R 221 999 609 |
| 6 | Magalies Water | 07 | R 14 763 389 | R 20 557 545 | R 35 320 935 |
| 7 | Mhlathuze Water | 02 | R 8 595 568 | R 424 448 | R 9 020 016 |
| 8 | Overberg Water | 05 | R 1 315 872 | R 0 | R1 315 872 |
| 9 | Pelladrift Water | 03 | R 243 509 | R 234 613 | R 478 122 |
| 10 | Sedibeng Water | 11 | R 52 625 251 | R 668 886 527 | R 724 660 141 |
| 11 | Rand Water | 19 | R 721 814 829 | R 4 520 227 | R 720 842 232 |
| 12 | Umgeni Water | 07 | R 17 069 865 | R 458 187 | R 17 528 052 |
| 13 | Midvall Water | 01 | R 18 509 852 | R 46 421 543 | R 64 931 395 |
| TOTAL | R 920 621 194 | R 1 327 379 722 | R 2 245 656 454 |
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 388
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 8 March 2013 [INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 06)
388. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether any maintenance work is being performed by her department at the water channel flowing from the Gerhard Minne Fountainhead down to Potchefstroom; if not, why not; if so, (a) what type of maintenance is taking place and (b) how often is it performed;
(2) what is the loss of water from the channel over the specified distance;
(3) whether she will make a statement on the matter? NW536E
REPLY:
(1) The Department has maintenance staff at all its schemes to undertake the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. The Gerhardt Minnebron is part of the Mooi River Government Water Scheme. The staff complement on this scheme is sub optimal due to the request of the steering committee which was formed in the early 2000's to discuss the possible establishment of a Water User Association (WUA) to take over the operation and maintenance of the scheme. Unfortunately this WUA has not been established yet.
I (a) The Department realized that the maintenance on this scheme was not optimal over the last few years due to the staff shortage and has started an extensive rehabilitation project. The Department's construction unit is working at the scheme. Good progress is being made to restore the canal to an acceptable standard since the canals are over 50 years old. Chemical dosing is taking place when required to control algae growth which cause blockages.
(2) The Lakeside Dam (Potchefstroom Dam) forms part of the conveyance system. The dam has its own catchment and with the current measuring facilities, it is impossible to determine losses out of the canal. This scheme has been in the fortunate situation that the dams have been constantly full for the last three years. Any "losses" saved in the canals will only flow over the dam wall downstream. I am not aware of any water users that have not received water due to losses caused by poor maintenance. It is possible that during very hot conditions, when all the water users request water at the same time, shortages will occur. The canal capacity is not able to service all demands simultaneously.
(3) The Department is currently rehabilitating a number of irrigation schemes across the country. I do not foresee an individual statement being issued about Mooi River GWS. However, when applicable, a progress report on all the relevant rehabilitation projects will be issued.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 302
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 01 MARCH 2013 (NTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 03)
302. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) What (a) are the (i) names and (ii) locations of mines that are operating without a valid water licence as at the latest date for which information is available and (b) has been the progress of each specified mine's application for such a licence;
(2) whether, since her reply to question 3141 on 4 December 2012, any further (a) directives or (b) pre-directives have been issued against mines operating without water use licences in terms of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?NW379E
REPLY:
(1)(a) Refer to the attached Annexure A for the list of names and locations of mines that have been operating without valid water use authorisations since the Department's reply to Question 3141 on 4 December 2012. The list shows 39 mines operating without valid water use licences.
(1)(b) Refer to the attached Annexure A, showing a list of mines that have submitted applications and the status of the applications for water use authorisations.
Following the Department's embark of regulating mining operations, as it was indicated in the reply to Question 3141, the Department received a number of licence applications from the mines that have been operating illegally. Between 4 December 2012 and 28th February 2013 no decisions were made for the identified mines due to outstanding critical information from the applicants, which is required in order to make decisions and finalise the applications. However, significant progress has been made in the processing of these applications as engagements with the applicants on the outstanding information have taken place.
(2) A total of (a) one (1) Directive and (b) Zero (0) Pre-directives were issued to date. Please refer to the attached Annexure B for the name and the status of the Directive.
SEE ATTACHMENT: Annexure A and Annexure B
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 301
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 01 MARCH 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 03)
301. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether there are any concerns for the health of cattle that are watered at the Wonderfonteinspruit; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether any tests have been done to determine the levels of (a) cadmium, (b) uranium and (c) lead in cattle that are given water originating from the Wonderfonteinspruit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW378E
---00O00---
REPLY:
(1) No, based on existing information for water quality within the Wonderfotein Spruit, there are no concerns for livestock consuming water sourced from the Wonderfontein Spruit. Contaminants that may be of concern are largely confined in the sediment of the watercourse. Accordingly, the water is deemed safe for livestock watering provided that cattles are watered using watering troughs.
(2) No, the Department of Water Affairs has not conducted any tests to determine heavy metal (cadmium, uranium and lead) values in cattle consuming water sourced from the Wonderfontein Spruit.
Routine monitoring of discharges to the Wonderfontein Spruit as well as monitoring of the water quality within the Wonderfontein Spruit confirms that levels of the foregoing metals are below regulatory limits.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 228
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 2 NW244E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22 February 2013
Ms M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether any efforts are being made to work with conservation officials in Mozambique to curb incursions into the Kruger National Park by rhino poachers; if not, why not; if so, what (a) efforts and (b) are the further relevant details?;
(2) Whether she intends to meet with her counterpart from Mozambique in the near future to discuss further measures to reduce rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park by rhino poachers; if not, why not; if so, (a) when and (b) what are the further relevant details?
Ms M Wenger (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
228.
(1) Yes. Conservation officials of SA are working together with Mozambique to curb incursions into the Kruger National Park by rhino poachers.
(a) Efforts currently underway include information management, planning for a high security zone along the border and a conservancy.
(b) Regarding information management, plans are underway to strengthen radio communication systems between the two countries. The security zone is planned to include the deployment of Mozambican Defence Force members. A roadmap and memorandum of agreement have been developed for the conservancy. Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding will be developed with safety and security agencies in both countries in the new financial year.
(2) Yes. We have met once already and planning to our next meeting which we postponed from about two weeks ago.to a new date to be determined soon. The objective is to discuss further measures to reduce rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.
(a) A new date is being sought between the two Ministries.
(b) Further relevant details will be communicated in due course.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 227
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 2 NW243E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: February 2013
Ms M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Whether the former director-general of the Department of Water Affairs (name furnished) is the director or owner of any business entity that has received contracts from the Department of Environmental Affairs since 1 October 2011; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, (a) what are the names of these business entities that have won contracts in the specified period and in each case, (b)(i) what is the name of each contract, (ii) what is the value of each contract, (iii) on what date was the contract awarded, (iv) what was the duration of the contract and (v) what goods or services were expected to be delivered?
Ms M Wenger (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
227. Yes, the former Director-General of the Department of Water Affairs (DEA) is the director or owner of the business entities indicated hereunder and these entities have received contracts from the DEA since 1 October 2011 as follows:
(a) Zenande Leadership Consulting
(b)(i) Bid E1189: as an event managementcompany/s to manage content and logistics at the 2nd Waste Management Officers KHORO.
(ii) the value is furnished separately;
(iii) 24/08/2011
(iv) for a period of five months
(v) company to manage content and logistics at the 2nd Waste Management Conference
(b) Zenande Leadership Consulting
(b)(i) Bid E1229: To assist the DEA with the development of Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) for ten district municipalities in South Africa
(ii) the value is furnished separately
(iii) 2012/11/26
(iv) for a period of 12 months
(v) to assist the DEA with the development of IWMPs for district municipalities in South Africa.
(c) Zenande Leadership Consulting
(b)(i) Quotation: To facilitate the 5th People Parks National Conference
(ii) the value is furnished separately;
(iii) 2012/08/15
(iv) 5-7 September 2012
(v) to facilitate the 5th People Parks National Conference.
(d) Bridging The Gap Consulting
(b)(i) Quotation: To facilitate executive coaching of SMS members of the DEA
(ii) the value is furnished separately
(iii) 2012/02/21
(iv) for a period of 12 months
(v) to provide executive coaching to SMS members of the DEA
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 226
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 2 NW242E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: February 2013
Ms M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) How many environmental impact assessments (EIAs) were outstanding (a) in each province and (b) nationally (i) for less than 6 months, (ii) between 6 and 12 months, (iii) between 12 and 18 months and (iv) for longer than 18 months as at the latest specified date for which information is available;
(2) How many (a) available posts and (b) vacancies existed in the EIA establishment in (i) each province and (ii) nationally as at the latest specified date for which information is available?
Ms M Wenger (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1. Table on the number of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) applications that were pending and outside of prescribed time frames (a) in each province and (b) nationally (i) for less than
6 months, (ii) between 6 and 12 months, (iii) between 12 and 18 months and (iv) for longer than
18 months as at the latest specified date for which information is available:
| Competent authority | No. of applications pending outside timeframe | No. of applications pending for less than 6 months | No. of applications pending for between 6 and 12 months | No. of applications pending for between 12 and 18 months | No. of applications pending for more than 18 months |
| DEA | 40 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Eastern Cape | 65 | 56 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Free State | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Gauteng | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 123 | 103 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Limpopo | 44 | 35 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mpumalanga | 33 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Cape | 42 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North West | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Cape* | 486 | 148 | 169 | 73 | 96 |
| Totals | 874 | 483 | 221 | 74 | 96 |
*Western Cape figures are inclusive of all EIA applications pending by the applicant
2. The total number of (a) available posts and (b) vacancies existed in the EIA establishment in (i) each province and (ii) nationally as at the latest specified date for which information is available:
| Competent authority | No. of filled posts | No. of vacancies |
| DEA | 40 | 7 |
| Eastern Cape | 33 | 0 |
| Free State | 9 | 2 |
| Gauteng* | ||
| KwaZulu-Natal | 34 | 18 |
| Limpopo | 19 | 7 |
| Mpumalanga | 14 | 1 |
| Northern Cape | 10 | 1 |
| North West | 11 | 3 |
| Western Cape | 48 | 10 |
* Gauteng information not provided
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 213
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 02)
213. Mrs N W A Michael (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether a full (a) ecological and (b) human health assessment has been conducted in the Hennopsriver/Sesmylspruit waterway in the past three years; if not, why not; if so, what were the findings? NW228E
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REPLY:
1(a) My Department conducted a preliminary Reserve for the Crocodile West / Groot Marico Water Management Area which includes the Quaternary Catchment A21H in 2011 within which the Hennops River/ Sesmylspruit waterway flows. The Ecological Water Requirements revealed that the Present Ecological State for this river is in a degraded state, whilst having a moderate Ecological Importance and Sensitivity. This means that the river is currently in a highly modified state and a large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystems has occurred. The Reserve recommended various conditions to mitigate against negative impacts experienced in this quaternary catchment.
The condition recommended in this particular case was for the City of Tshwane to clean the Hennops river and the by taking out all the debris and litter. This is done on an ongoing basis in line with the recommendation from the Reserve.
(b) My Department is mandated to carry out the ecological assessments of water resources. Human health assessments are a responsibility of the Department of Health in conjunction with the relevant provincial health departments.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 212
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 22 FEBRUARY 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 02)
212. Mrs N W A Michael (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether a full ecological health assessment has been conducted in Centurion Lake in the past three years; if not, why not; if so, what were the findings;
(2) (a) who monitors the lake in respect of its continued (i) viability, (ii) sustainability and (iii) impact on the surrounding (aa) natural and (bb) built environment, (b) when did this begin and (c) at what cost to the fiscus thus far? NW227E
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REPLY:
(1) The Centurion Lake is an artificial body of water in the Quaternary Catchment A21H on the Hennops River. My Department has not conducted any ecological studies for the lake itself since it is not a natural system. However, a preliminary Reserve was conducted on the Hennops River in the Quaternary Catchment A21H in 2011. As part of the various studies conducted, the Ecological Water Requirements (EWR) was determined for the Hennops River and the results revealed that the Present Ecological State for this river is in a degraded state, whilst having a moderate Ecological Importance and Sensitivity. This means that the river is currently in a highly modified state and a large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystems has occurred. The determined preliminary Reserve recommended various conditions to mitigate against negative impacts experienced in this quaternary catchment.
The condition recommended in this particular case was for the City of Tshwane to clean the lake by taking out all the debris and litter. This is done on an ongoing basis in line with the recommendation from the Reserve
(2)(a)(i)(ii) aa) & (bb) City of Tshwane Department of Roads and Transport is responsible for monitoring the Lake for its continued viability, sustainability and impact on the natural surroundings.
(b) The initiatives to monitor and manage the Centurion Lake started around the 1990's by the then Centurion Town Council and the City of Tshwane continued with this.
(c) My Department does not have details regarding the expenditure on the project as this is the responsibility of the City of Tshwane.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 165
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 15 February 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
0171. Ms CN Zikalala (IFP) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(a) Which municipalities in South Africa currently add fluoride to drinking water? NW171E
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REPLY:
(a) The Department is not aware of any municipality in South Africa that adds fluoride to drinking water.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 132
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 February 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
132. Mr S B Farrow (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) How many legal matters were dealt with by her departments (a) in the (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12 financial years and (b) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
(2) (a) how many of the specified legal matters were dealt with by (i) the State Attorney and (ii) private attorneys during the specified periods and (b) what are the reasons why her departments were not represented by the State Attorney in each specified case;
(3) what total amounts were paid by her departments to (a) the State Attorney and (b) private attorneys during the specified periods? NW138E
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REPLY:
(1) The following matters were handled at court by the Department:
(i) 2009 to 2010 = 16 cases were handled
(ii) 2010 to 2011 = 38 cases were handled
(iii) 2011 to 2012 = 32 cases were handled
(b) 2012 to 2013 = 27 cases are being handled
(2)(a) (i) 110 were dealt with by State Attorney.
(ii) Only three labor matters were dealt with by private attorneys.
(b) The three labor matters involved most senior managers in the Department and due to capacity challenges in the State Attorney's office; the Department had to enlist the services of private attorneys.
(3) The following payments were made by the Department. We must emphasize that these amounts are necessary and were budgeted for, given the mandate of the Department.
(i) 2009 to 2010 = R2 457 000-00 was paid to the State Attorney and nothing was paid to private attorneys.
(ii) 2010 to 2011 = R8 465 000-00 was paid to the State Attorney and R286 140-00 was paid to private attorneys.
(iii) 2011 to 2012 = R7 045 000-00 was paid to the State Attorney and R1 205 651.14 was paid to private attorneys.
(iv) 2012 to 2013 = The Department has to date paid R7019 000-00 to the State Attorney and R260 599.29 has been paid to private attorneys.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 99
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 112013 NW105E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 February 2013
Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether
(a) her department and any entities reporting to it paid any bonuses to senior officials in December 2012; if so, in each specified case, (i) to whom and (ii) what amount was paid;
(b) whether the specified bonuses were performance-based; if not, what is the justification for each bonus; if so, in each case, from which budget were the performance bonuses paid;
(2) Whether, in each case
(a) a performance agreement was signed with the official and
(b) regular performance assessments were conducted; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
| Institution | (a) Bonuses paid or not paid to Senior manager | (i) to Whom | (ii) What amount | 9b) Type of Bonus | (ii) from which budget | 2(a) performance agreement signed or not | (b) regular performance assessments conducted or not | (b) Details assessments conducted |
| 1. (a) The department (DEA) | Yes | 4 Deputy Directors-General | 5% of annual salary in each instance. The total amount paid out to DDGs was R236 137.30 | Performance based | DEA | Yes performance agreements were signed | Yes | There were formal mid year assessments and the performance bonuses were paid on the basis of an annual appraisal of each SMS member. |
| ISimangaliso | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SANParks | No bonuses were paid out in December 2012. Bonuses were however paid out in October/November 2012. | The Executive Manager | Performance based | SANParks budget | Yes, a performance agreement were signed. | Yes, regular performance assessments are conducted and the KPA assessments are available. | Performance assessments for all senior officials were conducted. | |
| Chief Executive Officer | 343 389.00 | |||||||
| ME Kruger National Park | 275 035.67 | |||||||
| MEC Conservative Services | 257 799.48 | |||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | 302 934.44 | |||||||
| ME Parks | 244 071.73 | |||||||
| ME Tourism and Marketing Development | 227 154.89 | |||||||
| ME Human Resources | 201 479.96 | |||||||
| SANBI | Not in | Chief Executive Officer | R 77678.40 | Performance | The SANBI | Yes, all senior | Yes, regular | Performance |
| Institution | (a) Bonuses paid or not to Senior Manager | (i) to Whom | (ii) What amount | (b) Type of Bonus | (ii) from which budget | 2(a) performance agreement signed or not | (b0 regular performance assessments conducted or not | (b) Details of assessment conducted | ||
| December 2012. However bonuses were paid in August 2012 | Head of Biodiversity Research and Knowledge Management | R 60 339-00 | based | SMS personnel budget. | Officials signed performance agreements. | Performance assessments were conducted for all senior officials | Assessment for all senior officials were conducted in September 2011 and March 2012 for the Financial 2011/2012. | |||
| Chief Director: Conversation Gardens and Tourism | R 47 448-75 | |||||||||
| Chief Director: Biodiversity Planning, Policy and Advice | R 46 056-00 | |||||||||
| Chief Director: Human Resources | R 47 448-75 | |||||||||
| Curator: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | R 37 437-00 | |||||||||
| Director: Human Resources | R 36 883-95 | |||||||||
| Ms Athea Stephens-Grassland Programme Manager | R 37 998-79 | |||||||||
| SAWS | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 99
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 February 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
99. Dr D T George (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether (a) her department and (b) any entities reporting to it paid any bonuses to senior officials in December 2012; if so, in each specified case, (i) to whom and (ii) what amount was paid;
(2) whether the specified bonuses were performance-based; if not, what is the justification for each bonus; if so, in each case, from which budget were the performance bonuses paid;
(3) whether, in each case, (a) a performance agreement was signed with the official and (b) regular performance assessments were conducted; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW105E
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REPLY:
(1) No performance bonuses were paid to senior officials of the Department of Water Affairs in December 2012.
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not Applicable
(2) Not applicable
(3) Not applicable
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 66
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 112013 NW72E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 February 2013
Mr E H Eloff (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(a) How many tickets did (i) her department National and (ii) any of its entities purchase to attend business breakfasts hosted by The New Age during the financial years (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and
(b) what was the total cost in each case?
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(a) Neither the department nor any of the entities reporting to it, has purchased any ticket to attend business breakfast hosted by The New Age during 20101201 1 and 201 1112 and during the period 1 April 2012 to date.
(b) Not applicable
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 66
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 February 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
66. Mr E H Eloff (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(a) How many tickets did (i) her department and (ii) any of its entities purchase to attend business breakfasts hosted by a certain newspaper (name furnished) (aa) in the (aaa) 2010-11 and (bbb) 2011-12 financial years and (bb) during the period 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what was the total cost in each case? NW72E
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REPLY:
(a)(i)(aa) None
(aaa) None
(bbb) None
(bb) None
(b) Not Applicable
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO. 42 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO.1/2013 NW44E DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 February 2013Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether the SA National Parks (SANParks) received a request for various documents in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), Act 2 of 2000, from a certain group (name furnished); if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whetherSANParks has complied with the applicable deadlines for responding to PAIA applications; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether SANParks intends to hand over some or all of the requested documents to the group; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether SANParks experienced any problems in processing this PAIA request; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Mrs S V Kalyan (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENTHANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS42. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1. SANParks did receive a request from a company (name furnished) at the end of 2012. A large number of questions covering various subjects was requested.
2. SANParks requested an extension of the deadline date as the numerous questions involved not only SANParks but various stakeholders as well. The request was also received on the eve of the annual Head Office closure for the festive season, therefore a response to the requester was sent out on 31 January 2013.
3. Yes, SANParks has thoroughly prepared all the documents requested. Some are not able to be handed over as they involve the intellectual property of external parties who have contractual agreements with SANParks.SANParks have indicated to the requester that, upon compliance with the prescribed costs associated with the processing of the request in accordance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act, they will be provided with certain of the information requested.
4. In light of the huge volume of information requested and the fact that the request was very broad and involved 3rd party information, SANParks had to dedicate 2 officials who worked more than 400 hours to gather the information requested. This request was extremely time consuming to process.
Reply received: March 2013
QUESTION NO 41
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 February 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 01)
41. Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) (a) What was the budget for the Adopt-a-River campaign (i) in the 2011-12 and (ii) for the 2012-13 financial year and (b) what are the (i) names and (ii) designations of the officials responsible for coordinating this campaign in each province;
(2) whether any memoranda of understanding have been signed with water boards regarding their involvement in the campaign since the inception of the campaign in 2010; if so, with which water boards;
(3) since the inception of the campaign in 2010 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (a) what are the names of the rivers that have been adopted, (b) where are they located and (c) what is the name of the respective adopting organisation;
(4) whether the campaign is facing any challenges; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details? NW43E
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REPLY:
(1) (a)(i) The budget for the Adopt-a-River Programme for the 2011/12 financial year was R17 110 000.00.
The Department of Water Affairs had initially budgeted R8 900 000. 00. Additional funding towards the implementation of the Adopt-a-River Programme was received from the Masibambane Donor Funds, which funded the programme with the total amount of R8 210 000. 00. The total budget for the 2011/12 financial year therefore came to R17 110 000.00. R9 579 240.00 of the budget was not utilised during the 2011/12 financial year due to some projects starting late in the last quarter of the financial year. This resulted in them not being fully implemented and closed by the end of the financial year. Therefore these funds were rolled over to the 2012/13 financial year.
(ii) The Department had initially budgeted the amount of R710 967.00 for the Adopt-a-River Programme for the financial year 2012/13. The funds that were rolled over from the 2011/12 financial year were added into the budgeted amount for 2012/13. The total budget for the 2012/13 financial year then came to R10 290 207.00.
(b) The names and designations of the officials responsible for coordinating this campaign in each Province are listed on the attached letter.
(2) Yes, the Memoranda of Understanding were signed with the Water Boards as Implementing Agencies for the Adopt-a-River Programme. The table below indicates the Water Boards that were involved in implementing this programme, together with the Regions/Provinces where the projects were held.
| Region | Adopt-a-River Project | IMPLENTING AAGENCIES |
| Limpopo | Luvuvhu Adopt-a-River | Lepelle Northern water |
| Gauteng | Jukskei Adopt-a-River | Rand Water Board |
| Gauteng | Kaalspruit Adopt-a-River | Rand Water Board |
| KwaZulu-Natal | Isipingo Adopt-a-River | Umngeni Water Board |
| Eastern Cape | Shixini Adopt-a-River | Amatola Water Board |
| Eastern Cape | Buffalo Adopt-a-River | Amatola Water Board |
(3) The table below provides the names of the rivers that have been adopted, their location and the names of the adopting organisations:
| Rivers adopted | Location of rivers | Adopting organisation |
| Luvuvhu River | Limpopo Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Buffalo River | Eastern Cape Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Jukskei River | Gauteng Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Kaalspruit River | Gauteng Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Isipingo River | KwaZulu Natal Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Mthata River | Eastern Cape Province | Department of Water Affairs |
| Shixini River | Eastern Cape Province | Chief Dumalisile of Shixini Village |
| Moreletaspruit | Gauteng Province | Community volunteering |
| Moretele River | Gauteng Province | Community volunteering |
| Caledon (Setsoto) | Free State Province | Community volunteering |
| Sandspruit (Senekal) | Free State Province | Community volunteering |
| Wilge | Free State Province | South African Breweries |
| Ngwenani (Tshinwamukumbi) | Limpopo Province | Community volunteering |
| Dzidzhidzhi (Thandolula) | Limpopo Province | Community volunteering |
| Mutale (Shikovhokovho) | Limpopo Province | Community volunteering |
| Eerste | Western Cape Province | Community volunteering |
| Kuils (Khayelitsha) | Western Cape Province | Community volunteering |
| Khayalethu (Knysna) | Western Cape Province | Community volunteering |
| Dwars (Ceres) | Western Cape Province | Community volunteering |
| Harts | Northern Cape Province | Community volunteering |
(4) Yes, the programme is facing some challenges which are summarised below:
· Limited funding;
· More communities approaching the Department requesting to be involved with the implementation of Adopt-a-River projects in their areas, which mostly emanate from an idea of benefitting from the stipends;
· Sewage spills being the biggest challenges in some areas.;
· In some instances rivers are polluted at the sites where communities use the rivers due to lack of full services;
· Continuous dumping of rubbish in the rivers;
Lack of access to basic services, both water and sanitation lead to people using the rivers for their daily needs, i.e doing laundry at the river.
Some of the initiatives to address the challenges are as follows:
· Intense awareness and education programme, and also integrating the programme with already existing programmes such as Baswa le Meetse and 2020 Vision, in order to do awareness to schools;
· Political intervention to ensure contribution by all stakeholders concerned, especially at District and Local Municipalities, Department of Human Settlements, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education (both Basic and Higher Learning), and Department of Public Works, to mention but a few;
· Enhancement of the River Health Programme Technical Teams within the Department of Water Affairs' regional offices;
· Partnerships need to be formed with other Industries and Businesses;
Explore other means of funding from programmes such as the Extended Public Works Programmes, as the Masibambane Donor Funding has ended.