Inputs from Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ronnie Kasrils for cluster press briefing by Minister Mthembi-Mahanyele, February 10th, 2000.
On poverty alleviation
The provision of basic water supply andsanitation is a very direct, practical means by which we improve the life of the poor. It improves their health and lessens the day to day burden of carrying water. The jobs we create with every project further contribute to reducing poverty. For instance, the R750 million spent by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in the past financial year created around 60 000 jobs But we must recognise that there is more to service provision than counting the number of taps and toilets delivered. What matters is that they continue to work so that people continue to benefit.
I have conducted an audit of the work of my Department as well as of the achievements of government as a whole in this field since 1994. The real story of delivery in water and sanitation is that we have achieved both more and less than we have previously stated. I must also emphasise that much has been achieved by agencies other than the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
Since 1994, we estimate that Government has served 9.2 million people with basic water supplies. In rural areas, the proportion served by infrastructure is up from 33%- 50%. Around four million people received new supplies to RDP standards; a total of over 6 million benefited through improvements to the reliability and quality of supplies. In urban areas, the proportion served rose from 84%-92%.
About half of the water supply improvements were achieved through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's programme. The rest has been achieved in housing programmes, through local government and other organisations. In sanitation, the picture is even more dramatic. While in rural areas little has been achieved beyond the first pilot projects, substantial progress has been made in urban areas. Approximately 5 million people have benefited from improved sanitation through the Department of Housing's programmes. With housing support focusing increasingly in rural areas, we hope that household sanitation will become an important focus of investments for housing improvement.
This experience demonstrates the need for all sectors of government to work together as a team, something that will characterise our efforts over the coming year. The challenge of keeping services working is one that that we will all be focusing on through intensified programmes of support to local government since it is at local level that the day-to-day work is done.
On the basis of the audit already conducted, I am reviewing the strategy of my Department to find ways to further accelerate service delivery in rural areas without compromising sustainability. Linked to this, we will be developing new approaches to ensure that safe water is affordable for all South Africans. We note that innovative approaches to water supply management in places like Durban have enabled the municipality there to supply the basic needs of all their residents for free; only consumption above the basic minimum is charged for.
Over 20 million rural people have no acceptable sanitation. Pilot projects have been run by my department. A key thrust of our effort will now focus on improving this situation. It is clear that this approach must be a co-ordinated effort between the Departments of Housing, Health, Education, and Water Affairs and Forestry.
Job creation and poverty Job creation projects, another important tool for attacking poverty, can also meet other objectives such as the protection of our environment. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's Working for Water programme has, for instance, is employing over 18,000 people in 280 projects. Again, partnerships are important and the programme is co-operating with the Department of Welfare to run a childcare programme for its workers as well as a partnership to reintegrate 120 ex-offenders into society. This year's budget for the program is over R250 million
Integrated rural development In the focus area of integrated rural development, the importance of water and forestry to our rural communities have been highlighted. In the Eastern Cape, there is close collaboration between national and provincial government in the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes at Tyefu, Ncora and Qamata. From Ceres in the Western Cape to Arabie in Northern Province and Shemula and Mbazwana in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, collaboration on development projects is underway. Aside from the widely publicised sale of large commercial forests, there are important developments in the transfer of smaller wood lots to communities which will have equally important impact on the lives and opportunities of the rural poor.
World Water Forum - Water Security for the World Water continues to be an international priority. Next month, a World Water Forum and Ministers meeting is to be held in The Hague, Netherlands. More than eighty countries will be participating and South Africa has been actively involved in the preparations for the Forum.
A key theme will be the challenge of ensuring 'water security' for all the world's people. This involves not just ensuring adequate water supplies and sanitation but, very topically, protection from floods and droughts. There is also emphasis on the need to increase the agricultural productivity of water, to get more 'crop per drop', to ensure that the expanding population can be fed. Introduction of economic measures to promote conservation and the efficient use of water will be a high priority as will the establishment of integrated management approaches and sharing by agreement between countries.
I am pleased to say that South Africa's involvement, working closely with SADC countries, as well as with others such as Egypt, India, China and Brazil, has helped to ensure that the conference will focus on the needs of the developing countries rather than the interests of the First world or the campaigns of international NGO's.
Milestones Meanwhile, across the country, new projects continue to be inaugurated. I have opened a Schools sanitation project in Nkowakowa, Northern Province, the water supply project in Kwazulu-Natal, the Rusfontein water works supplying ThabaNchu and Botshabelo in Free State and the Baviaanspoort wastewater works serving Mamelodi in Gauteng.
In addition, key milestones have been celebrated in the Odi public-public water service agreement in North West and the Umtata peri-urban water supply project in Eastern Cape.
Summary of DWAF programmee outputs 1994-1999
Rural people with services below RDP benefiting from DWAF - 2,63 million people served to RDP level
~,65 million people served by EI-Nino and other projects to agreed levels below RDP, had rudimentary infrastructure such as hand pumps on shallow boreholes.
Total people served 4,28 million Plus 0,6 million people benefited through agreed provision of bulk supply, with distribution to follow, such as at Arabie where 50 villages are involved and this number will still be expanded
Total benefiting from new infrastructure: 4,86 m
Total benefiting from DWAF : 6,8 million people
Plus 1,9 million people (with infrastructure at RDP or higher, but service problems) benefited from upgrades. services are now more reliable. An example of this are the I million people at Purandibele with pipes into the community, but not enough water in the pipes, therefore there is a need for developing sources of water. There is a bulk water transfer from Bronkhorstspruit sown to Kwandebele.
Funds Spent 1998 - 1999 : R1 billion
1999 - 2000 R750 million (R55Om on budget + poverty relief + donor funding)
2000 - 2001 (hope to maintain this level of spending)
MEDIA RELEASE Department of Water Affairs and Forestry / Directorate: Communication Services
Wednesday 09/02/00
MINISTER KASRILS COMMITS DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST IN FLOOD RELIEF
Water Affairs and Forestry Minister, Ronnie Kasrils, MP today expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the 33 victims of the floods in Mpunalanga and Northern Province as well as to the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been disrupted in South Africa as well as in neighbouring Mozambique by this natural disaster.
Minister Kasrils, assured the public that his Department is taking urgent steps to assist in this disaster that has left scores of people around the country destitute, missing and some dead. This is being done in close collaboration with the Joint Operational Centres for disaster management in the affected provinces.
In Mpumalanga where most of the rivers arc currently flooding, serious damage to the water supplies for nearly 1 000 000 people, has been reported. In the Northern Province, the floods have caused damage to infrastructure. which has interrupted more than 200 000 people's water supply. The estimated cost to repair Departmental water supply infrastructure has already reached R20 million with reports from many areas still outstanding
Minister Kasrils reiterated his Department's commitment to address this situation. The Minister said crisis management measures have been introduced and emergency teams are ready to repair damaged infrastructure as soon as the floods subside. Tanker services will be introduced as soon as possible in critical areas. The Department has warned the public in affected areas to boil their water or to disinfect it using 1 teaspoon of "Jik" type bleach solution in each 20 litres of water that they use.
The Department 5 disaster relief work is being co-ordinated with the joint disaster management operation centres which have been mobilised in the two regions. They may be contacted in Pietersburg on (015)290-6795 and Nelspruit (013)756-22672.
Minister Kasrils concluded by saying that his Department has been in constant contact with the Mozambican authorities, giving them as much advance information about their flood situation as possible. Flooding in Mozambique has reportedly left approximately 100 000 people homeless. The gravity of the situation there is highlighted by the Department's hydrologists who estimate that the flow in the Komati river reached a peak of 12 000 cubic metres per second, three times more than that experienced during the dramatic floods caused by Cyclone Domaine in 1985.
For all inquiries contact Mr Amelius Muller Chief Director Regional Management on (012)336-8746.
10/2/2000
Media Statement by:
Mr Ronnie Kasrils MP
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry
Ukuvuka: Operation Fires top Campaign
Three weeks ago the Cape Peninsula had fires that, with less fortunate winds, could have fuelled the most destructive urban fire in the history of this country. The fires were caused by a combination of factors; by far the most serious of which was the presence of dense stands of invading alien plants. These plants have a biomass that is ten times that of the indigenous fynbos vegetation. They are "born to burn". And they have also displaced the indigenous riverine (Afro-montane vegetation) that acts as a natural firebreak. The result is fires of intensities that, with the wrong winds, are impossible to control.
Out of the ashes of these fires has come a campaign that I hope will be a pilot case study that will change the ways in which we manage in terms of the vision of the Forest and Veld Fires Act of 1998. If we can work together to ensure that never again are there fires of this magnitude along the Table Mountain chain, through a combination of control actions, education and legislation, then we have a basis for similar approaches in all threatened areas.
The Campaign is called Ukuvuka: Operation Firestorm. The name, Ukuvuka, means to rise up, to awaken. It is appropriate in that we need to rise up to the threat of invading alien plants and other factors that threaten our safety. We need to awaken as a community, to know that together we can do so much more.
There are two aspects of the Campaign that are remarkable. The first is that it is being run across the full spectrum of stakeholders. Initiated together with Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister, VaIl Moosa, it was launched with the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Gerald Morkel, the mayors of the Cape Metropolitan Council, the City of Cape Town and the South Peninsula Municipality, and the head of the South African National Parks The Non-Governmental Organisations are together with us. And the private sector has responded in a way that is almost unprecedented. Santam weighed in with R20 million, the Cape Argus has a R5,4 million advertising contribution, along with equally substantial editorial support. Total has pledged R5 million over the four years in which the campaign will run, and we know that there will be very substantial additional support. It has been kick-started in a way that surely does auger well for the future.
The second is that the Campaign has all the ingredients for success. We shall develop the comprehensive legislation that will enable us to ensure that land-owners are accountable for what happens on their land, and gives authorities the power to clear invading alien plants on private land - at the land-owners' cost and risk. But I hope that this "stick" will seldom be necessary, for the first approach is to use the "carrot" or incentive - educating people, and helping them to deal with the problems of invading alien plants, the need for rehabilitation, and of fire-proofing their houses. It will all be done in a labour-intensive way, as part of the Working for Water programme, and we shall pay particular attention to the plight of the poor - not only
in creating employment and training, but in building fire-fighting associations in their communities, and across communities.
I would like to predict that out of this will arise a network of fire associations, as envisaged in the Forest and Veld Fires Act of 1998, and the virtually total removal of invading alien plants, that will ensure that never again will there be fires of this intensity along the Table Mountain chain. I would further predict that the lessons learned here will spread to all areas at risk from fires, and that this Campaign will indeed represent an awakening, a rising up, as the name Ukukvuka captures so well.
For further information please contact:
Mr Guy Preston
Cell: 083 3258700
CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT
Highlights of past year - 19 Water Management Areas declared under the National Water Act
process of establishing Catchment Management Agencies begun in various areas across the country
Progress attained in last year
The regional offices are working closely with stakeholders in the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies. A number of catchment management forums have been established as part of this process, and a great deal of awareness raising and education of stakeholders around the institutional elements of the new legislation has taken place.
Targets/vision/intended progress in new year The first proposal for the establishment of aCatchment Management Agency is expected to be handed in to the Department early in the new financial year. This is the proposal for the establishment of a CMA in the Nkomati/Sand/Crocodile water management area in Mpumalanga. The process of establishing a Catchment Management Agency requires the establishment of an advisory committee to advise the Minister on the appointment of members of the Catchment Management Agency Board. This advisory committee will be established in the next year for the Nkomati water management area.
At least one other proposal is expected within the next year.
WATER PRICING POLICY
Highlights and progress of past year Anew water pricing policy for raw water was gazetted in late 1999. This pricing policy is intended to move the country towards a more realistic price for raw water, which has been heavily subsidised in the past, particularly in the agricultural sector.
The new pricing policy allows for several elements to be factored in to the price of water, including
- a water resource development and use of waterworks charge which covers the costs of the infrastructure development that makes water available for use;
- a water resources management charge, which factors in the costs of managing the catchment area.
A policy on the provision of subsidies for emerging farmers was also developed. The subsidy scheme finances a percentage of off farm water infrastructure development costs for emerging farmers. The new water pricing strategy also makes allowance for lower tariffs for emerging farmers with these increasing over 5 years from issuing of a licence or registration of water use to reach cost recovery of O&M costs.
Targets/vision/intended progress in new year This pricing strategy will be introduced in April 2000 for raw water users for which payment has historically been made to the department, such as in government water schemes and Eskom.
A process of registering water users will enable the department to introduce this pricing strategy for all significant users of raw water as from April 2001.
WATER USE AND REGISTRATION AND LICENSING PROCESS
Highlights of past year Regulations for water registration in terms of the National Water Act published in Government Gazette
Progress attained in last year Registration of users of raw water began in October 1999.
Targets/vision/intended progress in new year 80% of raw water users to be registered by October 2000.
Computerised system for registration and billing of water users to be in place
by April 2000
10/2/2000
Media statement by:
Mr Ronnie Kasrils, MP
Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry
NATIONAL WATER WEEK 2000
"WATER: THE KEY TO DEVELOPMENT" CAMPAIGN
National Water Week 2000 intends to focus the attention of South Africa on restoring and preserving the integrity of our most precious resource. The National Water Week campaign has grown to be a very visible event in the calendar of the year. The campaign involves various stakeholders including other Government Departments, provincial structures, educational institutions, the private sector as well as various community organisations.
One of the principal components in the celebrations is a call which will be marked by the cleaning up of rivers and spruits by the President and members of Cabinet. The President will take part in a clean-up campaign in Cape Town on 15thMarch from 12:30 p.m.
National Water Week has become a recognised event on the South African calendar. The aim of Water Week is bring aspects of the value of water and its management to the broader public in an innovative, holistic and contemporary way.
National Water Week in the year 2000 runs from 17 to 26 March. significant that Human Rights Day will be commemorated on 21 March World Water Day on 22 March 2000 and HACK Day on 24 March
The theme of National Water Week 2000 campaign is Water-the key to development both present and future. The theme emphasises the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all South Africans towards our water resources. The slogan of the campaign is Everything works with water, let's all work for water. The subtext to the slogan is Viva Water Pure and Clean.
The campaign will draw attention to how precious water is to each and every South African. It must educate South Africans about how scarce our water resources are so that everyone understands his or her responsibility in looking after our water resources. One of the ways of preserving our scare water resources is to remove alien plants that waste about 7% of the county's water resources, increase the problems associated floods and fires cause erosion, destruction of rivers, situation and poor water quality. We wish every South African to understand that water is crucial to our economic and social development; that without water the future is empty.
I would like South Africans of all ages and all persuasions to participate pro-actively in National Water Week 2000. In order to mobilise this response; we are issuing a 'call to action'.
We are calling all South Africans to:
· Clean up our rivers and waterways
· Stop leaks and prevent wastage of water
· Focus on appropriate sanitation to protect our groundwater and to improve the health of the nation
· Remove alien vegetation
In the spirit of the new South Africa, we are gathering the support of leaders over the broad spectrum, politicians, captains of industry, organised labour, community leaders, women, and youth, to participate in furthering the aims of the Campaign.
I appeal to all members of the public, to the private sector, to scholars and to the elderly, to men and women, to the powerful and to the poor, to participate in this campaign, to work for water. Let us demonstrate the power of people working together. Let us lead the call to action by contribution and example.
For further information please contact:
Mr Babs Naidoo
Tel: (012) 336-8246
Fax: (012) 324-6592
E-mail: bda@dwaf.pwv.gov.za