PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY OVERSIGHT REPORT ON THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE 30 JULY – 03 AUGUST DATED 07 NOVEMBER 2007:
The Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry having undertaken oversight in the North West Province from 30 July – 03 August reports as follows:
1. Introduction and Background
The Committee as mandated by the Constitution and the rules of Parliament conducted oversight in the North West Province from the 30 July – 03 August 2007.
The aim of the oversight was:
To view the progress made with the eradication of the bucket sanitation toilet-, sanitation- and water backlogs;
View the quality of water resources in the province.
In addition to the above the Committee undertook to gain first hand knowledge of the water crises that escalated in Swartruggens.
The legal underpinning of water and sanitation issues in South Africa is grounded in the following:
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The right to have access to sufficient water is provided in section 27(1) (b) of the South African Constitution. Section 27(1) (b) read in conjunction with section 27(2) provides that the State must take reasonable legislative and other measures to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the progressive realisation of the right to access of water within its available resources. The provision of clean water in sufficient quantities also has implications for health, food security and overall economic development.
The right to sanitation has no explicit provision in the Constitution, but can be derived from section 24(a), read together with the right to have access to sufficient water, that people have a right to sanitation.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has enacted a number of Acts, policies and strategies that define and determine the parameters in which water related issues are concretised:
The National Water Act (NWA) of 1998 ensures that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled.
The National Water Resource Strategy, 2004.
The Strategic Framework for Water Services (SFWS), 2003 addresses key challenges, namely, prevailing inequality. The SFWS aims to provide basic services, higher levels of services and sustainable service, including institutional sustainability.
The Water Services Act, 1997 sets out the rights of consumers, and the rights and duties of those responsible for providing water services. The Act also provides the right of access to basic water supply, and the right to basic sanitation necessary to secure sufficient water and an environment nor harmful to human health or well-being.
In addition to the above, and in relation to the DWAF now being a sector leader, the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act, 56 of 2003 also provides the duties, functions and conditions that municipalities should adhere to in rendering service delivery.
The report therefore factors in the legislative framework, policy, guidelines and other frameworks that guide the work of the DWAF and municipalities in providing effective services to communities.
2. Delegation
Hon. Ms C September, (ANC) – Chairperson, Hon. Ms M Maine, (ANC), Hon. Mr J Arendse, (ANC), Hon. Mr. BG Mosala (ANC), Hon. Ms TE Lishivha, (ANC), Hon. Ms M Manana, (ANC), Hon. Mr H Cupido, (ACDP), Hon. Mr M Sibuyana, (IFP), Hon. Mr P Ditshetelo, (UCDP).
3. Overview of the North West Province
3.1 Demographics
The North West Province is a medium sized province, covering 116 320 km2, with a population of 3, 7 million people, which constitutes 8.2% of South Africa’s population. The Province is predominantly rural, with 65, 1% of the population living in rural areas and 34, 9 % in urban areas. 54% of the land is used for agricultural economic activity. The economy can be categorised as a dualistic agricultural economy, with a well developed commercial sector and a large subsistence sector; there are approximately 7600 commercial farms and approximately 147 000 subsistence farmers in the North WestProvince.
There are three major irrigation schemes situated on the Crocodile, Vaal and HartsRivers. The Vaal-Harts Irrigation scheme covers a total area of about 43 700 hectares, of which wheat, maize and groundnuts take 36%, 23% and 22% of the total irrigated fields area respectively. The Province is responsible for the production of 94% of the country’s platinum, 46% of South Africa’ granite and 25% of the country’s gold.
The major challenges the province faces are:

  • Low population density and relatively inadequate infrastructure, especially in the remote rural areas.
  • Inherited large backlogs in basic service delivery and maintenance.
  • Predominantly poor population with high levels of illiteracy and dependency that affect their productivity and ability to compete for jobs.
  • Significant inequalities between the rich and poor, as well as between urban and rural.
  • Available resources are unevenly distributed and offer limited potential for improved delivery of services and growth.
  • Rapid rate of urbanisation is experienced by the province.

3.2 Water Management Areas
The province falls within four water management areas, namely:

  • Lower Vaal
  • Middle Vaal
  • Upper Vaal
  • Crocodile Marico

Currently the following arrangement is upheld provincially:

  • The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) remains responsible for the management whilst Catchment Management Agencies are being established
  • Local level Water User Associations are also being established with primary focus on transforming existing irrigation boards.

3.3 Institutional arrangements
Provincial government has the overall responsibility of coordinating the implementation of local government functions, including water. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry fulfils a primary role of supporting Water Service Authorities in the provision on water services. The Department offers support in the form of assistance with planning, implementation, operation and maintenance.
Twelve municipalities fulfil a water service authority function, namely:

  • CentralDistrictMunicipality
  • BophirimaDistrictMunicipality
  • MoreteleLocalMunicipality
  • MadibengLocalMunicipality
  • RustenburgLocalMunicipality
  • KgetlengrivierLocalMunicipality
  • MosesKotaneLocalMunicipality
  • VentersdorpLocalMunicipality
  • PotchefstroomLocalMunicipality
  • City of MatloasanaLocalMunicipality
  • MaquassiHillsLocalMunicipality
  • MerafongLocalMunicipality

There are four Water Boards operating in the province: Sedibeng-, Magalies-, Rand- and Botshelo Water Board. These Water Boards had previously worked with the Department in providing source to tap water services. Midvaal Water Company also operates as a water service provider in the Southern district municipal area.
3.4 Water resources
The North West Province is a water scarce province. The following are the major dams in the area:

  • Buffelspoort
  • Hartebeespoort
  • Klein Karoo
  • Kromellendboog
  • Marico Bosveld
  • Molatedi
  • The ground water is of a good quality, but limited. There are also a number of small dams and rivers, some of which are seasonal. The state of water is a major issue, due to the rapid rate of urbanisation. The bulk of the water comes from the VaalRiver system, which entails water transportation over long distances and the usage of high pumping elevations.
    Water is also transferred from Thukela via the Thukela/Vaal and Drakensberg schemes, and the Orange River via the Lesotho Highlands Project. This importation/ transferral of water to the province has a cost implication for the municipalities in the form of the Bulk resources tariff.
    3.5 Backlogs
    3.5.1 Bucket Toilet Backlog
    The deadline for the eradication of the bucket toilet backlogs, as stated by the Hon. President is December 2007. The North WestProvince had a bucket toilet backlog of 25 124 buckets at the first of June 2006.
    Implementation of the bucket eradication programme had started in the 2006/07 financial year, through the implementation of ‘Phase 1’ in which the Province prioritised the eradication of approximately 10000 buckets in 5 local municipalities. These municipalities were:
    TswaingLocalMunicipality - 1469 bucket toilets.
  • DitsobotlaLocalMunicipality - 1296 bucket toilets.
  • MamusaLocalMunicipality - 2371 bucket toilets.
  • LekwaTeemaneLocalMunicipality – 1498 bucket toilets.
  • MaquassiHillsLocalMunicipality – 3512 bucket toilets.

The Development Bank of South Africa provided, in total, funding of R100 million to the respective municipalities in order to expedite the eradication of the bucket backlog. The Provincial Department of Local Government and housing’s allocation is structured to cover the cost of the loan over the 2006/07 (R 30 million) and 2007/08 (R70 million) financial years. The progress to date is that eleven sanitation projects have been implemented. The total value of these projects is R106, 95 million. Seven of the eleven sanitation projects are completed. The number of buckets eradicated, as at March 2007, is 12 100. According to the Provincial Government, the backlog is 17 944 buckets, this target, however includes post 1994 bucket toilets. Current statistics from the National Department of Water Affairs and Forestry states that the backlog is currently at 3600 for the entire province, but this is strictly the pre-1994 target.
3.5.2 Sanitation Backlog
The deadline for the eradication of the sanitation backlog is 2010. The North WestProvince had a sanitation backlog of 734 942 households. It is estimated that R 1, 5 billion is needed to clear the Household sanitation backlogs.
Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocations for sanitation projects for the 2006/07 and 2007/08 financial years are R145 923 748, 85 and R18 720 773, 59 respectively, with a total of 115 projects rolled out over the two year period.
3.5.3 Water Backlog
The target for access to water is 2008. The North WestProvince has a water backlog of 638 091 households. Eighteen percent of the population of the North WestProvince’s access to Water is below the RDP level, which is access to water within a 200m radius. An estimated R1, 8 billion is required to clear the household water backlogs.
Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocations for Water projects for the 2006/07 and the 2007/08 financial year are R 85 238 960, 66 and R 26 294 702, 85 respectively, with a total of 135 projects rolled out over the two year period.
3.6 Challenges
The following challenges are experienced in the North WestProvince:

  • It is a water scarce province, where there is heavy reliance on underground water resources, which is depleted due to a shortage in the rainfall experienced this year.
  • Funding shortfalls experienced by municipalities for infrastructure implementation and eradication of the backlogs.
  • Capacity and Human Resource constraints at Local Municipal Level.
  • Vandalism of water and sanitation infrastructure.
  • Unaccounted for water, water losses and un-metered consumption of water.
  • Access to water is a complex issue, due to the fact that individuals’ access to water varies. 182 879 persons have no access to water, 684 483 persons have below RDP access to water, and are classified as needy by the department.

3.7 Future plans
The province has highlighted the following as future plans that should be undertaken:

  • The facilitation of the implementation of the upgrading to bulk water supply pipeline at MaquassiHillsLocalMunicipality in support of bucket eradication
  • Encouraging water service authorities and local municipalities to prioritise water and sanitation projects, especially water projects on the 2007/08 and 2008/09 Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocations to meet the 2008 deadline.
  • A study to be conducted to determine the extent of the water and sanitation backlogs in the North WestProvince and the cost of eradicating the backlogs by the year 2010.
  • Communication to communities on water conservation and demand management.
  • A large dolomitic aquifer has been discovered in the Central District Municipal Area. The viability of water extraction from the aquifer is still to be established. The soil conditions are dolomitic.

4. OVERSIGHT OF NORTHWESTPROVINCE
4.1 NgakaModiriMolemaDistrictMunicipality
The Local Municipalities falling under the NgakaModiriMolemaDistrictMunicipality are:

  • RatlouLocalMunicipality
  • TswaingLocalMunicipality
  • MafikengLocalMunicipality
  • DitsobotlaLocalMunicipality
  • RamotshereMoilaLocalMunicipality

Table1: Bucket eradication in NgakaModiriDistrictMunicipality

Township / Original Backlog / Eradicated Backlog / Remaining Backlog
Letsopa Ext 1 / 179 / 179 / 0
Letsopa Ext 2 / 386 / 386 / 0
Boikhutso Phase 2 / 252 / 252 / 0
Boikhutso Phase 3 / 338 / 338 / 0
Tlhabologang Ext 5 / 1 395 / 0 / 1 395(via housing)
Itekeng Ext 2 (VIP) / 960 / 0 / 960
Delareyville Ext 7 & Sannieshof (VIP) / 839 + 51 / 0 / 890
TOTALS / 4 400 / 1 155 / 3 245

Table 2: Funding allocated to projects for the implementation of sanitation backlog eradication

Financial Year / Project / Service Level / Allocation (MIG, others) / Number Of Buckets eradicated
2007/2008 / Construction of bulk water & supply lines to support 1395 stands in
Tlhabologang Ext 5 (and other stands in Coligny) / Full Water-borne / R12m (DBSA) / 0 [project in preparation, construction expected to start in Sept 07]
2007/2008 / Construction of low-cost houses at
Tlhabologang Ext 5 / Full Water-borne / Amount to be ascertained from Department of Housing. / 0 [construction of houses has started]
2007/2008 / Construction of water and sewer networks and toilet structures at Itekeng Ext 2 (replacing VIP’s) / Full Water-borne / R16m (DBSA) / 0 [project in preparation. Construction expected to start in Sept 07]
2007/2008 / Construction of water and sewer networks and toilet structures at Delareyville Sannieshof
(replacing VIP’s) / Full Water-borne / R11.908m (MIG) / 0 [project in preparation. Construction expected to start in Aug 07

4.1.1 Challenges
The challenges highlighted with the bucket eradication programme currently being implemented are:

  • Implementation of post- 1994 projects.
  • Time constraints in terms of completing by December 2007.
  • Registration of abstraction license for Tlhabologang Ext 5.
  • Access to Water and sanitation
  • Emphasis on provision to below RDP.
  • Population below basic level of service on water is 167 910.
  • The total cost to eradicate water backlogs is estimated at R2 074 642 677.
  • Population below basic level of service on sanitation is 379 289.
  • The total cost to eradicate sanitation backlogs is estimated at R1 327 526 791.

The local municipalities, Ratlou and Ramotshere Moila also presented to the Committee their own presentations on the sanitation, bucket and water backlogs and the challenges experienced in terms of meeting the targets set for the eradication of the backlogs. It was discovered that the level of support from the Department and the District municipality was not evident from the presentation of the local municipalities.

4.1.2 Observations
Implementation of full waterborne sanitation technology does not match the conditions encountered in the district municipality, namely that of water scarcity, alternative sanitation technologies, such as dry sanitation, which would make more economic sense and long term maintenance would be more cost effective than the propositions made by the presenters.
The Committee also found that the support given to two of the local municipalities was not at a level that inspired confidence in the delegation; with Ratlou and Ramotshere Moila local municipalities the following was raised by the Committee:
4.1.3.1 Ratlou Local Municipality:

  • Assistance given to RatlouLocalMunicipality by the district municipality in terms of provision of services, which is without a budget and is not a delegated service provider.
  • Section 78 Processes are incomplete.
  • There was no funding provided to eradicate the backlog.
  • Assistance with the geo-hydrologically study and water service development plan.

4.1.3.2 RamotshereMoilaLocalMunicipality

  • No accurate up to date statistics were presented.
  • An explanation of tables in presentation on financials and projected financial figures was not given.
  • The figures on water and sanitation backlogs were also confusing. A detailed explanation was requested on how this local municipality will address the challenges posed in terms of funding capacity to meet the set targets for buckets, water and sanitation as pronounced by the Hon. President of South Africa.

Progress on Bucket eradication:

  • The information supplied was not cognisant of the targets set by the Hon. President of South Africa. Also no information was supplied for the 2007/08 financial year.
  • Water Supply to Khunotswane and Ntswelesoku.
  • The Portfolio Committee contested the information supplied by the presenter stating water is being provided, and affirmed that people are standing in queues.
  • No information supplied on the Schools and clinics sanitation and water backlogs experienced in the RamotshereMoilaLocalMunicipality.

4.1.3.3 The following recommendations emanated from a meeting with the local municipalities:

  • The RatlouLocalMunicipality should liaise more closely with the NgakaModiriMolemaDistrictMunicipality and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry officials to ascertain information currently available on the Geo-hydrological conditions found in RatlouLocalMunicipality.
  • Instead of Ratlou Municipality advocating to take over the responsibility of service provider, without understanding the responsibility of this undertaking, at this point in time, it would be much easier to fulfil their mandate as best as possible within timeframes and funding available.
  • There seems not to be proper integration/ co-ordination between the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’s programme with Department of Health and Education and the municipalities in which schools and clinics sanitation services are to be rolled out to. The Department should liaise with municipalities on the progress of sanitation and water services roll-out to schools and clinics.
  • Botshelo Water Board is the water board that is responsible for the provision of reticulated water in the Central District municipality. There was a clearly established working relationship between the Department, the Water Board and the DistrictMunicipality.

4.2 BophirimaDistrictMunicipality

The total population is 481 420 people. The number of households is 101,328 houses, of which 25 013 are urban and 76 315 are rural households. The number of local municipalities comprising six of the following:

  • NalediLocalMunicipality
  • MamusaLocalMunicipality
  • LekwaTeemaneLocalMunicipality
  • Greater TaungLocalMunicipality
  • KagisanoLocalMunicipality
  • MolopoLocalMunicipality

Table 3: Backlogs in the BophirimaDistrictMunicipality

LocalMunicipality / Bucket Backlog / Water Backlog / Sanitation / Total per local municipality
Naledi local municipality / 600 / 1440 / 650 / 2690
Mamusa local municipality / 0 / 2000 / 3120 / 5120
Lekwa Teemane local municipality / 0 / 1138 / 285 / 1423
Greater Taung local municipality / 0 / 13823 / 27310 / 41133
Kagisano local municipality / 0 / 4100 / 14625 / 18725
Molopo local municipality / 0 / 1389 / 380 / 1769
Total / 600 / 23890 / 46370 / 70860

Table 4: Financial implications of backlog eradication programmes for Bophirima District Municipality

LocalMunicipality / Cost of bucket backlog / Cost of Water Backlog / Cost of Sanitation backlog / Total per local municipality
Naledi local municipality / R 6,300,000 / R 12,960,000 / R 2,275,000 / R 21,535,000
Mamusa local municipality / R 0 / R 18,000,000 / R 15,600,000 / R 33,600,000
Lekwa Teemane local municipality / R 0 / R 10,250,000 / R 1,425,000 / R 11,675,000
Greater Taung local municipality / R 0 / R 124,400,000 / R 136,550 / R 124,536,550
Kagisano local municipality / R 0 / R 36,900,000 / R 73,125,000 / R 110,025,000
Molopo local municipality / R 0 / R 12,500,000 / R 1,900,000 / R14,400,000
Total / R 6,300,000 / R 215,010,000 / R 94,461,550 / R315,771,550

The bucket eradication programme for the 2006/07 financial year costs R39 270 million. The primary source of funding is from the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), the approved loan amount is R38, 5 million. Bophirima District municipality supplemented the loan finance with an amount of R 770 000. The total number of stands eradicated is 3872 stands.
The target of pre- 1994 communities that were left out in the NalediLocalMunicipality are Huhudi (450 stands) and Colridge (150 stands), with a total estimated cost of R6 300 000 to implement the eradication of buckets found in these areas. Approved Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding is R26, 653 million for the 2007/08 financial year, which will cover the estimated cost of R6, 3 million.
Approved funding for the 2007/08 financial year is R4, 4 million, which is sourced from municipal operating income. Financial requirements of the district municipality to ensure that the 2010 target is met, is R 232 million spread over the three years of 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10. This would entail funding requirements of R77, 33 million per annum.
Challenges noted for the existing water backlogs are: