Over the past week the North West Province has experienced an escalation in challenges relating to the provision of water in certain areas of the province. We recognize the impact that this has had on a number of communities, within the context that water is a basic right which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. We wish to indicate that government is addressing this issue head on and has taken a number of steps to ensure that all residents of the province have access to water, both in the short term and in the longer term.
Yesterday (Sunday) we convened a special meeting of the Inter-Departmental Water Task Team which comprises provincial departments, the National Department of Water and Sanitation, Water Boards, and all municipalities in the province. This Task Team, which will serve as a War Room on Water, will ensure that we act in the spirit of cooperative governance in tackling the issues of water provision in the province. We are one government and we wish to ensure that the people of our province are able to experience the provision of services in a seamless manner.
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