Let us support municipalities to ensure delivery of water and sanitation services - Deputy Minister Magadzi
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Dikeledi Magadzi emphasised that municipalities that are failing to deliver basic water and sanitation services and adhere to the national norms and standards needs to be engaged and assisted. Magadzi was speaking during the delivery of 2022/23 Budget Vote at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 18 May 2022.
The purpose of the Budget Vote was for the Ministry to outline the department's key priorities and budget allocations for the current financial year.
Deputy Minister Magadzi also pointed out that the distribution of water and sanitation services or reticulation and the treatment of wastewater, is the direct responsibility of municipalities. She added that this is proving to be a great challenge and the department remains ultimately responsible for water availability and security.
"In our extensive travels around South Africa during ministerial working sessions over the last nine months, we have seen at first hand the state of municipal water and sanitation services. In many areas, we met people who are still waiting to get potable water supply", Deputy Minister Magadzi stated.
Magadzi highlighted that they have seen many municipalities, where projects run into the 10th year with distribution pipes installed, but there is no water in the taps, or the water coming out of the taps is not drinkable. In some areas, women and children are still walking to the nearest stream where the water is not safe to drink, and risk being attacked by crocodiles and criminals while trying to source water.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
On the issues of pollution, spillages, and sewer running to the streets and ultimately into people's houses, Deputy Minister Magadzi indicated that the Ministry is prioritising this matter and moving from Province to Province to work with Municipalities or intervene through Section 63 to assist.
"While the Constitution gives the responsibility for providing water and sanitation services to municipalities, it also requires that national government supports municipalities, and that national government intervenes where there is failure" Magadzi said.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister Magadzi announced that as we strengthen our support and intervention role at municipal level, we will not neglect our core responsibilities of developing the national water resources, and we are paying close attention to accelerating the planning and implementation of key water resource augmentation projects around the country.
Magadzi added that the Department will continue to support the municipalities to develop and refurbish municipal water and sanitation bulk distribution infrastructure, through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant, (WISG).
Deputy Minister Magadzi concluded by stressing that the obligations on the national government to support and intervene at municipal level are further elaborated in the National Water Act and in the Water Services Act. National government must therefore also take responsibility for the decline in water and sanitation services at municipal level.
