Parliament, Wednesday, 18 September 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has mandated the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to devise a workable plan to be presented to the committee at the beginning of the next term to resolve the current challenge of debt owed to water boards by municipalities.
The committee received a presentation from the National Treasury and the DWS and raised concerns about the lack of tangible plan to respond to the crisis.
“The risk of Vaal Central and Magalies Water Boards going bankrupt in the next six to twelve months presents both an economic and security threat that the country cannot afford. We must stop the endless engagements and present a tangible plan that will rescue the situation,” said Mr Leon Basson, the Chairperson of the committee.
The committee is of the view that there is a worrying trend of departments passing the buck to each other which will not ameliorate the situation. “It is on this basis that a convergence of minds is necessary to find innovative ways to find solutions. Also, the basis of a joint meeting is to ensure that every role-player is present and makes a meaningful contribution to efforts to finding solutions,” Mr Basson emphasised.
Furthermore, in efforts to find solutions, the committee has argued for firm actions against municipalities because some of the options, like the bailout possibility, has a potential of creating an undesirable effect to perpetuate the culture of non-payment by municipalities. “If what is needed is legislation amendment or top slicing the equitable share to ensure that essential services are paid, then we must implement it to all municipalities urgently,” Mr Basson argued.
The committee remains of the view that payment of services is sacrosanct and makes the entire water value chain viable. The collapse of the two water boards threatens access to water for about five million people in the country. The upstream and downstream effects of the collapse of these water boards is not only a water access issue, but will also lead to rapid deterioration of infrastructure and the collapse of the economic potential of the country.
As a result, the committee will prioritise scheduling a meeting early in the next term to receive a tangible plan to resolve the debt issue.
Meanwhile, the committee resolved to postpone the presentation on the governance challenges at Amatola Water due to the unavailability of the Minister. “The committee considers the challenges at Amatola water as urgent and require similar attention. The committee felt it was necessary to have the Minister present to ensure a thorough assessment of the challenges,” Mr Basson concluded. The committee will consider all avenues possible to schedule that meeting timeously.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND SANITATION, MR LEON BASSON
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