Parliament, Tuesday, 15 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation remains concerned by legislative and administrative impediments preventing government departments from exploiting innovations developed at the Water Research Commission (WRC). The concern is based on the huge challenges within the water value chain, such as increasing non-revenue water, the pollution of river systems by inadequate waste water treatment works and lack of access to quality sanitation.
“South Africa is faced with huge challenges within the value chain with up to 50% of treated water lost due to water leaks and a continued lack of access to quality sanitation. It is thus concerning when innovations funded through the WRC are not taken up by government departments to solve some of the lingering challenges within the system,” said Mr Leon Basson, the Chairperson of the committee.
While the committee accepts the willingness for the products to be marketed in other countries, the committee highlighted that these solutions are also appropriate in the South African context.
The downstream impact of this lack of take-up is, on one hand, an inability to resolve contemporary challenges while, on the other, it robs South Africa of an important economic driver as the production of solutions at scale would create job opportunities for young people. The committee has urged the Department of Water and Sanitation to work with the National Treasury to resolve some of the legislative impediments to enable innovative solutions to South Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.
Meanwhile, the committee welcomed the sound financial control at the WRC. “The WRC continues to be a model entity that achieves its targets while ensuring financial stability and viability,” Mr Basson emphasised. The committee also welcomed the WRC’s intention to expand its footprint, thereby enhancing the impact of its knowledge and expertise.
In addition, the committee welcomed the improved collection rate at the Breede-Olifants Catchment Management Agency. The increase from 89% in the 2023/24 financial year to 99% in the 2023/24 financial year is impressive and should be maintained. “The payment of services is critical for the viability of any institution and the committee is pleased that the agency is achieving what other state entities fail to do,” Mr Basson emphasised.
The committee also welcomed the assurance that the catchment management agency is playing its role to fast-track water-use licence applications. The speedy processing of licences is critical to unlocking the economic potential of water use.
Meanwhile, the committee welcomed the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency’s achievement of 16 out of 18 targets. The committee views meeting targets as a critical marker of quality service delivery. The committee also encouraged the agency to improve collaboration with other government agencies to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
The pollution of water resources remains a concern for the committee, particularly as South Africa is a water-scarce country.
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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