Parliament, Tuesday, 19 March 2024 –The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Mr Robert Mashego, has raised alarm at the water shortages currently being experienced across the country, from Johannesburg to Durban. Mr Mashego called for intergovernmental interventions to manage this scarce resource and also for enhanced maintenance of water systems infrastructure to ensure water continues to be provided to citizens.
“The committee has since its inception called for increased investment in infrastructure maintenance to deal with water leaks and eradicate unacceptably high levels of non-revenue water. Also, the committee has emphasised the critical need for behavioural change by consumers to pay for services and also use to water wisely,” Mr Mashego emphasised.
The Chairperson also highlighted the critical role municipalities must play in the water value chain, a responsibility that municipalities have largely abandoned. “Municipalities have largely underperformed in playing their mandated role to ensure the provision of water to the people as a result of lack of skills, underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance and the underdevelopment of new capital projects to meet development,” Mr Mashego said.
As a remedy, the Chairperson called on stakeholders within the water value chain to find mechanisms to protect the system and ensure water continues to be provided to all South Africans. The committee also reemphasised the need for private–public partnerships to augment investment in infrastructure development and maintenance.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND SANITATION, MR ROBERT MASHEGO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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