Part of press release by the Department of Water and Sanitation : Minister Senzo Mchunu reiterated his commitment to continue supporting municipalities with two conditional grants, namely, Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). He said this financial year R10.1 billion will be allocated to municipalities through (RBIG) and R4.6 billion through (WSIG), adding that RBIG will be spent on 130 different projects across the country, and WSIG will be allocated to more than 400 projects across the country.
“The last financial year we have also been focusing on accelerating the implementation of a range of major water services projects that have been delayed in the past. One of these is the Giyani water project in Limpopo. I am pleased to be able to indicate that the bulk pipeline from Nandoni Dam in Vhembe to Ntsami Dam in Giyani has now been completed and is delivering water to Giyani. The Department is allocating R1.3 billion from its WSIG to Mopani District Municipality over two or three years to complete the construction of this water distribution infrastructure”, Minister Mchunu emphasised.
However, Minister Mchunu noted that while supporting the municipalities is important, it is not addressing the underlying problem of poor governance and weak management of the water and sanitation function at municipal level, and the lack of proper separation of the Water Services Authority and Water Services Provider functions.
“We are working on amendments to the Water Services Act, which are aimed at addressing the root causes of the deterioration in water and sanitation services. Unless these root causes are addressed, there is a real risk that the water and sanitation infrastructure in these municipalities will rapidly deteriorate again once all the projects I have described have been completed”, Minister’s Mchunu pointed out.
In addressing the escalating debt owed by the municipalities to water boards, which stand at approximately R17 billion, the Minister said discussions are underway with the National Treasury, Water Boards, South African Local Government Association Water Services Authorities.