Water shortages: Seven things Minister Mokonyane should address urgently

The DA calls on the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, to make meaningful and decisive announcements on what will be done to mitigate the serious water shortages that have been compounded by the drought this year, when she reveals her plans this weekend. 

In her announcement, scheduled for Sunday, 1 November 2015, she must show leadership on a matter that could affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of South Africans across the country. Indeed, “water-shedding” and the effects of the drought could create an unparalleled crisis in the country, leading to job losses and even starvation in rural communities. 

Specifically, the DA calls on Minister Mokonyane to address the following concerns in her briefing:

Admit to the true extent of the drought and water crisis in South Africa. This includes immediately releasing the Blue and Green Reports which will give South Africans an indication of the state of their water infrastructure; 

Indicate how much of the R352 million drought relief allocated by her department to affected municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal has been spent and on what exactly. She should also clarify what plans have been put in place for other provinces such as the North West, Free State and Northern Cape. In a reply to a parliamentary question in October it was revealed that only R8 million of the drought relief funds had been spent;

The Minister should detail how she plans to put South Africa on a path towards being a country which recycles water. This will include regulating the use of potable water for irrigation and promoting the re-use of waste water and grey water;

Satisfy herself that affected municipalities’ water use efficiency plans have been drafted. These plans should include a pipeline replacement programmes, pressure-reducing valve and leak-detecting technology;

Indicate how much of the required R805 billion needed for investment in water infrastructure over the next ten years is actually currently funded and how the department aims to fund the estimated short fall of R35 billion per year, given the current fiscal difficulties;   

Improve on the lack of planning in her department. For example, despite promising to ensure that the Hazelmere Dam wall in KwaZulu Natal would be raised, silt dredged and water transferred from other sources, little action has been taken to do so; and  

Commit to spending every cent of the Department’s budget, and ensuring a re-prioritisation towards dealing with this crisis. This is essential given the fact R2 billion of their allocated funds for 2014/15 went unspent and had to be returned to Treasury.

Due to this drought -  exacerbated by poor planning by the Department - KZN has been declared a disaster zone by NGOs, with 500 000 people being directly affected by food insecurity. There is a real potential that this number could grow rapidly if the crisis not adequately addressed.

The Minister has the opportunity to intervene before this situation deteriorates any further. We look forward to her announcement, so that these water shortages do not become a national crisis for millions of people across South Africa.

Isssued by Leon Basson, DA Deputy Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation, 30 October 2015