WATER

SUSTAINABLE COLLABORATION IS KEY

Green Economy Journal interviews the Minister of Water and Sanitation

When the Minister of Water and Sanitation took to office in August 2021, key to what the ministry wanted to do differently was to establish and enhance partnerships in the sector, to improve the delivery of water and sanitation services in the country. The Journal speaks to Minister Senzo Mchunu about one such partnership that is a success story in the making.

GEJ: In the context of the partnerships that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has entered in the past, how does the Olifants Management Model Programme’s collaboration model differ from these? How will DWS ensure that the implementation of the model is successful?

Minister: The Olifants Management Model (OMM) Programme is a partnership with the mining sector that is aimed at accelerating and delivering cost-effective potable and bulk raw water to defined areas in the Limpopo province. The department has over the years established partnerships for the sustainable management of water resources. The OMM partnership is not different at all in that it seeks to achieve one primary goal, which is water security. But is unique – since this is a government water scheme, the assets will become those of the department.

To ensure the successful implementation of this project, we will work collaboratively with Lebalelo Water User Association (LWUA) and keep each other accountable as equal partners, with proper governance structures in place; furthermore, this partnership will ensure that ultimately, the people benefit.

As DWS will partly fund and co-owns the OMM Programme, how does this impact on DWS’ role as sector leader and custodian of South Africa’s water resources? How will DWS maintain the interests of local citizens?

The primary role of the Department of Water and Sanitation is the formulation and implementation of policy governing the sector, while striving to ensure that all South Africans gain access to clean drinking water and dignified sanitation, as mandated by the Water Services Act 108 of 1997. This partnership will not change that; it will rather, consolidate it. Due to fiscus being constrained, government needs to prioritise available funding, thus support from the private sector to help achieve service delivery, is welcomed.

The department, as a sector leader, is responsible for managing the

Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu.

sustainability of the resource while ensuring that there is equitable allocation, especially in previously disadvantaged areas. Reinforced by a collective call to action by the president for the public and private sectors to work together, the sectors conceptualised the Olifants Management Model Programme. The OMM collaboration with commercial users is a partnership which will assist the department to attain its primary mission, without taking over the responsibility of the management of water resources.

When we hosted the National Water and Sanitation Summit in February this year, key to the resolutions, which were collaboratively agreed upon by the department and several stakeholders in the sector, was the much-needed joint effort between the public and the private sector. This, of course, does not mean government will hand over its responsibilities to the private sector. The alliances in essence, will be done to ensure that each one of us takes a stand towards building the future of this country. In this context, it means working together to ensure that South Africa is water secure.

In one way or the other, water scarcity is affecting most of us. We have seen the devastation of the 2018 drought in Cape Town after three consecutive dry winters (2015-2017) in the City. Residents in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality are, in 2022, experiencing the dire effects of drought, with dams in the Metro emptying on a weekly basis. What the 2018 drought has taught us is that through coaction and individual changes in our own spaces, we can all make a big difference.

South Africa is a water-scarce country with minimal rainfall experienced annually. It remains a priority of the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that sustainable and systematic solutions are implemented to secure water-stressed communities and enhance the delivery of dignified sanitation.

Can the OMM Programme collaboration model be replicated in other provinces? If so, how?

Absolutely, a similar programme can be replicated although each project has its unique elements. We are currently using the same model to collaborate with the Mine Leadership Forum to rehabilitate the Vaal Gamagara pipeline. We are establishing and maintaining these partnerships to ensure water security in the country as government, doing it together with the private sector. Together, we can all make sure that future generations do not ever have to be subjected to the severity of water scarcity as is being experienced in some parts of Limpopo and many other communities across the country.

How will the OMM Programme support the sustainable management and development of water resources in the Limpopo region?

First and foremost, let me put it on record that I am optimistic that this collaboration will yield positive results. I was impressed to learn that LWUA’s primary purpose is “Improving Lives Through Water” and that its strategy can set out a staged implementation approach which is detailed and with timeframes. It suggests to me that this is a group

Together, we can all make sure that future generations do not ever have to be subjected to the severity of water scarcity.

Ultimately, we are establishing and maintaining these partnerships to ensure water security in the country as government, doing it together with the private sector.

of people who are willing, ready and wanting to put in the hard work and give out positive results. Of significance is that they are willing to uphold accountability and so should all of us, especially in government.

The programme aims to improve socio-economic growth in the Limpopo Province through the acceleration of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Plan (ORWRDP) and the cost-effective provision of potable and raw water infrastructure to defined areas in the Northern and Eastern Limbs of the Bushveld Igneous Complex.

The ORWRDP was conceptualised in the early 2000s with an aim to address the bulk water needs of the middle Olifants River catchment area as the water demands continued to increase significantly and fast, exceeding the supply because of the growing population and the anticipated development of the mining sector.

A key objective of government was to stimulate this mining growth and associated economic activity in a sustainable way for the socioeconomic benefit of the local and national economy in a way linked to the Growth and Development Strategy and the Spatial Development Framework of the province.

Therefore, Phase 2 of the ORWRDP forms part of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission’s strategic projects, which were aimed at fast-tracking development and growth across South Africa. Offtakers from Flag Bashielo will be diverted to De Hoop Dam thus freeing up water for the mines and communities in the Mogalakwena area.

As the OMM Programme scope includes the construction, operation and maintenance of both potable and bulk raw water infrastructure, what is DWS’ strategy for getting municipalities on board with the programme?

Municipalities are the main driving force for the delivery of services to communities as they are at a level the public can engage. It is unfortunate that most municipalities are failing and continue to fail dismally at delivering the most basic of services. Of course, through the implementation of the OMM Programme, we do plan to get municipalities involved as some of the water infrastructure – where operations and maintenance is due to take place, will be fully operated by them, hence the need for their involvement.