DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

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DEPARTMENT OF WATER DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRYAFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

ANNUAL REPORTANNUAL REPORT

2002/032002/03

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEEPORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

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STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATIONSTRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

The Department is responsible for the following 3 functions:WATER SERVICESWATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENTFORESTRY

Key Objectives and successes per functional area The successes of support functions for the core

business

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WATER SERVICESWATER SERVICES

“To ensure all South Africans have access to free basic water services”

By March 2003, 175.6% of all municipalities were implementing a FBW policy.

The Provincial Support Units established by DWAF are still assisting municipalities to develop local FBW strategies. During 2002/3 they focused extensively on providing support to those municipalities that had not yet implemented the policy.

1 [If one considers just those municipalities that are designated WSA’s, then this figure rises to 88%]

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“To ensure that WS sector has a sound and enabling legislative and policy framework””

In December 2002, a core group to finalise White Paper was established by Water Services Sector Leadership Group (WSSLG). Its purpose was to ensure that all stakeholders agree to policy decisions defined in the new white paper.

At the end of 2002/3, the core group was in the process of finalising the White Paper.

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“To ensure effective WS Services Institutions” and “to support WS Institutions to become sustainable”

The Department strengthened its role as regulator of water boards especially around Bulk Water Tariffs.

At the annual review of the Water Board Business Plans, the Department urged Water Boards to keep water prices below the inflation rate so as to ensure that inefficiencies by Water Boards are reduced and not passed on to consumers.

We can assure you that we shall continue to impress on all Water Boards the importance of keeping bulk water tariff increases below the inflation rate and in instances where tariffs are above CPIX it is interrogated and often rejected.

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WATER SERVICESWATER SERVICESWater Services Sector Leadership Group (WSSLG)

Through a collaborative approach the Water Services Leadership Group (WSSLG) has been established.

At its Strategic Planning workshop in December of 2002 strategic priorities were identified. Other initiatives include the Water Information Network focusing

on knowledge management and lesson learning, Training and Skills Development strengthening the Local

Government and Water SETA to ensure long term human resource development in the sector that has around 70,000 personnel and

Gender Mainstreaming.

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SANITATIONSANITATION This is a global phenomenon but South Africa has This is a global phenomenon but South Africa has

been lagging far behind water due to problems in been lagging far behind water due to problems in the policy and strategy. the policy and strategy.

A new A new ""policy on basic household sanitation policy on basic household sanitation made easy"made easy" was drafted and adapted. was drafted and adapted.

R219 million was spent providing 65 105 R219 million was spent providing 65 105 households with basic sanitation facilitieshouseholds with basic sanitation facilities

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WATER SERVICESWATER SERVICESTransfers of Water Schemes

The Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Limpopo were the first provinces to successfully transfer departmental water schemes to relevant water services authorities and providers. – These first successful transfers have also opened the doors for public-public and

public-private partnership. The Eastern Cape transferred five waste water treatment schemes to Buffalo

City Municipality and the transfer of the Strekspruit schemes and all rudimentary water supply schemes to the Ukuhlamba District Municipality.

Gauteng and Limpopo’s successful transfer of two water schemes to Tshwane Metro and the Lepelle Northern Water Board respectively have led the way with public-public and public-private partnership respectively.

These transfers were the first steps towards Tshwane Metro’s partnership with Magalies Water and Mogalakwena Local Municipalities partnership with Lepelle Northern Water Board and the Platinum mines in the area.

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WATER SERVICESWATER SERVICESFunctional Assessment Study

The R 9,5 million functional assessment study was completed. The purpose of the study was to collect, analyze and report on all information

required to prepare the national and individual transfer plans. The extent of the transfer programme can be described by the number of

schemes comprising:– 316 bulk (large) schemes,

– 196 new schemes and

– 1032 rudimentary schemes. The total present day value of the water services at R7, 13 billion and

replacement value estimated at R9, 95 billion. The current staff involved in operating and maintaining the infrastructure is

8094 staff. A total of 8453 infrastructure components require some level of refurbishment

at an estimated cost of R 710 million.

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WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENTWATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Department is succesfully implementing the National Water Resource Strategy

A country-wide public consultation programme, comprising 36 sectoral and public meetings, was undertaken between September 2002 and January 2003, during which more than 1 800 comments were received from a diverse range of stakeholders .

While the raising of the Flag Boshielo Dam is underway, access to water has been assured by an agreement facilitated by the Department with emerging farmers who have temporarily ceded their water allocations in exchange for financial assistance to rehabilitate their irrigation schemes.

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International InteractionsInternational Interactions

WSSD – SA very involved in fighting for sanitation target

Kyoto: Third World Water Forum: high profile by South Africa

Signing of Incomaputo Agreement

Support for development and maintenance of SADC Hycos system


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Water Resources Planning, Institutions and InformationWater Resources Planning, Institutions and Information

Publication of National Water Resources Strategy for comment 1800 comments received; wide spread consultation

Ongoing monitoring of quantity and quality of water resources Nkomati CMA proposal published for comment 50 irrigation boards transformed 8 new WUAs established


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Infrastructure development to support economic development:Infrastructure development to support economic development: Dam on Berg River: detailed design begun; implementing agent

appointed; Strategy to secure water for social and economic development in

Limpopo – raising of Flag Boshielo; announcement by President of new dam;

Nandoni Dam 85% complete Raising of Midmar Dam Maguga Dam completed and opened on 5 April 2002 Impoundment of Mohale Dam started in Nov 2002

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Water AllocationWater Allocation “Water reform” programme initiated

Planning begun to introduce compulsory licensing R24 million subsidy awarded to 306 emerging

farmers; Water Use Authorisation and Registration

Management System (WARMS) and new billing system implemented

Registered water users grew to over 60 000 Verification of water use begun in key catchments


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Working for WaterWorking for Water 466 279 hectares initial clearing as at Feb

2003 523 618 hectares follow up done as at Feb

2003 Independent evaluation of WfW put in

place

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FORESTRYFORESTRY

TECHNICAL AND INFORMATION SERVICE

HIGHLIGHTS

Draft Criteria, Indicators and Standards for sustainable forest

management were produced.

Protected Areas Network Planning : the first, planning phase of

the project aimed at setting aside of new protected areas in terms

of the National Forest Act, 1998 (Act 84 of 1998) is nearing

completion.

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FORESTRYFORESTRY

Restructuring

The Department has successfully

implemented the transfer of Category

A Forests to external organisations

We are currently laying a foundation

for the transfer of Category B and C

Forests

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FORESTRYFORESTRY

CERTIFICATION OF INDIGENOUS FOREST IN KNYSNA

The indigenous forests of the Southern Cape and Tsitsikamma, received certification from the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) for its sustainable forest management practices, which is a great achievement. The benefits of this certification include providing

international recognition for the systems of timber and non-timber harvested from forest products.

It also helps to demonstrate our commitment to meeting the country’s obligations in respect to international conventions.

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FORESTRYFORESTRYSADC PROTOCOL ON FORESTRY

Restructuring of Forestry

– HR implications successfully negotiated

The SADC Heads of States signed the Protocol in October

2002, following almost four years of consultation of

stakeholders by Member States.

This protocol is at the ratification stage

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CORPORATE SERVICESCORPORATE SERVICES“To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and

general administrative support to the department”

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The Departmental policy on performance management for staff levels 1-12 is operational and will be aligned to the new pay progression framework.

The new policy on the assessment of senior managers is operational and successful as from 1st April 2002.

The implementation of Resolution 7 was successfully implemented.

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CORPORATE SERVICESCORPORATE SERVICES“To provide financial, human resource, information and management

services and general administrative support to the department”

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Successfully implemented a skills audit pilot programme. Pilot completed and rollout ready to commence department wide. Total number of staff captured currently is 15 975 in the rollout.

LABOUR RELATIONS Maintenance of Labour peace. Labour unrests and Disciplinary cases have

been effectively dealt with. Departmental infrastructures like DTT and Bilateral Forums with Union in

place and sufficiently supporting the restructuring process.

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CORPORATE SERVICESCORPORATE SERVICES“To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and


COMMUNICATION SERVICES South Africa showed its leadership role throughout the World

Summit on Sustainable Development WSSD held in South Africa in August 2002.

Before and during WSSD, the Department’s officials played an active role in promoting South Africa’s approach to sustainable water use management and ensuring that the Summit was successful.

One of the largest side events at the Summit, the Water Dome, was organised by the Department in collaboration with African and global partners.

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CORPORATE SERVICESCORPORATE SERVICES“To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and general

administrative support to the department”

INFORMATION SYSTEMS The IT function has been successfully outsourced against agreed Service

Level Agreements. Implemented Information Services Organisational changes to improve

Service Delivery Information Services costs are being managed within individual Functions.

A Change Management Process was introduced in the Department that resulted in increased availability and reliability of the systems within the

Department.

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FINANCEFINANCE“To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and general

administrative support to the department”

PROCUREMENT A Policy on the Appointment of Professional Service Providers (PSP's)

which also gives guidance on the promotion of previously disadvantaged individuals (PDI's) was developed.

Through black economic empowerment (BEE) policies of the Department, targets that were agreed upon on the value and number of contracts awarded to service providers who fall within the PDI category have been exceeded.

As from March 2003, the Department has now been given full status and accreditation by National Treasury and the State Tender Board to procure goods and services on its own without working through the State Tender Board.

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FINANCEFINANCE“To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and


FRAUD PREVENTION Hotline system for people to report on fraud and corruption

Because it operates anonymously, it has been used very extensively to point out fraud and corruption in the Department and within the other institutions under the oversight control of the Minister of DWAF.

A lot of the cases reported on were in the areas of misuse of government property (mainly vehicles, internet facilities, cell phones etc) and fraud.

The success of this has been where people have been reprimanded, stolen money recovered, misuse over property reduced and disciplinary action being taken, with some people having been expelled.

e.g.:Out of 110 cases, 17 cases relating to fraud were investigated; 38 cases relating to misuse of state property were handled; 55 allegations of theft were investigated

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

A few challenges are still prevalent, and they include:- High turnover within the management echelon. Challenges brought forth by the Restructuring process. Transformation of service delivery and all institutions in the sector.

With the proposed transfer of 8 000 staff to local government, 2 000 in

Forestry and 1000 from WUA’s, it is expected that the Department will

reach a target size of approx. 7 500 people within three years.

Budgetary constraints which may lead to reprioritisation

Labour mood not always supportive to maximised delivery of services.

Documents

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY