Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
What steps have been taken by his Department and each of the municipalities in the Western Cape to address the recent water crisis and related problems?
The recent water crisis in the Western Cape was addressed as follows:
(i) The Department’s Disaster Management Centre (WCDMC) played a pivotal role in the agricultural drought disaster declaration of the two municipal districts (Central Karoo and West Coast) and the hydrological drought disaster declaration of three municipalities, namely Witzenberg, Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert. The WCDMC also facilitated the applications for financial assistance (for specific projects to relieve the effect of the drought) from National Treasury for the three municipalities. Unfortunately no funds have yet been received from National Treasury.
(ii) The Department of Local Government prioritized the three municipalities for support and transferred funds to these municipalities via its Municipal Infrastructure Support Grant (MISG). Various projects have been funded in these three drought stricken municipalities. Many of these projects have been completed or are in construction phase. Most of the projects funded entailed the upgrading of boreholes, installation of water filters, replacement of faulty water meters, installation of pumps, construction of water storage reservoirs, etc. Funds were also secured and transferred via the MISG to other municipalities in the Western Cape which struggled with water related issues. 12 Municipalities have been assisted with drought related projects to an amount of approximately R11m.
(iii) The WCDMC also facilitated the process and prioritisation of projects to be funded from R8m savings by the Department of Water and Sanitation. These funds have been earmarked for the municipalities of Witzenberg, Prince Albert, Oudtshoorn and Swartland.
(iv) Various engagements took place with stakeholders such as the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the South African Weather Service, district municipalities and municipalities where all possible measures were discussed to mitigate the impact of the drought situation.
(v) The 24 municipalities in the Western Cape were analysed and categorised in “months of water still available” in all their towns and the information circulated in table and in GIS format.
(vi) The Department was also successful to secure R24m additional funds through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) during the 2015/16 financial year to help mitigate the impact of the drought in 9 of the Western Cape municipalities.
(vii) Municipalities are visited on a regular basis to ensure that drought related projects are implemented according to plan.
(viii)The Department is a member of the DWS’s Reconciliation Strategy steering committee, where water availability is assessed per town for the medium to long term. In most cases water conservation/water demand management has been prioritised.
(ix) All the municipalities are encouraged to persist with strict water restrictions, due to the low rain fall forecast for the rest of the winter.
