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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environment

This presentation discusses the current status and proposals for improving intergovernmental relations between the Department of Water Affairs and provincial governments. It addresses challenges and strategies for better alignment in water resource management.

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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environment

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  1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environment Intergovernmental Relations between DWA and Provincial GovernmentStatus and Proposals for Future Improvement Presentation byMs Thandeka MbassaDeputy Director-General: Regions16 – 17 March 2010

  2. Background • National government does not share water resource management powers and functions with provincial government • Meaning: No MEC for Water Affairs at provincial level, however other key provincial functions such agriculture, health, environment, human settlement and economic development impact on water • National government shares the local government oversight powers and functions with provinces, e.g. DWA oversees water services and provinces oversee all municipal functions • Meaning: Shared responsibilities towards local government • Water resource management boundaries are not aligned to provincial boundaries • Meaning: DWA has to work with more than one province for issues affecting one catchment • Mainstreaming water into provincial development planning to promote growth and economic development • Meaning: Provincial Water Sector Plans (PWSPs) have to be aligned with Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (PGDS)

  3. Challenges • Difficult to implement strong engagements with provincial government • Water resources management affects more than one provincial function • Water MINMECs have not been very successful • MECs are often not able to provide sufficient leadership on water issues at provincial level given its cross-cutting nature (and not being a core responsibility of provincial government)

  4. Current Status • Provincial Water Liaison Committees, initiated in 1995, no longer exist except in the Western Cape • DWA has initiated various mechanisms of engaging provincial and local government • Water IGR Forums (EC&NC) • Provincial Water Sector Forums (GP, NW,KZN, LP,FS, WC) • MP in the process of establishing a forum as part of indaba outcomes • Annual Provincial Water Izindaba (held in 7 provinces to date) • Minister’s call for establishment of Forums where they do not exist and linkages to existing IGR Fora under championship of MECs for Local Government, where they exist.

  5. Provincial Water IGR Forum Established by a Premier in terms of the IGRF Act of 2005 (function-specific IGR forum) Currently in Eastern Cape and Northern Cape and have been proposed in KZN, Western Cape and Limpopo These are led by an MEC as delegated by the Premier Composed of councillors (water) and senior managers from DWA, provincial departments, and municipalities Report to the Premier’s Coordinating Forum Assessment: Working effectively where MEC dedicates time. Need dedicated administrative support

  6. Provincial Water Sector Forums These sector forums are promoting sector collaboration across various stakeholders, they are not only government focused. Established in eight provinces (MP outstanding) Composed of officials (technocrats) from various water sector institutions, government departments, civil society and private sector In some provinces they have been strongly championed by MECs even though they are not formal IGR structures, i.e Gauteng Assessment: These structures have been key in driving sector support programmes in provinces in the absence of water IGR structures, the challenge has been strengthening political oversight at MEC and Premier levels

  7. Provincial Water Izindaba Ministerial initiative that started in 2005, with the aim of closing communication gap between the Minister and provincial government Broad platform for both intergovernmental relations and sector stakeholder engagement Stakeholders jointly identify priority issues for the province and map an action plan for the year ahead Planned to be annual events that lead to a National Water Indaba Assessment: Izindaba have proven to be the most effective mechanism of raising high profile issues and seeking commitment to addressing challenges collaboratively

  8. Proposal for Future Improvement Investigating how to resuscitate MINMECs be they function specific, or Joint MINMECs where applicable Explore possibilities for Minister’s participation in provincial Water IGR meetings (whenever possible) Supporting efforts to establish mechanisms of improving provincial oversight (political) of water issues Maintaining Provincial Water Sector Fora where they are functioning well, but ensure strong linkages with provincial IGR structures

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