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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environmental Affairs

Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environmental Affairs. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE ERADICATION OF WATER USE AUTHORISATION APPLICATIONS (WULAs) BACKLOG : LETSEMA. Presentation by Ms Deborah Mochotlhi Project Manager: Letsema 3 November 2010. 1. Presentation Outline.

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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environmental Affairs

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  1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environmental Affairs EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE ERADICATION OF WATER USE AUTHORISATION APPLICATIONS (WULAs) BACKLOG : LETSEMA Presentation byMs Deborah Mochotlhi Project Manager: Letsema 3 November 2010 1

  2. Presentation Outline Purpose What caused the backlog? What Water Use is? Rationale for Eradicating the Backlog Progress thus far Lessons Learnt/Experiences/Challenges Sustainability Plan 2

  3. Purpose of the Presentation To provide progress report on the implementation of Letsema 3

  4. What caused the Backlog? Various surveys pointed to the following causes: Inadequate capacity (numbers and skills) Insufficient guidelines Delayed Reserve Determination Delayed inputs from other Departments Incomplete documentation from applicants Inadequate assistance to HDI’s. 4

  5. What water use is?

  6. Section 21 (A-K): Water Uses 21. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, WATER USE INCLUDES- (a) TAKING WATER FROM A WATER RESOURCE; (b) STORING WATER; (c) IMPEDING OR DIVERTING THE FLOW OF WATER IN A WATERCOURSE; (d) ENGAGING IN A STREAM FLOW REDUCTION ACTIVITY (e) ENGAGING IN A CONTROLLED ACTIVITY IDENTIFIED AS SUCH IN S37(1) OR S38(1); (f) DISCHARGING WASTE OR WATER CONTAINING WASTE INTO A WATER RESOURCE THROUGH A PIPE, CANAL, SEWER, SEA OUTFALL OR OTHER CONDUIT;

  7. Section 21 (A-K): Water Uses (Cont…) • (g) DISPOSING OF WASTE IN A MANNER WHICH MAY DETRIMENTALLY IMPACT ON A WATER RESOURCE; • (h) DISPOSING IN ANY MANNER OF WATER WHICH CONTAINS WASTE FROM, OR WHICH HAS BEEN HEATED IN, ANY INDUSTRIAL OR POWER GENERATION PROCESS; • ALTERING THE BED, BANKS, COURSE OR CHARACTERISTICS OF A WATERCOURSE; • (j) REMOVING, DISCHARGING OR DISPOSING OF WATER FOUND UNDERGROUND IF IT IS NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENT CONTINUATION OF AN ACTIVITY OR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE; • (k) USING WATER FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

  8. Benefits/Rationale Improve the image of the Department and that of Government Enhances the Regulatory role of the department Improve DWA’s position to deal with Appeals/Tribunal Affirm DWA’s role as contributor to economic development Anchors DWA’s contribution to government’s programs such as ASGISA & poverty alleviation. 8

  9. LETSEMA 9

  10. Letsema Concept “Letsema” Setswana word, meaning a group/team of people coming together in order to achieve a common goal/purpose 10

  11. Group A scheduled for: North West National Office Limpopo Eastern Cape Gauteng Group B scheduled for: Kwa-Zulu Natal Northern Cape Mpumalanga Western Cape Free State Composition of Letsema Teams2Teams constituted by Regional and National Office personnel plus Professional Service Providers (PSP)

  12. PROGRESS AS AT OCTOBER 2010 12

  13. WULA’s OVERVIEW PER REGION 13

  14. Sectoral breakdown of finalised WULAs 14

  15. Factors Leading To Discrepancies In Statistics • Actual figures will only be confirmed at the end of the project because: • WULAs reported as pre-applications turned out to be full applications with outstanding information • Some files that were reported as backlog were found to be mere files that were opened when a client visited/enquiries • Applications differentiated/separated per water use instead of filing as an integrated application • Duplication of files. 15

  16. Lessons Learnt /Experiences/Challenges The process is resource intensive DWA made a mistake of accepting incomplete applications Follow-up on applications is time consuming Not sufficient responsibility is placed on clients for completeness of applications Non-use of authorisation guidelines by applicants Most applicants not responding on time 16

  17. Lessons Learnt /Experiences/ Challenges (cont…) 17 Unlawful water use while WULAs are processed (even by state institutions) Resistance to contribute to redress and equity Impact on other functions of the Department /trade-offs

  18. Long Term Sustainability – Strive towards zero backlog (Considerations) Establishment of a dedicated unit WU Call Centre (Incorporate in the current CC) Forty-two (42) contract workers were appointed in July 2010 - capacity Building in water use authorisation Skills Acquisition and Training (continuous) 18

  19. Long Term Sustainability – Strive towards no backlog (Considerations) Cont… 19 Review of the Business Process and Delegations Extension officers for assistance to HDIs Review of application forms and fee (R114)

  20. END

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