Overview of Government’s Strategic Priorities

1. Overview of Government’s Strategic Priorities Presented by N Matyana Strategic Manager: DDG:R office

2. Contents • Introduction • State of the Nation Address • Minister’s Strategic Priorities • Some Key Challenges • Critical support areas to Local government • Sector support to programmes of government • Implications for the sector • Conclusion

3. Introduction A few comments needs to be made to capture the context of this short presentation, • Co-operative governance is enshrined within the constitution of this country, so we are on the right track in our approach on sector collaboration. • As institutions of government we have mandates that are derived from the legal frame work and in terms of establishment but also our principals as new imperatives emerge from time to time • There are national plans, strategies and processes that need to inform our engagements in our effort to execute our duties Below are some priorities and important targets that have been given to the sector for consideration and implementation.

4. State Of the Nation Address • The President reiterated that eradicating poverty and underdevelopment constitute the central architecture of our policies and programme • It is quite pleasing that our efforts as a sector, in providing access to water did not go unoticed by the President as he delivered the SONA • Passing 10th mil mark in providing access to portable water in Dec 2006 • Providing FBW of 6kl to about 3 quarters of country’s households • Quite critical is the confirmation of targets for both water by 2008 and sanitation by 2010. • A commitment to the improvement of capacity of local government to ensure that 300 000 household are provided with sanitation per year as from 2007 was made. • Provision of portable water and adequate sanitation to schools by end of this year • The eradication of buckets by end 2007 remains from the 2006 SONA

5. Minister’s Strategic priorities • Eradication of backlog in schools 2007 • Eradication of backlog in clinics 2007 • Eradication of buckets in established settlements by December 2007 • Eradication of water supply backlog in households by 2008 • Eradication of general sanitation backlog by 2010 • Support to Local Government • Establishment and governance of water and forestry institutions and • ensure alignment to government objectives • Water for growth and development • Information management • Internal capacity to deliver

6. Minister’s Strategic priorities • Poverty alleviation and job creation • Empowerment of Women in DWAF and the sector • Restructuring to ensure alignment of DWAF’s structure to the needs of the sector • Water Conservation Demand Management • Water Allocation Reform • Drinking Water Quality Management • Bulk infrastructure • Capacity Building and Skills development in line with JIPSA • Infrastructure investment - De Hoop ,Berg, Umzimvubu Dams • Contribution to NEPAD • Sector collaboration

7. Key challenges • Eradication of WS backlogs and meeting of delivery targets • Lack of capacity within the sector to meet the challenge of increased delivery to meet targets • Unco-ordinated Support to Local government • Water for economic growth and implications for the sector • Support 2010 World Cup • Finalizing policies and strategies to support and to regulate effectively • Institutional reform and efficient regional water service provision arrangements and sustainable management of water resources. • Promotion of sustainability in implementation and monitoring of WS and WR programmes

8. Some critical areas of support to local government • Institutional development and capacity building • Efficient Water service provision and water quality management • Water Demand Management • Operations and Maintenance and Asset management • Planning and management capacity • MIG implementation and Procurement systems • Technical capacity and skills development

9. Sector support to programmes of government • Gender mainstreaming • Achieve gender balance within institutions • Engage more women in at project implementation level • HIV/AIDS • HIV/AIDS mainstreaming in the sector • CSO development • Increase participation of communities on government processes • Local Economic Development • Linkage with the EPWP in implementation of WS projects • Contribution to economic growth and ASGISA • Water For Growth and Development • JIPSA and Skills Development • Operation Gijima • Siyenza Manje

10. Overall Implications for the Sector • Alignment between the sector strategic objectives and plans to the MTSO’s, SONA and Ministers’s priorities • Ensure alignment between NWSP, PWSP, PGDS and MTSO etc. • Focus on action and meeting of delivery targets in line with Government’s objectives • Develop action plan to eradicate targets and support each province to develop a provincial Action plan. A national Task Team has already been set up and deliberated on key Actions to be taken. • Strengthen collaboration with all sector stakeholders • Strengthen Sector forums and Task Teams at National, Provincial and District level and explore incorporation of these structures within the IGR framework • Give relevant support to local government • Develop municipal support plans in line with DPLG’s 5yr LG Strategic Agenda and give hands on support to muncipalities where necessary • Effective M/E and reporting • Align reporting systems and strengthen sector reporting on all key projects

11. Conclusion • The sector has done well and through Masibambane, has provided extensive support to local government and has recently even won the Public Service Innovation Award… but there are a still lot of challenges that lie ahead, we have not arrived yet! • Our comittment to working together should not waiver as we collectively tackle these serious WS and WR challenges. • Let us make every effort to strengthen this forum and all other provincial and national sector forums and networks so that we can all continually improve the service we render to the communities and achieve the set government objectives .

12. Thank You!