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DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY. ANNUAL REPORT 2002/03 PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE. STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION. The Department is responsible for the following 3 functions: WATER SERVICES WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FORESTRY Key Objectives and successes per functional area

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DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

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  1. DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY ANNUAL REPORT 2002/03 PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

  2. STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION • The Department is responsible for the following 3 functions: • WATER SERVICES • WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • FORESTRY • Key Objectives and successes per functional area • The successes of support functions for the core business

  3. WATER 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%]

  4. WATER SERVICES “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.

  5. WATER SERVICES “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.

  6. WATER SERVICES Water 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.

  7. WATER SERVICES SANITATION • This is a global phenomenon but South Africa has been lagging far behind water due to problems in the policy and strategy. • A new "policy on basic household sanitation made easy"was drafted and adapted. • R219 million was spent providing 65 105 households with basic sanitation facilities

  8. WATER SERVICES Transfers 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.

  9. WATER SERVICES Functional 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.

  10. WATER 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.

  11. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT International 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

  12. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Water 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

  13. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 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

  14. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Water 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

  15. WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Working 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

  16. FORESTRY 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.

  17. FORESTRY 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

  18. FORESTRY 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.

  19. FORESTRY SADC 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

  20. CORPORATE 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.

  21. CORPORATE 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.

  22. CORPORATE SERVICES “To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and general administrative support to the department” 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.

  23. CORPORATE 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.

  24. FINANCE “To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and general administrative support to the department” PROCUREMENT • A Policy on the Appointment ofProfessional 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.

  25. FINANCE “To provide financial, human resource, information and management services and general administrative support to the department” 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

  26. CONCLUSION • 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.

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