Chairperson and hon members, the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs undertook an oversight visit to Mpumalanga province's Gert Sibande District Municipality and Msukaligwa Local Municipality on 28 to 30 January 2013. One the issues defining the mission of the visit was to ensure that local government systems are effectively implemented and in line with the ethos of good governance. The provision of water and related infrastructure is one of the key functions of local government. For this reason, municipalities are both water service authorities and service providers.
During the oversight visit there were a few issues that warranted investigation. We wanted to find out whether, indeed, there was a water crisis in the area as declared by the municipality. We also wanted to know if there were plans in place that would caution and give the municipality early warning of a looming water crisis; were there interventions that had been put in place so that the municipality would be able to deal with the matter; and did the Msukaligwa Local Municipality receive any support system from the national department, provincial department or district municipality regarding the crisis that they were faced with.
The committee that the Msukaligwa Local Municipality relies on three principal dams, namely, Jericho Dam, Brummer Dam and Douglas Dam. Investigation into the water supply shortage found that Brummer Dam and Douglas Dam were running dry. Consequently, water extraction was not possible as these dams were 10% below capacity.
The municipality the has Northern Water Treatment Works that treats and supplies water to the community. There are a total of six pumps and two air blowers installed. Four pumps are connected to a 450 NB pipeline that pumps drinking water into the Airport Reservoir, which supplies water to the Central Business District, CBD.
We found that only one pump was operational and the other five pumps were broken. That showed us that there was no maintenance plan in place. Only two pumps are connected to a 250 NB pipeline, which is meant to supply water to Wesselton, Long homes and Everest Park. These areas are upland, therefore the pumps have no power or pressure to supply water to these communities. Currently, for water supply, these areas rely on water carts supply, which is not done everyday.
We found out that 13,5% of households are without adequate water in that area. Also, there is no planning that would accommodate the increase of migration and issues of climate change. These two issues are not taken into consideration. The municipality started its planning eight months after the water crisis had already started.
We found that there was no risk management plan in place to enable them manage the problem they faced. The municipality also does not have technical capacity. There are no qualified engineers in the technical departments.
The committee recommends that the district municipality together with the Department of Labour, should conduct a skills audit to address the issue of capacity in that municipality. The national Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, should send technicians and engineers from the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, Misa, to assist with the technical capacity in that municipality. We also recommend that the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs assist in that area.
Since the portfolio committee's visit, some interventions took place. Water is supplied by trucks, and the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is busy installing a temporary pipeline which will complement the supply of water to areas that do not have water at all. Rand Water Board is installing an emergency pipeline in an area serviced by the Northern Water Services Board. By June all the interventions will be completed and people will receive water in that municipality.
We move that the Report be adopted. I thank you. [Time expired.]
There was no debate.
Chair, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.