In light of the ongoing sewage pollution threatening the Vaal River, a crucial water source for millions of persons, what specific steps is his department taking to (a) safeguard public health, (b) reduce contamination and (c) ensure sustainable water access for affected communities?
(a-b)The Department is implementing an intervention in terms of Section 63 of the National Water Services Act through the Sedibeng Sewer Scheme Project and Vaal River System Intervention in the Sedibeng District. Rand Water, the Implementing Agent is making satisfactory progress on the various projects that are currently under implementation.
However, sewer spillages in all municipal areas remain a challenge where repairs or unblocking ...
(1)Whether, considering the water shortage in the Bojanala district, he will furnish Mrs C Phillips with a copy of the water use license issued to the Serendipity Truck wash situated on Portion 150 of the Farm Buffelshoek 468JQ, which also crosses onto Portion 1 of the Farm Buffelshoek; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether any other license, besides the water use license, has been issued by his department to the Serendipity Truck wash situated on the specified property for the discharge of water containing waste as required by Section 21(f) of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has not issued a Water Use License (WUL) to the Serendipity Truck wash because no WUL application was received from the client.
2. No other licenses have been issued to the Serendipity Truck wash because as there were applications received by the DWS.
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Whether, in light of the water shortage in the Bojanala District, the proliferation of illegal chrome mining and the beneficiation of chrome by plants without water use licenses, he will declare chrome beneficiation via the use of spiral plants as a controlled activity that relies on the provision in Section 38(1) of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998; if not, why not, if so, by what date will the process begin?
According to the National Water Act (Act No.36 of 1998), [Section 37 (I)], spiral plants are not considered to be a controlled activity. However, Section 38 (1) allows the Minister to declare any activity as controlled if it is deemed to have detrimental impact on water resources.
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(1)What (a) number of criminal charges has his department laid against municipal mayors and/or executive mayors who are in flagrant breach of legislation pertaining to the management of wastewater treatment facilities and water treatment plants (i) in the (aa) 2021-22 and (bb) 2022-23 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2023 and (b) are the relevant details in each case;
(2) what (a) are the details of all criminal charges that his department is currently in the process of instituting against municipal managers and/or executive mayors who are in serial transgression of water and sanitation legislation in the 2023-24 financial year and (b) are the relevant details in each case?
1. (a) Municipal- and executive mayors are generally not charged in matters against the local or district municipality as they are not accounting officers. Municipal Managers are also not as a general rule charged in their personal capacity, but the Municipal Manager is cited as the accounting officer in civil and charged in criminal matters as the head of the municipality (corporate entity). Should ...
(1)What (a) total number of directives have been issued to public entities, including municipalities responsible for the management of water treatment plants and wastewater treatment facilities, for non-compliance with legislation (i) in the (aa) 2021-22 and (bb) 2022-23 financial year and (ii) since 1 April 2023 and (b) number of the specified directives have been fully complied with;
(2) what follow-up measures have been taken in respect of the entities who are not adhering to departmental and/or ministerial directives?
1. In terms of administrative justice, prior to the issuance of an administrative directive, a notice of intent has to be issued indicating suspected non-compliance and what actions the transgressor will be expected to take should the directive be issued. Upon receipt of the notice the alleged transgressor must respond within a stipulated timeframe and provide a response or plan to rectify the non-compliance. Should ...
What (a) total number of new bulk water projects have been established in each province since June 2022, (b) total amount has been spent during the specified period and (c) are the details of each municipality where the projects have been established?
a) The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) established twelve (12) new bulk water projects in various provinces since June 2022. The details are provided in the table below;
Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant Projects
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No
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Province
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(c) Municipality
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Project Name
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(b) Amount Spent (April 2022 to October 2023) R’000
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1.
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Eastern Cape
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Nelson Mandela
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Nelson Mandela Bay - Water Security Programme
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R71,840
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2.
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Free State ... |
(1)What licences are requested from his department to run a (a) coal and (b) chrome wash plant;
(2) (a) what enforcements have been put in place in terms of a licence breach, (b) how regular does his department inspect the wash plants, (c) what number of violations have been found in each (i) province and (ii) wash plant in the past three years and (d) what actions were taken to rectify the violations?
1. A Water Use License is required to operate a washing plant. The License largely depends on the location of the site, but the following water uses in terms of section 21 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) could be applicable:
(a) taking water from a water resource:
(b) storing water:
(c) impeding or diverting the flow of water in ...
(1)With reference to the incomplete Vlakfontein site that is part of efforts by Rand Water to augment its water storage, which broke ground on 12 May 2020 and was expected to be completed on 25 April 2023, on what date will the project be completed;
(2) with reference to the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment facility which is continuously being affected by power failure, with areas that receive water from Vlakfontein reservoir having had very low pressure and/or no water, what are the reasons for the lack of communication and/or feedback on the specified water outages and/or restrictions;
(3) what are the reasons that the (a) water shortages experienced in the specified areas continue and (b) reservoir is never above 50% capacity;
(4) what are the reasons that the Vlakfontein 3 reservoir has not been brought online?
1. The Vlakfontein Reservoir was substantially completed on the 31 March 2023. Subsequently, it had to be filled to full capacity to test for leaks and to allow for backfilling around the reservoir which was completed on the 20 September 2023. The reservoir was then commissioned on the 21 September 2023 for normal operations.
2. Two major water outages affected the Mapleton System supply ...
What (a) time frames have been put in place by his department to resolve the water challenges which are currently being experienced by residents of Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Emakhazeni Local Municipality in Mpumalanga and (b) are the relevant details in this regard?
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has put in place the following interventions to address water supply challenges in the various Wards within the Emakhazeni Local Municipality:
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Ward
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Water supply status and Challenges
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Plans and Time Frames
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1; 2; 8
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The wards comprise parts of Siyathuthuka township and farming areas
The municipality supplies these wards through the municipal water supply system in the ... |
Considering the environmental impact of the depletion of underground water sources due to water sources being overutilised by gum plantations owned by Sappi, which disadvantages communities living in and around the plantations, how does his department monitor and/or oversee the use of water so that the usage of water is not skewed in favour of large corporations such as Sappi?
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) manages use of water resources by commercial afforestation where this activity is declared as engaging in a streamflow reduction activity (SFRA) as contemplated in s36(1) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA) from the water use authorisation process. Upon receipt of a water use licence application for s21(d) water use (SFRA), the Department ...
