NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 950
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28 JUNE 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11)
950. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs:â
(1) (a) How much water has been provided to emerging farmers in
terms of the Water Allocation Reform framework where previously
no water was available and (b) where was this water acquired;
(2) whether (a) commercial farms and (b) white farmers have been
receiving less water since the drawing up of the Water
Allocation Reform framework; if not, why not; if so, (i) to what
extent and (ii) how many (aa) farms and (bb) white farmers are
now receiving less water;
(3) whether the decrease in water supply to (a) commercial farms and
(b) white farmers took place (i) in terms of verification and
differentiation and (ii) was caused by market forces; if not,
what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the
relevant details in each case? NW1145E
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REPLY:
(1)(a) A total of 1 086 271 m3/a irrigation water has been
authorised for the productive use by emerging farmers.
(1)(b) The water is acquired from various catchments around
the country.
(2)(a) There has been no decrease or curtailment of Water
Supply to commercial farmers and,
(2)(b) To white farmers as a result of Water Allocation
Reform Framework
(2)(b)(i) Falls Away
(2)(b)(ii) Not applicable as none of these are receiving less
water than entitled to.
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(3)(a) There is no decrease of Water Supply to the
commercial Farmers and,
(3)(b) White Farmers
(3)(b)(i) Falls Away
(3)(b)(ii) However some registered Water Use Entitlements that
were incorrectly recorded in favour of certain farmers have
in some instance been adjusted to reflect the actual Water
Use. This is common in all the areas where validation and
verification have been conducted such as Mhlathuze,
Inkomati, Jan Dissels, Middle Vaal, Mokolo and Upper Vaal.