Madam Deputy Speaker, the answer to this question is as follows: Government has set the following targets with regard to the attainment of universal access to the basic services of water, sanitation and electricity - for the eradication of the bucket system the deadline is the end of 2007, for access to basic potable, clean water it is the end of 2008, for access to basic, decent sanitation it is the end of 2010, and for access to basic electricity it is the end of 2012.
Cabinet received a full report at the Cabinet lekgotla last month, and discussed the mechanisms put in place in order to meet these targets. In the limited time allowed for me to answer these questions, let me just detail some of the steps we are following to accelerate the provision of these basic services and to meet the said targets.
Firstly, we have increased our transfer of funds to the local sphere of government where these services are provided. Transfers to local government have grown by 19% per year in the current 2007-08 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
As hon members will recall, the Minister of Finance announced in his Budget last week that the local government equitable share will receive a further R5 billion for the delivery of free basic services, which has now reached an average of about 80% of households. The municipal infrastructure grant receives R400 million more for a final push to eradicate the bucket system; a further R600 million for the electrification programme; R1,4 billion for bulk water and sanitation infrastructure; and R950 million to deliver water and electricity to schools and clinics. The total infrastructure transfers to municipalities now total R52 billion over the next three years.
Secondly, in line with Project Consolidate, we are intensifying our efforts to ensure that the expenditure level of the municipal infrastructure grant improves significantly. The introduction of project and programme management practices will enable a clear flow of information which will ensure alignment of planning, funding and budget prioritisation.
We are also endeavouring to provide more support to municipalities with critical capacity constraints and are particularly targeting municipalities with limited or no capacity; rural municipalities with backlogs exceeding 60% of the population; those rural municipalities which are under Project Consolidate; and rural municipalities that are spending less than 50% of the municipal infrastructure grant allocation. A major priority is schools and clinics that do not have basic services. The government, through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, will assist struggling provinces and act as an implementing agent to provide infrastructure to schools and clinics. Water boards and NGOs will be utilised. Existing capacity within the provinces will be enhanced and allocations for this programme will be ring-fenced.
Fourthly, we are endeavouring to ensure that more engineers are deployed to these programmes by the Department of Provincial and Local Government, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Specifically, we are aiming at recruiting more engineers and targeting those that are retired in order to solicit their expertise, and in some cases solicit the expertise of engineers in our existing organs such as the Industrial Development Corporation and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Even the engineers that are here in Parliament must go back and practise. We want engineers turned bankers to go back to their profession, people such as the Minister of Finance.
Lastly, the government, through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, will be working more closely with identified municipalities to ensure speedier implementation of water and sanitation projects. This will include hands-on implementation of programmes and projects of other government departments such as Water Affairs, and Provincial and Local Government. Thank you.