. It is important to note that the Department of Water Affairs has a budget deficit of R1.2 billion which occurred during the 2009/10 financial year. This deficit is expected to grow up to R1.3 billion by the 2012/13 financial year. The budget deficit is a result of the Capital Payments as well as the Refurbishment and Betterment Programme. In the year 2009/10, Capital Payments were allocated a total budget of R749.1 million but at the end of the financial year the Department spent up to R1.8 billion which was way above what was budgeted for. The Department spent about R525 million on the Refurbishment and Betterment Programme.