Over R300bn required to avert water crisis in SA

Trevor Balzer of the Ministerial Advisory Committee says there’s already R565 billion that is flowing into the sector to fund the Department’s projects for the next ten years.

That leaves a gap of about R333 billion that will be required to reach the estimated budget for the project.

Listen to Balzer below:

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu launched the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR) on Thursday.

Sisulu says her Department aims to approach various investors to fund the project, including Treasury.

“Treasury does not view us in good light,” says Sisulu.

She says the most critical aspect of carrying out the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan will be to ensure there is ethical leadership, commitment and professionalism.

Sisulu explains the Vaal Dam project will require a highly skilled senior expects and government officials.

The Minister also revealed there is not enough water in the country to provide for the needs of an industrialised society that is experiencing high population growth.

Sisulu says the demand simply outweighs the supply, and to date close to 3 million South Africans are still without access to basic water supply services.

Sisulu believes these shortcomings are impacting negatively on job creation, economic growth and the wellbeing of the country’s citizens.

The water master plan hopes to reduce non-revenue water and water losses in all municipalities to below 15% by 2030