DWS, WRC & T-CTA 2025/26 Annual Performance Plans (with Deputy Ministers)

Video Water and Sanitation                                                               Strategic Plan                              Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority Water Research Commission                                                  Strategic Plan The Portfolio Committee met virtually to receive the 2025/26 Annual Performance Plans and budget briefings from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), and the Water Research Commission (WRC). The meeting aimed to assess the institutional readiness, policy alignment, and implementation capacity across the water and sanitation sector. Deputy Minister David Mahlobo acknowledged the sector’s failure to meet the targets of the National Development Plan. He stated that deteriorating infrastructure, institutional weaknesses, and external pressures, such as climate change and population growth, had resulted in 105 out of 144 water services authorities being classified as dysfunctional. He outlined a reform programme focused on stabilisation, improved governance, enforcement, and collaborative oversight with the National Treasury and the Auditor-General. The Deputy Minister cautioned that messaging about water conservation must be carefully framed to avoid penalising communities already lacking access to water. On the issue of municipal debt and the perceived disparity between service delivery and the salaries of municipal officials, the Deputy Minister clarified that the Department could not dictate local government salary structures, as collective agreements governed these matters. The Department was cautious not to undermine such agreements. However, he stressed that performance needed to be demanded. As part of its reforms, the Department aimed to introduce performance-based contracts for officials working in water utilities, whether municipally or privately owned. Deputy Minister Mahlobo stressed that the Department's central mission was to improve water reliability. Over the next five years, the reliability target needed to increase from 68% to over 80%, while access must rise from 90% to 95%. At the same time, non-revenue water had to be reduced from 47% to 32%. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in understanding the interconnection of these various indicators. The Department’s plan prioritised infrastructure development, improved regulatory compliance, sector transformation, and legislative reform. The Water and Sanitation Master Plan and Sustainable Development Goals were referenced as guiding frameworks. The Department also committed to strengthening monitoring and support to municipalities. The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority highlighted progress on major infrastructure projects such as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II. Officials cited delays due to site challenges and inflation-linked cost escalations. They reported plans to raise capital through bond markets, pending guarantees from the National Treasury. The Water Research Commission presentation focused on research, innovation, and sector capacity-building. The Commission reported on succession planning, gender transformation, and collaborative partnerships across academia and government. Committee Members raised serious concerns about the widespread collapse of municipal wastewater treatment, frequent sewage spills, and the deterioration of water quality in towns and rivers. They criticised the Department for its continued reliance on consultants, lack of internal capacity, and failure to enforce accountability. Some Members questioned the sustainability of TCTA’s funding model and the feasibility of proposed timelines, particularly in light of past project delays. Others expressed disappointment at the limited translation of WRC research into practical solutions at the community level. Concerns were also raised about youth development, intergovernmental coordination, and the absence of clear, measurable outcomes. Officials responded by outlining recovery efforts, ongoing litigation where necessary, enforcement mechanisms, and plans to bolster technical capacity. The Committee resolved to strengthen oversight of all three entities, emphasising the need for practical impact and accountability in service delivery.