DWS Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report

Video Budgetary Review & Recommendations Reports BRRR The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation convened to discuss and adopt the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report (BRRR) for Budget Vote 41, focusing on the Department of Water and Sanitation and its associated entities. This comprehensive report included an analysis of performance reviews and audit outcomes, highlighting significant discrepancies between budget allocations and project completions. The findings underscored the necessity for collaborative efforts among the Department of Water and Sanitation, National Treasury, and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to address the ongoing challenges associated with municipal water debt. During the discussion, Members raised several pressing concerns. Members emphasised the enduring issue of bucket toilets, advocating for amendments to the Water Services Act that would prohibit these systems and establish stricter timelines for their eradication. The Members proposed retroactively implementing a "Polluter Pays" principle to mitigate the environmental damage caused by acid mine drainage, suggesting that the Water Research Commission trial alternative sanitation technologies in underprivileged schools. Additional suggestions included top-slicing the Municipal Infrastructure Grant and creating a comprehensive infrastructure maintenance plan. Members endorsed the proposal for a 12-month plan aimed at addressing documented bucket toilets and called for increased funding for the Department, citing delays in regional infrastructure projects. They also urged a thorough review of expenditure figures in the BRRR to ensure accurate budget allocation. The Committee recommended that the Department of Basic Education provide quarterly updates on school sanitation. Additionally, concerns regarding excessive water consumption levels in South Africa, which surpass global averages, were raised, prompting a request for the Department to implement effective water conservation strategies. A unified approach to water and sanitation was also suggested to enhance oversight functions between human settlements and water access, particularly within the framework of the district development model. As the report discussion drew to a close, the Chairperson requested that the Committee Researcher compile the Members' recommendations. The Committee Researcher highlighted the need for “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) recommendations and suggested aligning departmental goals with realistic timelines, including the proposed 12-month target for eradicating bucket toilets. He advised that the Department submit a comprehensive status report before the financial year concludes. Subsequently, the Committee addressed its third-term programme. Members expressed concerns regarding potential scheduling conflicts with the Human Settlements Committee, but the Chairperson clarified that oversight visits had been established, limiting flexibility. Members discussed the inclusion of oversight visits to critical Rand Water facilities, specifically the Zuikerbosch Treatment Plant and Palmiet Reservoir, due to their significant impact on water supplies. The Chairperson confirmed the approval of the programme, including the proposed amendments and recommendations. He reminded Members to secure official passports for the upcoming oversight visits, with the Committee Secretary assisting in logistical arrangements.