Human Settlements
The National Minister of Water and Sanitation has identified communities across South Africa that are facing water shortages:
(1) How many communities were identified per municipality in the province;
(2) whether his Department has strategies to solve this problem; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether his Department can fast-track the release of state land for human settlements; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
My department worked together with Municipalities and in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to identify densely populated areas where services are below the minimum standard as prescribed by National Upgrading Support minimum standards. Recommendations where additional water storage tanks could be positioned (by providing X and Y coordinates) were made. Municipalities also indicated the water sources to be used to fill and replenish these additional water tanks. Areas identified are:
Kindly find below a table of the communities who were identified per municipality in the province.
Non-Metro Municipalities | Number of Water Tanks Supplied by DWS | Areas/ Communities identified for the Water Tanks |
Beaufort West | 30 | Various rural locations |
Berg River | 3 | Goedverwacht |
Bitou | 13 | Krantshoek, Kurland and Kwanokuthula |
Breede Valley | 17 | Rawsonville, Touws Rivier, Worcester and GG Kamp in Sandhills |
Cape Agulhas | 8 | Bredasdorp, Napier and Struis Bay |
Cederberg | 10 | Citrusdal, Clanwilliam and Lamberts Bay |
Drakenstein | 13 | Gouda, Klein Nederburg/Paarl, Van Wyks Vlei and Hermon rural location |
George | 8 | Blanco, Haarlem, Uniondale, Van Rooyen’s Rus and other rural locations |
Hessequa | 5 | Heidelberg, Riversdale, Slangrivier, and Still Bay East |
Kannaland | 5 | Calitzdorp, Ladismith and rural location |
Knysna | 18 | Knysna, Knysna Heights, Old Place, Rheenendal, Thesens Island and club Timbers |
Laingsburg | 24 | Lainsburg and Matjiestfontein |
Langeberg | 10 | Ashton and Robertson |
Matzikamma | 6 | Klawer, Lutzville and Vredendal |
Mossel Bay | 8 | D' Almeida, Dana Bay, Kwanonqaba, Mossdustria and Johnsons Post |
Oudtshoorn | 10 | Armoed, De Hoop and Oudtshoorn |
Overstrand | 19 | Franskraal, Hermanus, Kleinmond, Pearly Beach and Stanford |
Prince Albert | 12 | Klaarstroom, Leeu Gamka and Prince Albert |
Saldanha Bay | 13 | Saldanha and Vredenburg |
Stellenbosch | 20 | Franschhoek, Idasvallei and Pniel |
Swartland | 10 | Cape Farms, Malmesbury and Moorreesburg |
Swellendam | 5 | Malagas and Swellendam |
Theewaterskloof | 15 | Bot River, Caledon, Genadendal 2, Greyton, Helderberg Rural and Villiersdorp |
Witzenberg | 10 | Ceres and Wolseley |
City of Cape Town | 214 | Various locations within the Metro |
The Department of Water and Sanitation has since appointed a service provider, i.e., Overberg Water Board, to deliver and install all water tanks to identified areas in the Western Cape. This process is currently ongoing.
2. My department played a crucial role in the facilitation of key communication between the different spheres of Government (National, Provincial, and Local Government), employing the existing Informal Settlement Support Plan's communication channels and networks.
My department collated the information provided by Municipalities, which was then consolidated by the DWS, who based their original distribution of water tanks on Municipalities that previously required drought relief. The DWS also consulted with the CCT through the Task Team Stream established by the Department in order to obtain information (similar to information requested from Non-metro Municipalities) about informal settlements that had a shortfall in water stand pipes in the Metro.
Beyond Covid-19, my department has identified informal settlements and other critical areas that require further assistance in terms of access to water. Internally we are preparing and working with municipalities to package projects which address dire need. My department is expanding on the level of services provided through the Informal Settlement Support Plan (2018) and through partnering with intermediaries (NGOs) in informal settlements, so that active community consultation is assured.
3. My department is committed to fast-tracking the release of its properties for human settlement purposes. Parcels of land recently released and where development is ongoing includes Belhar, Blue Downs, Khayelitsha and Paarl.
My department has further identified a number of erven in state ownership and are in discussions with the relevant Departments and State Owned Entities to accelerate the release of these land parcels. The details of these particular properties cannot be revealed due to the threat of land invasions. Through the GIAMA Act, my department will follow a transparent process that will place the best interest of local municipalities at the forefront of considerations.
