Agriculture:
With reference to the additional water that would be available once the capacity of the feeder canal to the Brandvlei Dam is increased:
1. (a) What criteria does the national Department of Water and Sanitation consider in order to determine allocations of water for the irrigation of agricultural land, (b) what would be the process to apply for such water rights and (c) when is the application process expected to commence;
(2) whether his Department has any role to play in this regard, especially to speed up the decision-making processes by the national Department; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), having the legislative jurisdiction in terms of the Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) in collaboration with, and according to the delegations of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency, is responsible to consider and authorise the applications for water use emanating from the raising of the Brandvlei Dam feeder canal. As such, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and the Western Cape Government only have recourse in terms of imploring action through cooperative governance and the official Intergovernmental relations structures.
1. (a) Currently the Department of Water and Sanitation is in the process to consider and finalise the following criteria for the allocation of additional irrigation water from the Greater Brandvlei Scheme:
The allocation of water will have a redress agenda to ensure equity in the allocation of water for agricultural growth and development to the emerging farmer sector, whilst also making water available for allocation to the commercial farming sector. The primary objectives of allocating additional water use entitlements under the Greater Brandvlei Scheme are the following:
- To enable large-scale water allocation reform within the multiple direct and indirect sectors of agricultural production whilst also creating permanent and seasonal jobs, thus contributing to the alleviation of poverty.
- Maximising the socio-economic benefits to the local community and regional economy that may be derived from the existing opportunity.
- Promoting economic growth and development in the targeted area.
- Maximising the number of new job opportunities, both on-farm and in the upstream and downstream industries.
- Allocating the volume of available water in order to derive the maximum benefit from this opportunity.
It is currently envisaged to make the water available for application in a blocked or tiered hectare approach.
Preference would be given to 100% Black Owned Companies, Enterprises, Individuals and Communal Food Security projects.
All other applicants must achieve a score of 40% minimum on the Agri-BEE Scorecard and where applications exceed 90ha, a 30% minimum equity shareholding in water use entitlement and/or property ownership, will be a prerequisite. The % equity shareholding will progressively increase to 50% for applications beyond 360ha.
Applicants that received water use licenses from the Greater Brandvlei Scheme (the dam and river system, including taking and storage derived from tributaries to the main river) in the last 15 years may apply for increased allocations, but their existing allocated hectares as licensed may be taken into consideration in calculating the terms and conditions.
All applicants shall be subjected to a verification process to confirm their BEE status. This verification will cover the following elements namely:
- Equity Ownership;
- Management Control;
- Employment Equity;
- Skills Development;
- Preferential Procurement; and
- Enterprise Development
The Department will however not consider any group applications from water user associations and/or pump schemes to secure additional water to improve the sure supply of its existing lawful members’ summer and/or winter scheduling.
It remains the duty of aspiring individual applicants within these bulk supply schemes to confirm that the institution can practically pump and convey the applied water to the intended land without detrimentally impacting the existing members’ scheduled water supply.
- The Department of Water and Sanitation and the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency that holds the delegated jurisdiction over water resources in this water management area, mutually agreed to “Call for Licenses” in a phased manner, whereas under Phase 1 the preferential applications to 100% Black Owned companies, enterprises, communal food security gardens and individuals should be advertised for applications.
The “Call for Licenses” under phase 2 for established/new commercial agriculture, industries and/or the local Municipality should be advertised within 90 days after phase 1.
All applications will be requested to submit a pre-application, upon which they will be supplied with a questionnaire to confirm, amongst others, the property ownership and/or rental agreements, financial ability to establish (the bulk abstraction and on-farm irrigation infrastructure, soil preparation and crops, etc.) and ensure the long term socio-economic sustainability of the envisaged project.
(c) The Department aims to commence with the advertisement of phase 1 on the “Call for Licenses” by end April 2022, if not sooner.
2. The Department of Agriculture has, since 2015, played a significant role in co-operation with the national Department of Water and Sanitation to unlock the potential of this project and its further allocation of water for growth and development.
The Department of Agriculture continues to regularly meet with the acting Provincial Head of the Department of Water and Sanitation to keep abreast on targets set and progress made.
