WHITE RIVER – “There is never a time when the clock is not moving. Our office needs to call a meeting urgently with cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) to align the priorities. We need to synergise and align our planning to ensure that we deliver on our mandate,” he said.

He made the call as he and his deputies, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi, began a three-day working visit to Mpumalanga on Monday. He argued that South Africa does not have a water crisis.

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He called for the development and costing of plans with clear timeframes. The purpose of the visit was to engage stakeholders to fully understand the status and challenges encountered in the delivery of efficient and effective water and sanitation services in the province.

The working session included engagements with the Department of Water and Sanitation’s provincial office, the Mpumalanga provincial government led by Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, the local government, water agencies, water board, water services authorities, water user authorities, irrigation boards and other sector stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the provincial MEC for Cogta, Busisiwe Shiba, emphasised the need to “tighten the screws” in the quest to deliver services to the communities. She also highlighted the challenges in relation to non-functional and non-compliant wastewater treatment works and the need for urgent action to respond to these challenges.

Premier Mtsweni-Tsipane stated in her presentation that water and sanitation services are a thorn in the province’s side. “We are seeing population growth in the province, and this is putting pressure on bulk services,” she said.