Consideration and adoption of the Draft Legacy Report

Meeting report

The Committee Secretariat confirmed the presence of a quorum.

Mr R Mashego (ANC), the Chairperson, acknowledged this and expressed frustration with the Secretariat’s ongoing poor network signal, suggesting the need to find a better service provider.

He then requested to proceed with the agenda for the day.

Draft Legacy Report of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.

The Committee Content Advisor took Members through the draft report, covering the Committees work and activities in the Sixth Parliament, 2019-2024.

During the session, a television was playing in the background, causing significant disruption. The Content Advisor was unable to proceed with reading the report due to this disturbance. The Content Advisor notified the Chairperson about the disruptive television.

Ms R Mohlala (EFF) addressed the Chairperson regarding this issue and shared her views on the need for the Chairperson to respect the Committee's proceedings. She pointed out that as there was an ongoing meeting, the television should have been switched off to maintain focus and productivity.

Ms Shereen Dawood, Committee Content Advisor, proceeded with the read-through, stating that she would summarise the introduction rather than reading it verbatim. She began by highlighting the establishment of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water, and Sanitation in the 6th Parliament, which resulted from a presidential proclamation merging these portfolios under one ministry. This strategic move aimed to address water and sanitation issues more effectively, recognising their interconnectedness. Ms Dawood outlined the rationale behind creating a separate ministry for these departments, underscoring the complexity of South Africa's water challenges and its critical role in people's lives and economic stability. Consequently, the Rules Committee proposed and adopted the formation of a new Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation.

The report encapsulated the Committee's work during the 6th Parliament under the leadership of Ms M Semenya and Mr R Mashego. It summarises key achievements, including training workshops and engagements with government entities on budgetary matters and oversight of financial and non-financial performance.

Further, the report highlighted the Committee's focus areas during the Sixth Parliament, such as investigations, budget votes, tracking audit outcomes, and assessing infrastructure projects.

It also outlined key areas for future work in the 7th Parliament, including amendments to relevant water legislation, oversight of water infrastructure projects, and addressing challenges in water service delivery.

The report concluded with key findings and recommendations, such as the need for transformation in the water sector, sustainable infrastructure development, and institutional capacity strengthening. It also addressed challenges encountered in implementing various water infrastructure projects, highlighting the importance of intersectoral cooperation and regulation.

The draft legacy report provided a thorough analysis of the Committee's activities and recommendations, highlighting areas for improvement in water and sanitation service delivery and governance.

Discussion

The Chairperson appreciated the detailed report, acknowledging that while it contains a lot of information, it provides a clear overview of the Committee's activities and recommendations for the Seventh Parliament. He expressed satisfaction with the report and checked if there were any questions or concerns from Members.

Mr G Hendricks (Al Jama-ah) thanked the Chairperson and commended the Committee for producing a well-written report. However, he raised several concerns that he believed should be addressed. He emphasised the importance of including information on disciplinary and criminal cases that have not been resolved, particularly those involving neglect by past ministers of water. Mr Hendricks stressed the need for the Seventh Parliament to prioritise these matters and demonstrate the political will to address them.

Regarding oversight visits, especially concerning bucket toilets, Mr Hendricks highlighted the failure to eliminate them despite promises made by past administrations in areas such as Umzimvubu. He also mentioned specific areas such as Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal where essential infrastructure, such as dams and water treatment plants, is lacking, leading to dire consequences for residents and even death.

Mr Hendricks expressed disappointment with the report's treatment of sewage pollution, noting that officials responsible for such pollution could face significant fines and even imprisonment under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). He urged for more substantial reporting on this issue and questioned the consequences for municipalities failing to address it effectively.

Further, Mr Hendricks called for clarity on why the responsibility for prosecutions is being passed to the Seventh Parliament, rather than being pursued by the current Committee. He emphasised the importance of holding those responsible for water quality issues accountable and ensuring that adequate measures are taken to assess and improve the quality of drinking water nationwide.

Mr Hendricks scored the Committee’s interventions on water crises in South Africa, 1/10.

Mr A Tseki (ANC) offered his support for the report, but he raised some concerns about its level of specificity. He highlighted the need for more detailed information, citing the example of the Tshwane Wastewater challenge, where lives were lost, suggesting that this part of the report should be enriched with specific details. Similarly, he mentioned the challenges faced in Nandoni and emphasised the importance of reflecting the department's intentions in addressing them.

Mr Tseki acknowledged that the report is a handover or Legacy Report covering only a “three-month period” within a five-year term. He requested an expansion of the report to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by the Committee, ensuring that incoming Members are well-informed and do not start from scratch. He also noted the ongoing issue of the bucket system, which has not been resolved despite promises made over the years during leadership.

Further, Mr Tseki mentioned an international visit to Lesotho, where local beneficiation was a significant concern for the community. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that local businesses benefit from projects, particularly in industries such as fishing and water resource management. He also drew parallels to apartheid-era electricity pylons being present in villages without benefiting the community. Mr Tseki proposed adding more precision to the report to provide a more accurate account of events and developments.

Ms R Mohlala (EFF) acknowledged the well-drafted report but pointed out some notable omissions. She highlighted specific water-related challenges in Warrenton, Northern Cape, where, despite a presidential visit, the residents in Magareng Local Municipality still lack access to water. Ms Mohlala urged for an expansion on this issue, and pointed out the importance of detailing how the Committee addressed the problem and the current status of resolving water provision in the area.

Addressing the Hammanskraal issue, causing waterborne diseases, she called for a more in-depth discussion on the problem, its history, and the progress made in addressing it. Ms Mohlala expressed concern about lives lost due to cholera and stressed the need for a comprehensive report that the next administration can use as a guide.

Ms Mohlala brought attention to the Rooival and Temba treatment plant issue, urging detailed discussion to ensure justice in addressing the challenges faced. She also raised concerns about delays in providing water to promised villages, particularly in Nandoni. She requested an expansion on this matter, specifying which villages received water and the reasons behind those that did not.

The bucket eradication issue, especially in the Northern Cape, where an oversight visit was planned but did not occur, was highlighted by Ms Mohlala. She urged a detailed report on the progress made in eradicating pit latrines, providing information on areas addressed and those still facing challenges. She emphasised the need for clarity on the reasons for not meeting eradication targets set by figures like Nelson Mandela.

Ms Mohlala addressed infrastructure issues related to toilet facilities, especially in the Free State, emphasising the importance of discussing the planning and execution of projects to prevent issues such as vandalism and improper functioning. She stressed the need for transparency on these matters in the legacy report.

Additionally, Ms Mohlala focused on the "war on water leaks" initiative, requesting a report on the litres of water lost daily and the outcome of the project. She questioned the whereabouts of artisans trained under the initiative and the utilisation of funds allocated to the project.

Ms Mohlala urged a thorough legacy report, encompassing detailed information on the mentioned water-related issues and initiatives to provide a comprehensive understanding for the incoming administration.

The Chairperson raised concerns that the report should focus on the Committee's activities during its term rather than introducing new issues. He emphasised that the legacy report should reflect the work done over the past five years and highlight unfinished tasks for the incoming Parliament to address.

Regarding specific examples mentioned, such as the Nelson Mandela six-month promise, the Chairperson clarified that these matters were not discussed during the Portfolio’s term and should not be included in the report. He stressed the importance of maintaining accuracy and relevance in the report's content.

The Chairperson encouraged the inclusion of emphasis on areas where the Committee made significant contributions but acknowledged that certain sections needed stronger wording. He highlighted the importance of clear and attainable recommendations for the incoming Parliament.

Regarding the adoption of certain reports, the Chairperson sought clarification on why some reports were not adopted and urged that reasons be provided to visitors and future committees. He emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the Committee's decisions.

The Chairperson inquired about the report from January 2020 that was not adopted.

The Committee Content Advisor responded that she would consult with her colleagues to provide an explanation.

The Chairperson emphasised the importance of resolving this issue to ensure that the handover report was not incomplete. He expressed concern that if the report from 2020 was not included, the handover would be lacking in content. He sought clarity on whether the report should be brought forward despite it containing matters related to human settlements, which were no longer under the Committee's jurisdiction.

Mr L Basson (DA) thanked Chairperson and agreed that the Legacy Report should not be overly detailed. He acknowledged Ms Dawood's consistent approach in writing reports and stated that the current report adequately reflects the events of the past five years. While suggesting that additions could always be made, he deemed the report suitable for handover.

Ms Dawood confirmed that she would make some changes and submit the revised report to the Chairperson by the end of March.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Basson and confirmed that the report was provisionally adopted, pending the final version due at the end of March.

Ms Mohlala requested that the report be distributed to Committee Members if possible.

Committee Minutes

Minutes dated 27 February 2024

The Chairperson initiated the adoption of the minutes, which was seconded by Ms M Matuba (ANC).

Ms Mohlala raised a concern, stating that the minutes should have been read to the Committee before adoption.

The Chairperson clarified that his previous comment was a joke to gauge Ms Mohlala's reaction.

Despite this, Ms Mohlala remained apprehensive, noting that a Member had already moved for adoption, which she believed was incorrect.

Subsequently, the Chairperson proceeded to read the minutes aloud.

Ms Mohlala said that the rejection of the minutes by the EFF was not accurately reflected in the records. She noted that during the 27 February 2024 meeting, the Committee adopted the minutes, but the EFF vehemently rejected them. On the A-List, the EFF reserved its view. She requested the necessary amendments, suggesting that the Committee Secretariat could refer to audio recordings for accuracy. Ms Mohlala clarified that both the EFF and Al Jama-ah rejected the minutes.

The Chairperson acknowledged the need for changes and instructed the Committee Secretariat to make the required amendments.

Ms Mohlala questioned the omission of such a crucial part of the meeting, expressing concern about the political influence within the Portfolio Committee administration team.

In response, the Chairperson expressed concern about Ms Mohlala's anger issues and associated it with being an EFF Member, suggesting that it might lead to exhaustion and an early demise.

Ms Mohlala defended the EFF's stance, stating that they value competence but are intolerant of wrongdoing. She emphasised that her role in the Portfolio Committee was not to please the Chairperson, but to ensure accountability.

The Chairperson then announced the adjournment of the meeting.