Spending increased from R5.1 billion in 2008/09 to R9 billion in 2011/12, at an average annual rate of 20.6 per cent. This is driven by the increase in expenditure on the development of the bulk water infrastructure, which includes funds allocated for the construction of new dams and ancillary infrastructure, and rehabilitating and repairing existing bulk infrastructure in line with government's renewed emphasis on infrastructure development.