Chairperson, let me start by explaining that the reason for our request is that we are tabling our budget speech in the National Assembly in the next hour. We really appreciate being allowed the opportunity to respond first. I thank other colleagues as well.
Question No 33, as asked by the hon Jacobs, is in regard to measures that we are taking in order to address the water situation in our communities. I am going to go straight to the response now and it is as follows. Yes, indeed, our department has put in place a number of measures in order to address situations where communities do not have access to water from nearby dams in their areas. We do have those measures, and today we will be speaking to a new initiative that relates to ensuring that where communities have even been drinking the same water as their animals, that situation is eradicated completely. We will be announcing those additional measures this afternoon.
In the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape our colleagues there in local government, in the department of co-operative governance and traditional Affairs, Cogta, have already started working on a programme of that nature. It entails, amongst other things, looking at ensuring that we use the various springs that there are there, at small measures like digging for water where it is necessary, at rivers next door, and at the issue of package plans, which we have already started working on in the Limpopo area.
We are going to be using the Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme Fund, ACIP Fund, as well as the R7 billion that has been allocated this year for water purposes from the municipal infrastructure grant, MIG, working with our colleagues in Cogta and municipalities. We will also bring on board funds that we have in the regional bulk infrastructure grant, RBIG, in order to close this gap. Those are some of the issues that we are dealing with.
With regard to farmers, Question 33(a), and whether we are developing a comprehensive study to ensure that the single-purpose dams are utilised for purposes of farming and irrigation, as well as drinking, we would like to respond by saying that the department is undertaking a study to identify any community that can be serviced from the single-purpose and underutilised dams that are owned by our government and any institution. We have already found 14 such dams, for instance the Taung Dam. We have already started working on a regional infrastructure bulk scheme on that single-purpose dam. The main objective is to ensure that we do not use dams just for recreation purposes or any other use that is single purpose, but that people are able to use them in other ways as well. On some of the dams we are going to implement hydro schemes.
We are currently assessing the water utilisation of these dams, identifying the infrastructure projects that need appropriate scoping and securing access to water for the purposes of agriculture, as well as drinking for our people. Discussions and negotiations are already taking place with the relevant water services authorities in this regard.
We are also giving priority to the identification of funding allocations, and I referred to RBIG earlier on. Based on the interim findings on the comprehensive single-purpose dams, the department will endeavour to initiate additional infrastructure projects. The intention is that, as soon as these potential additional projects are identified, priority will be given to allocating money from these funds, working with the National Treasury and Cogta. We are also developing a reactive procedure to deal with any application for water by a community living near a dam that is built on private land. This proactive approach of addressing community water service needs from dams built on private land can be very difficult and time-consuming at times, and we should acknowledge that. It is estimated that there are thousands of farm and mine dams that are built on private land. The approach that has been adopted by the department is that if a community or water services authority has identified the need or potential for providing water from such dams to adjoining communities, the department will assist the relevant water services authority to gain access to such a dam, as we know that through appropriation we can deal with this, but it is quite often very difficult. In this regard the department will also soon be developing a process and procedure on how to address dealing with this matter in a very systematic manner.
As I conclude, I would like to say that it should be noted that the department is experiencing two major challenges or constraints in dealing with the issue of making water available to communities without water services from adjacent dams. These challenges are, firstly, that the department does not have access to funds to allocate to the development of reticulation and distribution schemes. Secondly, in the event of the dams being on private land, the process of gaining access to such water may be lengthy and challenging. It is not to say that we are not going to be dealing with this matter. I have already said that we will be dealing with the first challenge, and this Friday we are meeting with my colleague, the Minister for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to see how we can use the funds from the MIG funding allocated specifically for water, which is R7 billion. With regard to the second challenge, we will get into innovative mechanisms to assist the communities in those areas.
In short, I am saying that we are not just relaxed. We see this as a critical problem that requires us to act and ensure that our communities have access to water for both domestic and economic use. I thank you.