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PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY. DWAF BUDGET 2005/6 6 APRIL 2005. Introduction. SALGA `s objective is to assist municipalities in delivering services in an equitable, affordable and sustainable manner.
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PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY DWAF BUDGET 2005/6 6 APRIL 2005
Introduction • SALGA `s objective is to assist municipalities in delivering services in an equitable, affordable and sustainable manner. • SALGA recognizes that not all our people benefiting from government policies as result of local government services delivery track-record. • Recognises that many municipalities need to improve the efficiency of their water and sanitation services.
Key challenges • Free Basic Water and Sanitation delivery • Sustainable transfer of DWAF assets • Eradication of the sanitation backlog in the absence of a comprehensive policy • Impact of institutional restructuring of water services providers on local government
Budget 2005/6 • SALGA supports DWAF `s 2005/6 Budget which reflects the functions of DWAF as sector leader, supporter and regulator, with specific emphases on water resources management and support for the provision of services • Comments limited to five key areas:- Sanitation- FBW- Transfers- Catchment Management Agencies • - Restructuring of water services providers in SA
Sanitation • SALGA still views the delivery of basic sanitation as one of its key priorities • Agreement that White Paper on Basic Household Sanitation (2001) should be amended to align it with new Water Services Strategic Framework • Revisiting of the policy, and subsidy levels are necessary if the service delivery targets in the Strategic Framework document are to be met
Free Basic Water • Progress continues to be made with almost all municipalities now providing FBW to their residents with access to services • Key challenges in delivering FBW: • Development and implementation of indigent policies • Delivery of FBW to unserved and poor households, by extending water networks or constructing local water schemes • Large scale meter installation • Billing systems, debt collection and municipal arrears
Transfers • The Joint Transfer policy indicates all schemes were to be transferred by June 2005 • While SALGA has always been supportive of the process, it has consistently stated that the timeframes may not be met
Catchment Management • Seven proposals for establishment of CMA `s have been under consideration for some time • Six CMA `s were to be established by March 2005
Masibambane • Flagship programme for SALGA, having demonstrable benefit to water sector, SALGA and municipalities • Indications are that budget allocations for 2005/6 are insufficient to maintain the desired level of support to municipalities
Sector restructuring • An opportunity to create viable water services providers and make better use of the scarce human resources in the sector • An opportunity to create ‘source to tap’ WSP’s that can provide competitive services to communities in SA and beyond its borders. • An opportunity to create efficient institutions that result in less duplication of functions and lower costs • Regulatory capacity is an essential component of this restructuring and needs to be adequately funded and resourced.