President Cyril Ramaphosa has established a high-level water task team to get to grips with South Africa’s water crisis.
It is to be led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who revealed the plans in answer to a parliamentary question. Also serving on the body would be Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Human Settlements, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity, Thembi Nkadimeng, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Minister of Police Bheki Cele, Minister of Police.
It is expected to begin its work directly after the Easter weekend, and should identify areas that needed to be addressed.
The Deputy President said that one option on the table was for the national government to take over the functions of dysfunctional municipalities.
There was also a recognition of the impact of crime and vandalism on water infrastructure, and for this reason, the Minister of Police was involved.
Mashatile commented: ‘I am not saying this task team will be a panacea for all the things. But it’s a good start. It’s a high-level team that will move to provinces and municipalities. We have agreed with the President that where municipalities are not succeeding, we should do so as national government. Not to take over their functions. For the sake of the people to receive these services, we must intervene directly. I know sometimes councillors don’t like that in their areas, they say it amounts to taking away their responsibilities, but we have decided that where we think it is necessary to do so we will do so in order to ensure that our people receive the services that they need to receive.’
[Image: Arek Socha from Pixabay]