Water Affairs     

Water was identified as a matter that justifies designated and constant attention. The following typical actions that have yielded positive results or where ongoing involvement has been negotiated:

• Approval was obtained from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) for the phasing in of maintanence and operating costs relating to state water schemes over a period of five years.
• The introduction of moratoriums on water tariff increases was negotiated with DWAF for the transformation of state water canal schemes into water user associations.
• After an agreement was reached with DWAF, the depreciation costs recovered by state water schemes were limited to 1c per cubic metre annually for a period of three years.
• The levy for Work-for-Water Programme was limited 10 10% of actual costs in consultation with the Minister of Water Affairs an Forestry.
• Waste management, licencing of water-use rights and a National Water Resource Strategy still form part of the on-going implementation of the Water Act.