AfriForum calls on Ramaphosa to account for progress on National Water Action Plan

AfriForum has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa calling on him to provide a clear, measurable account of what government has achieved since the National Water Action Plan was formally released on 23 July.

The Presidency previously described the plan as a focused programme of short-, medium- and long-term interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of South Africa’s water crisis. It also stated that dedicated teams had been tasked with driving implementation and that the National Water Crisis Committee, otherwise known as WATERCOM, would monitor their progress and hold responsible departments and agencies accountable for delivery.

The President said at the time that immediate interventions were already being implemented, including emergency infrastructure projects and reiterated this when responding to parliamentary questions on Tuesday.

“President Ramaphosa has explained the causes of the water crisis, he has announced the plan and he has said that immediate interventions are already being implemented. The public is now entitled to see proof of these interventions,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Manager of Environmental Affairs.

AfriForum is asking the Presidency to provide, among other things, details of:

• actions completed since 23 July;
• projects currently under implementation and their deadlines;
• municipalities that have received direct intervention;
• water and sanitation projects that have been repaired, accelerated or completed;
• action taken against corruption, criminality, infrastructure theft and the so-called water tanker mafia;
• instances of consequence management; and
• measurable 30-, 60- and 90-day targets for the plan.

AfriForum is also questioning the apparent contradiction between the government’s stated commitment to immediate intervention and Ramaphosa’s comments at the ANC’s local government election manifesto launch on 23 August. At the event, Ramaphosa said that every ANC-led council would develop a localised manifesto and implementation plan and that “the work will begin on the first day after the election”.

“This raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to the implementation of the National Water Action Plan. If this plan were truly in the process of being implemented, it is important to know why the party that governs the majority of the country’s municipalities says that important municipal work will only begin after the election,” De Klerk adds.

“That is not to say that no work has been done since 23 July, but the questions remain whether the government can demonstrate measurable progress regarding the commitments it has already made.

“South Africans do not need another announcement about the water crisis. They need functioning water infrastructure, reliable water supply and an end to sewage pollution. Do not tell South Africans what will happen after the election, show them what has been done since.”

AfriForum will continue to monitor the implementation of the National Water Action Plan and will assess the government’s response against the commitments and timelines it has publicly announced.