Unhealthy dose of reality in the new year

Relentless load-shedding, the resultant strain on water supply systems and the closure of some beaches were dampeners to our holidays, celebrations and family time. While boreholes and inverters are available to a lucky few, load-shedding and water stoppages are now a common occurrence for most South Africans.

Publisher Jacques Breytenbach

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The beginning of the year is usually for reminiscing about holidays, back-to-school photos, counting the days until pay day, and New Year’s resolutions. But this year seems different. Checking load-shedding schedules is firmly entrenched in our daily routine, and South Africans are a little punch-drunk from the interest rate hikes, electricity price increase and general inflation.

As I begin to plot the year ahead (around load-shedding schedules, of course), I cannot help but ask: what are our government’s New Year’s resolutions?

ANC’s cadre deployment unlawful and unconstitutional – so we’ll see how that goes.

Dan Naidoo, chairman of WISA, calls for better communication with the public. By engaging customers and the public, the water sector can encourage a positive behaviour change, increase support for investment in water infrastructure, and assist local communities and the environment (page 11).

My hopes for 2023

I’ve also put together some of my own sector-specific hopes for the coming year:

WISA Contacts:

HEAD OFFICE

Tel: 086 111 9472(WISA)

Fax: +27 (0)11 315 1258

Physical address: 1st Floor, Building 5, Constantia Park, 546 16th Road, Randjiespark Ext 7, Midrand

Website: www.wisa.org.za

BRANCHES

Central Branch

(Free State, Northern Cape, North West)

Chairperson: Dr Leana Esterhuizen

Company: Central University of Technology

Tel: +27 (0)51 507 3850

Email: lesterhu@cut.ac.za

Eastern Cape:

Branch Contact: Dan Abrahams

Company: Aurecon

Tel: +27 (0)41 503 3929

Cell: +27 (0) 81 289 1624

Email: Dan.Abraham@aurecongroup.com

Gauteng

Branch Lead: Zoe Gebhardt

Cell: +27 (0)82 3580876

Email: zoe.gebhardt@gmail.com

KwaZulu-Natal

Chairperson: Lindelani Sibiya

Company: Umgeni Water

Cell: +27 (0)82 928 1081

Email: lindelani.sibiya@umgeni.co.za

Limpopo

Chairperson: Mpho Chokolo

Company: Lepelle Northern Water

Cell: +27 (0)72 310 7576

Email: mphoc@lepelle.co.za

Mpumalanga

Chairperson: Lihle Mbatha (Acting)

Company: Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency

Tel: +27 (0)13 753 9000

Email: mbathat@iucma.co.za

Western Cape

Chairperson: Natasia van Binsbergen

Company: AL Abbott & Associates

Tel: +27 (0)21 448 6340

Cell: +27 (0)83 326 3887

Email: natasia@alabbott.co.za

Namibia

Please contact the WISA Head Office at admin@wisa.org.za for more information

Government’s focus Minister Senzo Mchunu has stated that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will be placing a larger focus on assisting municipalities with the delivery of water and sanitation services. “The DWS will no longer exclusively concentrate on bulk water and water resource management at the exclusion of water services management. We will strengthen our role in regulating, supporting and intervening in municipalities where water and sanitation services are deteriorating,” he says. Read more about his plans on page 14.

Lester Goldman, CEO of WISA, believes that by professionalising key positions within municipalities, cadre deployment will be reduced and accountability will be increased. But mostly, competent people will be employed to provide the public with basic services. Read more on page 10.

In fact, there is a currently a court case in the Gauteng High Court in which the DA is asking the court to declare the

• non-sewered sanitation systems gain traction

• general public to understand that water is a scarce resource that cannot be wasted

• accountability (for everyone)

• technical people to make decisions around water and for politicians to support them.

As gloomy as we all feel, there are pockets of excellence within government and the public sector – be it interesting technologies (page 6), awardwinning water professionals (page 17) or committed public servants (page 22). Our sector is filled with talented individuals, world-leading water policies and tons of solutions. Let’s listen to the individuals, implement the policies and use the solutions available to us.

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