'Water infrastructure build on upward trajectory', assures Ramaphosa

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa says establishing a National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency is one of the biggest reforms in the sector to date.

The president reacted in his weekly newsletter on Monday.

Ramaphosa says the new agency will develop and manage national water infrastructure and source financing for similar projects.

In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa says the Government of National Unity has prioritised achieving a “secure and reliable” water supply for communities and economic growth.

Ramaphosa says delegates at the water indaba, which took place last week, were tasked with developing a sustainable turnaround plan to keep the momemnet of the structural reform process started under the sixth administration, which identified major challenges in the sector. 
 
He says these reforms include reinstating the drop water quality monitoring system, significantly improving the turnaround time for processing water use license applications, and implementing a raw water pricing strategy.
 
Ramaphosa says establishing a national water resource infrastructure agency will be part of these changes and is “one of the most significant reforms in the sector to date”.

“Water infrastructure build is currently on an upward trajectory,” writes Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa says the infrastructure fund has secured R23 billion for seven large water infrastructure projects, including phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the Polihali Dam, and the Ntabelanga Dam on the Umzimvubu River.