Status Report on Water User Associations in South Africa

Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs

24 April 2013

Legislative Mandate Water User Associations (WUAs) are established in terms of

section 92 (1)(a) of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998)

Irrigation boards (IB) operate in terms of the Water Act ,1956

Transformation of irrigation boards (IB) into WUAs is a statutory requirement in terms of section 98 of the NWA (Act 36 of 98)

Due date of transformation of IB to WUA was 6 months after promulgation of the NWA. The transformation due date was extended for another year

Role of WUAs Water User Associations are Water Management Institutions

which manage and regulate water at a localised level . The scale at which they operate, their roles and functions and

their use, management and ownership of infrastructure varies considerably around the country

This influences the way we relate to and oversee these institutions

Current Institutional Arrangements

DWA

Minister

WRC

TCTA

Water Boards (12)

WSAs

CMAs (2)

WUAs (79)

*: Orasecom, Limcom, Incomaputo committees, KOBWA;

WSPs

International bodies*

Lines of reporting through the DG to the MinisterIrrigation

Boards (129)

Minister has many entities reporting to her-challenge to manage – suggest change.

Minister has many entities reporting to her-challenge to manage – suggest change.

Progress to date

PROGRESS TO DATEAbout 129

Irrigation Board Still Existing

10 from GWS

about42 Transformed

Irrigation Board

About 279 Irrigation board

existed 1998

40 new

92 WUAs

20131998

1st WUA established

2000

Province Initial number of Irrigation Boards

Number of WUA established from IB

Newly established/HDIs

Number Irrigation Boards to be transformed

KwaZulu-Natal 28 9 1 19

Mpumalanga 44 1 8 26

Eastern Cape 33 3 1 9

Western Cape 113 30 8 29

Northern Cape 22 6 4 20

Limpopo 7 3 7 1

North West 20 0 0 20

Gauteng 4 0 0 4

Free State 8 7 2 1

TOTALS 279 59 31 129

Routes to Establish WUAs

Irrigation Board

Irrigation Board WUAWUA

Transformation

Water usersWater users WUAWUA

Establishment

WUAWUAGovt

Water Scheme

Govt Water

Scheme

Establishment

Transfer

LGLG

Water BoardsWater Boards

CHALLENGES

Water and land reformAppropriate institutional approach

to GWS (staff transfer)Resolve asset and liabilities

Future Thinking Revise DWA strategy around WUA to accelerate process Linked to fast-tracking of Water Allocation Reform Joint process of agrarian reform will be championed by key sector

Departments of Water Affairs, Land Affairs and Rural Development, and Agriculture Food and Fisheries

Secure financial requirements for the medium term to enable effective support to emerging WUAs

Amendment of NWA to provide stricter institutional Framework for WUA

Closer engagement and partnership with the South African Federation of Water User Associations (SAFWUA)

• The broader transformation of local economies and community development will be championed through the implementation of a transformation scorecard

• Develop criteria for representation on management committee • All irrigation boards will be transformed using the revised criteria on

management committee and the transformation scorecard within a year

• An accelerated programme of structured support for emerging and new WUAs will be put in place together with sector partners such as other departments, provinces, CMAs, SALGA and SAFWUA

Future Thinking

Thank you