The Department Water and Sanitation is taking stock as it determines the required solutions for a sector fraught with major inequalities and unequal distribution, and an “inability to uphold the right of every South African to access water”.

“South Africa’s water story is not a good one,” Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on Tuesday during a post-Budget Vote media briefing, outlining a bleak, untransformed environment that required urgent remedial action.

“Over three-million people still do not have access to a basic water supply service and 14.1-million people do not have access to safe sanitation. South Africa invests R42-billion a year into water infrastructure, and R13-billion into sanitation. Yet, the estimated capital investment requirement is R90-billion a year over the next ten years,” she pointed out.

In addition, the department, admitting its own gross failings, has been plagued by alleged corruption accusations, “huge” financial mismanagement, ageing infrastructure, incomplete and delayed projects, a misaligned three-tier system for the provision of water, nonpayment of services stretching into billions of rands and a lack of necessary skills and support, besides others.

“This, coupled with poor communications, has caused a great deal of harm to perceptions about us,” she said.

However, Sisulu assured the country of a workable, feasible plan, with an undisclosed set timeline, currently being implemented.

“We want you to give us time. We have a plan. We will turn this department around,” she assured.

Further, with many top officials at national and municipal levels under investigation, Sisulu aimed to have employees vetted and cleared, with a report due shortly.

“There is a great deal of dysfunctionality with a cloud hanging over the employees,” she said, adding that the investigation would unveil those who were cleared of any wrongdoing and further boost morale within the department.

“All current investigations will be fast-tracked and concluded in order that we may move forward.”

The department aims to appoint a National Treasury-approved investigative partner to deal with all outstanding investigations, fast-track all the drawn-out cases, study the reports of the Auditor-General and ensure there will be follow-through consequences.

“If needed, we will also call in forensic investigators to assist us to identify where there might be loopholes in our systems.”

Meanwhile, with an allocated total budget of R16.4-billion for the 2019/20 financial year, R3.66-billion is directed as conditional grants to local government and R2.06-billion is allocated to the Water Services Infrastructure Grant and the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant respectively.

“We need to urgently address the matter of our finances,” she said, noting that the department had entered the current financial year with accruals and payables of R1.7-billion from the previous financial year.

Sisulu noted that the department was engaging with the National Treasury about a R2-billion budget shortfall that was impacting on critical projects, such as the Emfuleni intervention project and Mzimvubu water project.

“I will be having discussions with the Finance Minister on the possibility of funding or partnering with the private sector to revive the Mzimvubu dam, currently not catered for in our budget and also the possibility of a new dam,” she added.

Further, an intensive campaign will begin to digitise all the department’s stockholdings, data and documentation.

“For water and sanitation, it means all dams, reticulation networks, treatment and recycling plants and water licences,” Sisulu noted, further stating that new regulations for the conservation of water were on the cards and a request would be made to Cabinet to declare all major dams national key points.

In addition, Sisulu is aiming to have a knowledgeable, always informed and transparently constituted regulator established to manage both State- and privately-owned water resources and to optimise, in a fair and judicious manner, the nation’s water resource as a strategic asset.