The problem of access to potable water and sanitation remains a big challenge for South Africa, and affects the poor, particularly women, the most, Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Lindiwe Hendricks, said at the launch of the Masibambane III programme at the National Water Summit, in Midrand, last week.

“It is our goal that these challenges are addressed. “We need to ensure that our children grow up in a safe and healthy environment by ensuring provision of decent sanitation in their homes and schools,” said Hendricks.

Masibambane is a partnership between the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (Dwaf), the Department of Provincial and Local Government, the South African Local Govern-ment Association, the European Union (EU) and its member states, the Swiss Government and Irish Aid.

Dwaf and ambassador Lodewijk Briët jointly announced an EU support package of about €107-million for the period 2007 to 2012.

The EU has been a firm supporter of Masiba-mbane since its inception in 2001, and has to date provided funding of about €135-million.

In addition to donor funding, South Africa will commit a total of R69-billion of its own resources to Masibambane III. The programme has become known for its achievements in institutional support and fostering strong water-sector collaboration in order to take the country beyond the provision of basic services and move forward under the overarching theme of ‘Water for growth and development’.

Hendricks pointed out that the theme was in recognition of water playing a key role in support of economic growth and social development, as well as the strategic use of water infrastructure as a means to contribute to and stimulate growth and development.

“We are also seeing ‘Water for growth and development’ as contributing towards bridging the gap between the first and second economies, by bringing marginalised people into the mainstream economy. “It is not only having access to clean water and decent sanitation that will contribute to growth and development, but also involving communities in the provision of some of the goods and services required by the water sector, such as brick making. “We also see that, through access to water, a number of new enterprises and small-scale agricultural activities become possible,” said Hendricks.

She added that it was essential for South Africa, as a water-scarce country, to make the best shared use of its limited resources to ensure sustainable growth and economic development.

“We are extremely grateful for both the finan- cial and institutional support of our donors, especially the EU.”

Masibambane III will also focus firmly on further developing the water sector by ensuring that water resource management and the provision of water services meet both social and economic priorities over the next five years in order to achieve the government’s targeted 6% annual growth rate.

“The EU is proud to be a supporter of this ground-breaking initiative. Masibambane is not only pioneering best practices in the water sector, but is also setting an example for many other sector programmes, where strong sector leadership can make an enormous difference to the lives of those most in need,” said Briët.