The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has reinforced its commitment to monitor work being carried out by its entities in affected communities.
While the audit outcomes of most water entities have significantly improved over the last three years, DWS acting director-general Deborah Mochotlhi expressed concern over those that still need improvement.
Briefing the Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Portfolio Committee on the Water Boards’ 2019/20 annual reports, she said that the Mhlathuze and Magalies Water Boards received unqualified audit outcomes with no findings while Overberg, Bloem, Lepelle, Umgeni and Rand Water received unqualified audit outcomes with findings for the 2019/20 financial year.
“While there are a number of areas for concern and specific institutional challenges that are being addressed, the overall performance of Water Boards during the 2019/20 reporting period has been generally satisfactory,” Mochotlhi elaborated.
Water entities are key in assisting the government, particularly the DWS, in supplying water and contribute to the reduction of inequality through access to water supply and job creation, leveraging additional investments for infrastructure development as well as enabling rural communities to use water for rural livelihoods.