Minister Mchunu assures African farmers of support from the Department of Water and Sanitation

The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu has assured the farmers that the Department is committed to work with them to ensure that they receive sustainable, efficient, and equitable services for their trade to thrive.

The Minister made this commitment to the delegates of African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA), at their three-day Annual General Meeting which started on Sunday 16 and ends today,18 October 2022 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) in KwaZulu-Natal.

Minister Mchunu reiterated the commitment by the Department to issue water use licenses within 90 days of application, as it was declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address in 2020.

Since the declaration, the Department of Water and Sanitation has worked tirelessly to revise Water Use Licensing Regulations in order to finalise the process within the new turn-around time.  

The Minister however emphasised the importance of equity in terms of access to water and warned against resistance and fronting by the Water User Associations (WUAs).

“In as much as the WUAs are essential for water distribution and also contribute to food security in the country, there is a level of resistance from some of them. We would like to warn those associations that are resisting change and do not want to contribute positively to the fair equitable access to water.

“There are some farmers who abstract water illegally from the water sources, and some misrepresent their credentials by fronting with people who do not own the farms. That practice should cease as it is not only illegal, but it is also unconstitutional”, said Minister Mchunu.

Minister Mchunu assured the farmers that the Department of Water and Sanitation is accessible and will continue to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector in South Africa.

Source: Government of South Africa