Water and Sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu has abrogated Sedibeng Water board, to reinstitute a proper board that will fix ailing distribution of water supply in the Free State municipalities.
Section 28 of the Water Services Act of 1997 affords the minister with the authority to disestablish a water board.
Mchunu signed-off the gazette to transfer the staff, assets and liabilities of the Free State-based Sedibeng Water board to Magalies and Bloem Water boards.
Mchunu’s said this is in line with his commitment to review water boards to enable them to perform optimally, while enhancing the delivery of water to municipalities and ultimately to households.
“A decision to disestablish Sedibeng Water was initiated by Minister Mchunu following his working sessions with the provincial governments, various water services authorities and water boards regarding issues of governance, financial viability as well as accountability, and broader service delivery issues after taking to office in August last year.
“The review is based on considerations of financial sustainability, servicing areas that are not currently serviced and is also intended to address institutional confusion caused by having multiple water boards serving the same area,” the department said in a statement.
Free State Province is plagued with water shortages, access to clean water and poor infrastructure.
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