In an effort to prioritise water services in the Free State water boards, government departments and water use associations have come together to form a Provincial Joint Tactical Committee on water.  

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation competing needs for water from a multitude of users in the Free State are the reason why the establishment of the committee was necessary.

A key focus area for the committee according to Free State Provincial Head for water and sanitation Dr Tseliso Ntili will be monitoring the progress of performance targets in the province’s business plan for the sufficient provision of water.

In addition the committee will also look at critical issues around the operation and maintenance of existing water and sanitation resources as well as the protection of infrastructure.

Promoting collaboration

“Effective water resource management requires the involvement of all three spheres of government, water entities and civil society,” noted Dr Tseliso Ntili, Provincial Head of the Department of Water and Sanitation Free State.

“The vision is to ensure that all role players play a significant role in ensuring that water is valued as a social, economic and ecological good and that water governance promotes collaboration, coordination and integration of efforts to achieve a balanced response towards different water requirements,” he added.

Adequate governance structure essential

The Provincial Joint Tactical Committee comprises of representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the South African Local Government Association, Water Boards and Water Use Associations.

Ntili emphasized that adequate governance structure is critical to coordinate and synchronise the implementation of Departmental actions, projects and programmes at provincial level.