The Department of Water and Sanitation is set to establish an institution dedicated to accelerating the process to issue water use licences.

This was revealed at the Ministerial Innovators Interactive Session in Boksburg at the weekend. Addressing 400 delegates, Minister of Water and Sanitation Gugile Nkwinti said delays in issuing water use licenses to businesses, especially emerging farmers could no longer be tolerated.

“Government should not be seen as a stumbling block to enthusiastic entrepreneurs who wish to contribute towards the country’s economic development,” he explained.

Nkwinti said the proposed licensing institution by would be established along the lines of the Evaluator-General in Department of Rural Development and Land Affairs, with the prerequisite skills and capacity.

“Tactics will be different, yet the strategy will be the same,” Nkwinti said.

Removing bureaucratic processes

Nkwinti also announced his intention to appoint a Ministerial Advisory Council before the end of December 2018, which will advise the Minister on matters related to the work of the Ministry and Department of Water and Sanitation.

The proposed council is to be drawn from water experts, water scientists and civil engineers.

“This matter of the department working in a silo mode must come to an end. I want to remove all bureaucratic processes so that the department can deliver its mandate without any further delay,” Nkwinti said.

Themed “Innovations today for tomorrow’s water and sanitation solutions”, the interactive session brought together exhibitors, water scientists and experts from across the country to showcase innovative solutions to challenges currently faced by the water and sanitation sector.