Water Minister declares WAR

Abstract

WATER ALLOCATION Despite the major changes we have made over the past ten years of democracy, our natural resources are still largely in the hands of a relatively wealthy white (male) minority. This is a picture that has to change”, said Buyelwa at a workshop on water allocation reform in Pretoria in April. To initiate this process, the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF) has launched the Draft Water Allocation Reform Framework. The framework suggests methods that could be used to take proactive steps to meet the water needs of historically disadvantaged individuals, women and the poor; ensure participation by these groups; and establish partnerships to build capacity to use water productively. The measures needed to address the challenge are already in place. Existing water use has been registered across the country, and work has started to quantify available water in trial catchments and to determine the ecological Reserve, the amount of water required to safeguard the environment.

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