| 5.1.1 | Equitable and sustainable water and sanitation services that support socio-economic growth and development, and the well-being of current and future generations. |
To ensure the universal access of all South Africans to equitable water resources, and sustainable water and sanitation services by:
| 5.2.1 | Protecting, developing, conserving, managing and regulating water resources; |
| 5.2.2 | Managing, regulating and providing efficient and effective water and sanitation resources; |
| 5.2.3 | Providing strategic leadership and evidence-based policy direction that will result in a coordinated water and sanitation sector for improved sector performance and service delivery; |
| 5.2.4 | Building the skills and capabilities of the sector and enhancing information management to inform decision making; and |
| 5.2.5 | Enhancing communication and stakeholder partnerships with communities and sector constituencies to advance the national development agenda. |
| 5.3.1 | Promoting and maintaining high standards of professional ethics; |
| 5.3.2 | Utilising resources efficiently and effectively; |
| 5.3.3 | Providing service impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias; |
| 5.3.4 | Responding to people’s needs; |
| 5.3.5 | Encouraging citizens to participate in policy making; |
| 5.3.6 | Rendering an accountable, transparent, and development-oriented public administration. |
| 5.4 | Legislative and other mandates |
| 5.4.1 | The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa: The Constitution sets out water resources management as a national competency. It also states that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and supports socially justifiable economic development. The Constitution indicates the rights of individuals to have access to basic water and sanitation and sets out the institutional framework for the provision of these services. It gives municipalities the Executive Authority and the right to administer the provision of water services within their areas of jurisdiction. The Constitution gives national and provincial government authority to regulate local government in terms of water services. It further gives them the obligation to support and strengthen the capacity of local government to provide services. |
| 5.4.2 | The National Water Act, 1998 (Act No.36 of 1998): the National Water Act seeks to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner for the benefit of all people. The Act assigns national government as the public trustee of the water resources. Acting through the Minister, the department has the power to regulate the allocation, use, flow and control of all water in the Republic. |
| 5.4.3 | The Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997): the Water Services Act prescribes the legislative duty of municipalities as water services authorities to supply water and sanitation in accordance with the national norms and standards set out by the Minister. In addition, it regulates Water Boards as water services providers. This Act compels the Minister to maintain a National Water Services Information System and to monitor the performance of all water services institutions. |
| 5.4.4 | The Water Research Act, 1971 (Act No. 34 of 1971): this Act established the Water Research Commission and the Water Research Fund and thus promotes water related research. The Minister appoints members of the Water Research Commission (the Commission) and thus exercises executive oversight over the Commission. |
