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Avoiding water disaster will cost us R900bn – Lindiwe Sisulu
The water and sanitation minister says there are three million South Africans who do not have access to adequate water or sanitation.
Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Picture: Chantall Presence / ANA
The department has calculated that it will need R900 billion in the next decade to implement the plan.
She added, however, that she didn’t have high hopes for the former, as “Treasury does not view us in good light”.
The minister painted a bleak picture of South Africa’s water situation, saying that the country doesn’t have enough water to match its population growth and industrial needs.
She puts the total of South Africans sitting without access to basic water and sanitation at a whopping three million. This, she added, had a disastrous effect on the economy, not to mention the quality of life of these citizens.
The master plan aims to reduce non-revenue water and water losses in all municipalities to below 15% by 2030.
This, according to Sisulu, would require ethical leadership, commitment, and professionalism.
The plan involves the Vaal Dam Project, which will put highly skilled experts and government officials to work.
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