Dysfunctional water and sanitation department

[Gordon_R]

Although not strictly news, it is worth having a thread topic on the dysfunctional Department of Water and Sanitation, following the departure of the former minister.

This article, based on the Auditor General's report, and evidence to Parliament's Scopa, paints a dismal picture: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/art...collapsed-the-case-against-nomvula-mokonyane/

 

[schumi]

R3.5bn down the drain has water minister spitting fire

Limpopo communities still live in abject thirst despite major cost overruns on a water project.

Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti was spitting fire, demanding answers from the authorities as to why Limpopo communities still lived in abject thirst – despite government having spent R3.5 billion on the Presidential Giyani Emergency Water Intervention, which was initially supposed to cost only R502 million.

Nkwinti visited Giyani, Limpopo, on Saturday, prompted by reports that the project was stalling and leaving hundreds of communities in the Mopani region without water.

More at : https://citizen.co.za/news/south-af...-spitting-fire/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Gordon_R]

R3.5bn down the drain has water minister spitting fire



More at : https://citizen.co.za/news/south-af...-spitting-fire/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Ask the previous minister. She still sits in cabinet...

 

[schumi]

Investigations into Water and Sanitation dept: Journos kicked out of committee meeting

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation decided to keep presentations on investigations into the Department of Water and Sanitation by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority secret by barring members of the media from the meeting.

At about 14:30, about 16 parliamentary reporters left the committee room under protest, with about 16 members of the parliamentary protection services - also known as the white shirts or bouncers - either inside or outside the committee room.

"We are trying not to be a demo-crazy," committee chairperson Lulu Johnson said as the journalists left the room quietly.

More at: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...rnos-kicked-out-of-committee-meeting-20181017

 

[MightyQuin]

Just another example of more looting and thieving. These people have no shame or moral compass.

Since the all power full race card, trumps all accountability in South African politics, the free-for-all looting will for ever continue.

 

[thestaggy]

So she pulled a demolition job on water and sanitation and now they give her the communication portfolio?

She must give good head.

 

[schumi]

Water dept leaking senior staff as Nkwinti tightens the tap on probes into corruption

The embattled Department of Water and Sanitation is suffering from a leadership crisis as many officials in top posts have either been suspended or have "run away" from probes into corruption, Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti said.
"We have no director general, no chief financial officer, no financial manager. Others left too. As soon as they were held to account, they ran away. And we have two deputy directors general facing disciplinary action," he said.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigating Unit to probe suspected corruption in the department and the private sector in the awarding of tenders.

"But we're going to get things right," vowed the minister on Wednesday. "We've got some very good chief directors, some excellent young professionals. But with human beings, you can't turn them around in 24 hours. You've got to be patient."

More at: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...ns-the-tap-on-probes-into-corruption-20181031

 

[evilstebunny]

So she pulled a demolition job on water and sanitation and now they give her the communication portfolio?

She must give good head.

No other explanation for it.. Except maybe the unthinkable.

 

[schumi]

#AGReport: Water Affairs the worst offender with R526m in unauthorised expenditure

Cape Town - The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation this year boasted the dubious distinction of leading government departments when it came to unauthorised expenditure.


Figures released by the Auditor General Kimi Makwetu on the consolidated national and provincial audit outcomes at Parliament earlier today showed that the Department of Water and Sanitation had disclosed unauthorised expenditure of R526 million.

More at : https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics...th-r526m-in-unauthorised-expenditure-18211323

 

[Gordon_R]

So the minister was given detailed reports of all the corruption and maladministration, but did nothing about it: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...ancial-mismanagement-audit-committee-20181206

The Department of Water and Sanitation's internal audit committee had given its former minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, detailed quarterly reports about serious financial mismanagement in her department – but she ignored them all.

Japie du Plessis, chairperson of the department's internal audit committee, handed a bulging file to Scopa chairperson Themba Godi, containing reports with details of the department's irregular and wasteful expenditure from September 2016.

 

[Nadir]

Here's one that's not in the news.

I'm sure everyone heard about the R300m desalination plant that's was built while she was at the helm. I work at that plant since before the official opening in May 2017. In the one and half years I've been here, this plant has only been in operation for around half that time. Next week this plant may or may not be shut down, and all the employees will be retrenched if it is shut down.

Why you may ask? The company I work for has been carrying the operational costs of this plant for a long while but the DWS hasn't been paying them for the supplied water (so I've been told). No income, more debt, so the decision to shut down the plant was reached. Another ANC success story

 

[Temujin]

Here's one that's not in the news.

I'm sure everyone heard about the R300m desalination plant that's was built while she was at the helm. I work at that plant since before the official opening in May 2017. In the one and half years I've been here, this plant has only been in operation for around half that time. Next week this plant may or may not be shut down, and all the employees will be retrenched if it is shut down.

Why you may ask? The company I work for has been carrying the operational costs of this plant for a long while but the DWS hasn't been paying them for the supplied water (so I've been told). No income, more debt, so the decision to shut down the plant was reached. Another ANC success story

No surprise there.

 

[evilstebunny]

Here's one that's not in the news.

I'm sure everyone heard about the R300m desalination plant that's was built while she was at the helm. I work at that plant since before the official opening in May 2017. In the one and half years I've been here, this plant has only been in operation for around half that time. Next week this plant may or may not be shut down, and all the employees will be retrenched if it is shut down.

Why you may ask? The company I work for has been carrying the operational costs of this plant for a long while but the DWS hasn't been paying them for the supplied water (so I've been told). No income, more debt, so the decision to shut down the plant was reached. Another ANC success story

To be fair the cANCer is dealing with electricity at the moment. One thing at a time please. They'll return to water once that becomes a crisis again and start from scratch finding a solution.