Following public engagements with various partners in the sector and ordinary citizens, the Department of Water and Sanitation has called on the public to make submissions on the draft Rehabilitation Management Guidelines for Water Resources by the end of October 2025.
According to the Department, the draft of the guidelines began in 2020.
Among others, the identified and categorised five water resource’s themes include Rivers, Wetlands, Estuaries and Dams, in line with the National Water Act (NWA) (Act 36 of 1998) which provides protection, use and management of water resources in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Spokesperson Wisani Mavasa outlines the commentary process.
“Moving forward, stakeholders are expected to provide inputs on the draft guidelines for Rivers (Volume 1), Wetlands (volume 2), Estuaries (volume 3), Lakes and Dams (volume 4), and Groundwater (volume 5), including Guidelines in Practice Report by no later than 29 October 2025,” Mavasa explained.
The department highlighted that the objective of the consultation is also to share the guidelines with the public and to obtain inputs, comments and support from key water sector stakeholders to ensure that water quality degradation is avoided, minimised, and remedied where applicable.
Mavasa stressed that such public hearings serve as an information sharing tool towards ensuring the safety of water infrastructure and the quality of water supply.
