Twenty dams will be built over the next 20 years at the cost of R21-billion, Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Addressing the media at a post-Cabinet briefing, Sonjica said the Cabinet had approved South Africa’s first national water resource strategy, which would ensure that ”we use our nation’s limited water resources to achieve a better life for all South Africans”.
She said the strategy, part of government’s extended public works programme, was ”a blueprint for survival”.
The construction of two dams is under way on the Berg River in Franschhoek, Western Cape, and on the Olifants River in Limpopo Province.
The dams, which will be built using labour-intensive methods, are set to counteract predictions that the country will run out of water by 2020.
South Africa is listed as one of the world’s 30 driest countries.
Sonjica said this water strategy would safely see the country through to 2025.
The Cabinet also announced that the long-awaited a comprehensive housing plan for the development of ”integrated sustainable human settlements” had been approved, and would be released on Thursday.
The programme, which includes the development of low-cost housing, medium-density accommodation and rental housing is set to span the next five years, said government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe.
”The plan also aims at changing spatial settlement patterns, informed by the need to build multi-cultural communities in a non-racial society,” he said.
Cabinet also approved a consumer policy framework, which seeks to improve systems of consumer protection by strengthening consumer rights and instituting protection mechanisms.
Netshitenzhe said the Cabinet also debated the alleged mercenary activity in Equatorial Guinea and reiterated government’s stance of ”presumption of innocence until proven guilty”.
He said the Cabinet reiterated it would co-operate with African countries in eradicating groups who unlawfully sought to remove governments from office, despite Equatorial Guinea’s leadership having attained their position through similar circumstances.
”Once a government is recognised and is part of the African Union then it is up to the rest of Africa to ensure its safety,” he said.
Focusing on the return of South Africa’s Olympic athletes from Athens, Netshitenzhe said the Cabinet was happy with their achievements.
”Both the medal winners and the rest of the team acquitted themselves well, and they have made a humble contribution on behalf of all South Africans to making the Olympics a celebration of friendship among nations,” he said.
On fiscal matters, Netshitenzhe said the Cabinet was happy with the strengthening of accountability within national and provincial departments and had resolved to work with public entities and local government structures to improve compliance with auditing requirements.
Regarding the national imbizo focus week between September 24 and 30, the Cabinet noted that preparations were under way.
Over 350 events had been planned nationwide and included visits to provinces by President Thabo Mbeki, who would popularise government programmes of action in line with the ANC’s ”people’s contract”, Netshitenzhe said. – Sapa