Continued underspending impacts drive to increase access to water

While commending improvement and progress in the audit outcome of Water and Sanitation Department (DWS), the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation says the underspending of over R2 billion across the department’s programmes negates the good governance being achieved.

The committee raised its concerns about the department’s continuous high underspending following a briefing on the 2021/22 annual report, including performance and financial expenditure of the department and its entity, Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA).

The committee warned that continued high underspending, has a direct impact on the delivery of essential water and sanitation services to the people.

Committee chairperson, Robert Mashego, said the department must do more to ensure that it maintains a balance between achieving good governance targets, and spending the appropriated funds to deliver the projects to the people

“The reality is that people want water and the continued underspending undermines the good governance that the department is maintaining.