1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SERVICE DELIVERY TOWARDS RURAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY, CAPE TOWN – PARLIAMENT, OCTOBER 17, 2006

2 CONTENTS  Observations  Water resources mgt programme  Forestry programme  Forestry SA activities  Concluding remarks

3 OBSERVATIONS  Transformation imperatives & challenges  Leadership & capacity issues  Unpresidented culture of partnerships  Integration & alignment challenges  Communication & information dissemination challenges

4 WATER RESEARCE MGT  Water allocation reform:  Logical sequence principal incorrect;  CMA water resource mgt strategies;  Local people decision-making tool  Reserve determination  Verification of water use  Water use charges  Sensible and realistic approach, i.e. internalise environ. costs & create incentives

5 WATER RESEARCE MGT (CONT.)  Assistance to resource poor farmers  Description fundamentally discriminatory & biased  Contravention &/ incomplete implementation of NWA provisions  Water allocation & equity  Authorisation processes remain a critical challenge  Water allocation yet to contribute to PDIs beneficiation

6 WATER RESEARCE MGT (CONT.)  Water management institutions  Proportion of water users vs government on CMA boards  Unacceptable practice to oblige water users to become members of WUAs  Unlawful water use  Management of process & publicity

7 FORESTRY PROGRAMME  Forest sector transformation  Sensible approach in drafting charter  State forestry resources management  Transferred &/ leased estates vs land restitution  Productivity levels of remaining packages  Sustainable forest management  Development on NI & needed support  Support for the emerging sub-sector

8 FORESTRY PROGRAMME (CONT.)  Forest sector growth & development  Development of a sector plan  An afforestaion strategy  Wattle jungle conversion guidelines  Genus exchange & its administration  Sawn timber strategy  Research & development  Skills development

9 FORESTRY SA ACTIVITIES  Strengthening emerging sector organisation  Small forest enterprises’ newsletter  Small forest enterprises’ workshops  Emerging timber growers’ SFM system development  Small forest enterprise support programme  Skills development & capacity building

10 CONCLUDING REMARKS  Improve leadership & capacity  Develop a sector plan as an organising tool for development  Review & expedite SFRA licensing process  Devise mechanisms for working partnerships  Put in place communication & information dissemination mechanism

11 I THANK YOU