Parliament takes Water Services Amendment Bill to the public

The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation of Parliament has initiated a nationwide public hearing process on the Water Services Amendment Bill. The committee commenced its first public hearings at the Graskop Town Hall in Mpumalanga, engaging with residents from the Ehlanzeni District Municipality. Leon Basson, a member of the committee, emphasized that the amendments aim to ensure that entities holding water licenses comply with their obligations and provide clean drinking water, prevent sewage from polluting streets, rivers, and homes.

Basson explained that the licensing processes will undergo modifications, enabling the Department of Water and Sanitation to revoke licenses from entities that fail to deliver adequate services or meet standards, subsequently transferring them to other institutions. He stressed the significance of public participation in the legislative process during the public consultation.