WATER GROWS THE ECONOMY - DWAF

1 Bocma newsletter 15 | 4th QUarter march 2014 - PaGe 1newsletter 15: 4th Quarter March 2014 BOCMA Private Bag X3055, Worcester 6850 Tel: (023) 346 8000 Email: Website: GROWS THE ECONOMYIn our evolution as societies, since time immemorial, we have largely been dependent on WATER as the main source of our survival. WATER has always been there as a life support in meeting our material needs and shaped our advancement from various stages that go beyond , the importance of WATER still lingers on, even in our times. WATER has diversified itself in many ways as an anchor to the economic growth discourse. For example, the Theewaterskloof Dam, being a WATER reservoir, offers a number of WATER related recreational activities that directly create jobs and promote tourism. Internationally, the Breede-Overberg region is well known for its agricultural produce that attracts foreign currency and contributes to South Africa s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

2 The main player is WATER . There is no doubt that the establishment of the Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) by the Minister of WATER and Environmental Affairs was a step to taking our WATER resources to the zenith point of economic development. The primary mandate of BOCMA is to manage WATER resources for the benefit of everyone and the environment. The BOCMA fully understands the centrality of WATER amongst other things in growing the ECONOMY . Therefore, it is not surprising that the BOCMA is focusing its attention on the quality and quantity of WATER in its area of BOCMA is living up to the expectations of the National WATER Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), the underlying message is on how best we can make a contribution in making our region, province and South Africa at large a mirror of hope in managing WATER in a sustainable and responsible manner. It is often said that the strength of any country is on its ECONOMY .

3 The reality is that the propeller of any ECONOMY is it so, we all have a duty to look after our WATER resources. This becomes so acute considering that, like in other parts of South Africa, the BOCMA region is WATER scarce and it will not be immune to climate change challenges. The reality is that BOCMA will continue relying on all the WATER users in the WATER management area in making sure that our WATER resources are managed sustainably so that the value of WATER within the BOCMA region remains the centre of economic growth. There is no doubt that WATER is life. We all need to conserve we move from one century to the next, WATER will always be an important resource that requires our prioritisation. To prioritize WATER simply means we all acknowledge the fact that WATER is key to growing the ECONOMY and by doing so, we are reducing poverty, joblessness and hopelessness. The BOCMA is indeed the right partner to work with in shaping our destiny through sound WATER resources management the journey of managing our WATER resources continue!

4 P Buthelezi, Chief Executive OfficerTheewaterskloof DamPhakamani Buthelezi, Chief Executive OfficerPaGe 2 - bocma newsletter 15 | 4th QUarter march 2014 The following schools participated in BOCMA s WATER Week awareness campaign: Uitkyk Laerskool (Greyton)Greyton Primary SchoolTeslaarsdal Primary School (Caledon)Jongensklip Primary School (Caledon) Riviersonderend Primary SchoolBloemhof NGK Primary School (Riviersonderend)Berea-Mor Primary School (Genadendaal)L R Schmidt Mor Primary School (Genadendaal)Arieskraal SKKV Primary School (Grabouw)De Rust Futura Academy (Grabouw) De Villiers Graaf Primary SchoolVyeboom Christelike PrivaatskoolWeltevrede Prim rWysersdrift Prim rPetra Gedenk Prim rBet-El Prim rBotha Prim r Glen Heatlie Primary SchoolSefuneka Primary SchoolDoornrivier Prim rThe BOCMA has identified 20 schools in the Breede and Overberg areas for the 2014 WATER Week. The awareness campaign started on 11 March 2014 and concluded on 26 March 2014.

5 Just over 3 000 children were reached during these 2 weeks! The theme of BOCMA s WATER Week was: WATER Pollution and the role children can play to prevent pollution of rivers and streams. The sessions with the children were interactive and the children answered all the posed questions REACHES OVER 3 000 CHILDREN DURING THE 2014 WATER WEEK AWARENESS CAMPAIGN!The posters used during the campaign as aids to explain to the children what happens if a river is not looked after properly and newsletter 15 | 4th QUarter march 2014 - PaGe 3 Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the BOCMA and the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin from NamibiaA delegation from the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin from Namibia visited the BOCMA from 13 to 14 March 2014. The aim of the trip was mainly to discuss the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BOCMA and the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin and also to chart the way forward of future collaborative projects.

6 The delegation visited the Koekedouw Dam and was informed by Wilhelm Muller, the administrator of 4 Irrigation Boards, what his role is as administrator and how he manages the accounts of the different Irrigation van Staden, Senior WATER Use Manager, took the delegation to the Brandvlei Dam and then to the diversion structures of the Smalblaar and Holsloot rivers into the canal system of the Brandvlei Dam. The delegation indicated that they enjoyed the 2-day excursion in the Breede-Overberg area and that some of the lessons learned during these two days could be tested and implemented in their WATER management from the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin at the Smalblaar River metering stationRAINWATER HARVESTING TANKS INSTALLED FOR HOUSEHOLD FOOD GARDENSOne of the BOCMA s roles is to capacitate and assist Resource Poor Farmers (RPFs) on the National WATER Act as well as WATER Resource Management. As a kick-start to our RPFs Awareness Campaign, the BOCMA hosted a WATER Transformation Conference, held on 30 May 2013, with Deputy Minister Mabhudafasi as a special guest and key note speaker.

7 All the RPFs in the Breede WATER Management Area were invited. The aim of the conference was to promote active stakeholder participation in the management of WATER resource, acknowledge the important role resource poor farmer project through sharing experiences and lessons a follow-up to the conference, the Institutional and Stakeholder Relations Unit embarked on a campaign to inform the RPFs of the BOCMA Grant policy, the DWA s policy on financial assistance to RPFs and simultaneously capacitate them on the National WATER Act and WATER resource management. The Department of WATER Affairs informed the BOCMA that they have earmarked 80 rainwater harvesting tanks for the Breede & Overberg objective was to promote initial access to irrigated agriculture, to enhance sustainable irrigation development for resource poor farmers and improve household food security for households by making various types of grants or subsidies available to them, of which Rain WATER Harvesting is Liaison Officers visited areas in the Breede and Overberg WATER Management Area where workshops were held.

8 Community members and resource poor farmers were assisted to complete the application forms on rainwater harvesting tanks and possible development projects. The DWA appointed a service provider who installed the 80 rainwater harvesting tanks in the following areas; Bonnievale, McGregor, Ashton, Barrydale, Villiersdorp, Swellendam, Napier, Hawston, Gansbaai, Sandbaai, Hermanus, Elgin, Suurbraak, Genadendaal, Malagas, Greyton, Elim, Protem, Bredasdorp, Klipdale, Arniston, Buffelsjagrivier, Botrivier, Stanford, Caledon and 4 - bocma newsletter 15 | 4th QUarter march 2014 BOCMA COLLABORATES WITH CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE ON RESEARCH AND TRAININGThe Centre of WATER and Sanitation Research (CWSR) at CPUT and the Institute of WATER Studies (IWS) at UWC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with BOCMA to facilitate collaboration on research and training matters. This is in line with BOCMA s Strategic Plan which advocates seeking collaboration with academic and research institutions which can play a meaningful role in terms of understanding technical issues, in building capacity and providing innovative responses.

9 To implement this partnership, funding and support have been secured from the Netherlands (Nuffic) and the WATER Research Commission to implement three research projects:Combined effect of urbanization, industrialization and population growth on WATER quality of the Palmiet River and its tributaries in the Overberg West sub-catchment of the Breede WATER Management Area: An Integrated Catchment Risk Assessment. Approaches for Emerging Farmer Participation in WATER Resource Management: The Case of the Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA), Western Cape. Finding new WATER in an old catchment: the case of the Heuningnes Catchment, Breede- Overberg WATER Management Area. As part of the MOU, a one week mission was decided upon and site visits to the identified areas were conducted. This allowed for better insight into the research mission culminated in a seminar, which was held at the Caledon Hotel on the 6th March 2014.

10 The seminar aimed to initiate the 3 research projects and was attended by project partners including representatives from Dutch universities, WATER user associations, catchment forums, municipalities and emerging farmer one week mission also showcased the Nuffic Niche capacity building project to date with respect to equipment installed and accompanied data collected. The mission was of strategic importance particularly in light of the MOU signed with BOCMA and the fact that it coincided with the kick-off of the BOCMA annual WATER Month. APPROVED WATER USE LICENSESThe following list of licenses was approved by the Department of WATER Affairs (DWA) in the 2013/14 financial year. The officials of BOCMA facilitated the process to ensure that relevant information was captured in the applications, they commented on the content of the applications and made sure the applications were complete, before submitting it to the DWA for Marbarin Farm Trust, storing of WATER in an off-1.