National DWAF Minister: Mrs Lindiwe Hendricks

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) is the custodian of South Africa's water and forestry resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing these two sectors. It also has oversight responsibility for water services provided by local government.

While striving to ensure that all South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation, the water sector also promotes effective and efficient water resources management to ensure sustainable economic and social development. The forestry programme promotes the sustainable management of the country's natural forest resources and commercial forestry for the lasting benefit of the nation.

Mission
To be a country that uses water and forests productively and in a sustainable manner for social and economic activities in the manner that promotes growth, development and prosperity of all people to achieve social justice and equity.

Vision
As sector leader, the mission of DWAF is to serve the people of South Africa by:

• Guiding, leading, developing legislatives framework, regulating and controlling the water and forestry sectors
• Conserving, managing and developing our water resources and forestry in scientific and environmentally sustainable manner in order to meet the social and economic needs of South Africans, both now and in the future
• Ensuring that water services are provided to South Africans in an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way
• Managing and sustaining our forests, using the best scientific practice in a participatory and satisfactory manner
• Educating the people of South Africa on ways to manage, conserve and sustain our water and forest resources
• Co-operating with all the spheres of Government to achieve the best and most integrated development in our country and region
• Creating opportunities for employment, the eradication of poverty and the promotion of equity, social development and democratic governance

Services
DWAF has the delegated authority and responsibility to regulate and oversee:

• The effective and efficient implementation of legislation related to the water sector by all water sector institutions
• The effective planning and implementation of infrastructure projects for water services by water services authority (WSA) municipalities
• The provision of free basic water and sanitation by WSA municipalities
• Capacity building in the water sector
• Implementation of awareness programmes
• Compliance to funding requirements
• Compliance to utilisation of funds for water services projects
• To establish, maintain and manage an oversight information system
• To build the organisational development and human resource development within DWAF to play its regulatory support role

Monitoring and evaluation
DWAF undertakes to monitor and evaluate the provision of sustainable basic water services through regulating:

• The reduction in backlogs indicating people served, measured against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Evaluate the utilisation and application of funds
• Adherence to the municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) programme framework 
• Monitor and evaluate the progress towards achieving the targets
• The implementation and achievements of sanitation awareness
• Monitor and evaluate economic and social development
• Legislative compliance of water service providers (WSP) 
• Effective implementation of the section 78 assessment 
• The interaction of stakeholders and role players in the water sector
• The effectiveness and relevance of sector planning 
• Ensuring involvement of all sector stakeholders in water service development planning 
• The inclusion of water service development planning (WSDP) projects in WSA municipality integrated development plans 
• Evaluate WSDPs and endorse plan if it meets the legal requirements

DWAF will regulate:

• Provision of sustainable basic water supply/sanitation
• Effective and sustainable water services to underpin economic and social development
• The effectiveness and sustainability of water services institutions
• Capacity building in the water sector.

Programmes and projects:

• 2020 Vision for water and sanitation education programme (2020 VFWSEP)
• Disaster management in drought, floods and rainfall areas
• Integrated water resource management: Masibambane
• Mooi-Mgeni river transfer scheme
• The South African river health programme (RHP)
• Strategic environmental assessment for water use 
• Stream flow reduction allocation
• Sustainable development
• Water use licensing, registration and revenue collection (WARMS)
• Working for water programme

CONTACT DETAILS
Key personnel in the National Office:
Minister: Mrs Lindiwe Hendricks
Director General: Ms Pam Yako

Key contact people at KwaZulu-Natal Regional Office:
Mr Thys Badenhorst, (Acting) Chief Director
Ms PV Mkhize, Director Corporate Services
Mr J Reddy (Acting) Director Institutional Development
Ms Patty Moothelal (Acting) Director Regulation and Water Use

Physical address: 85 Field Street, Southern Life Building, cnr Pine & Field Street, Durban 4000
Tel: (+27 31) 336 2700
Fax: (+27 31) 304 9546
Email: SinghS@dwaf.gov.za
Website: www.dwaf.gov.za