But now, because of the changed socio-political climate, it faces more hurdles. Government considers access to clean water to be a right for all. The RDP water and sanitation programme plans to bring 25 of water per person by 2004. In the past two years, more than 1,2m new consumers have been provided with water, and the pace is being stepped up. The Water Services Act, passed by parliament in December, aims to ensure this right of access to water of all South Africans.
Water boards are at the crux of government's new water structure.
They are statutory bodies whose primary activity is to provide water services. This gives the water boards a special relationship to pre-qualify as bidders for the water contracts or concessions, and places the onus on other organisations to show that they can do a better or cheaper job than the water boards. To critics this is seen as a serious deterrent to private bidders. But central government has committed itself to transfer most of its control of water allocation and waste management to local catchment management agencies once they have the necessary capacity. Water Affairs Minister Kader Asmal does not agree that the National Water Bill gives central government excessive power over water management and usage.