Invitations were also extended to the municipalities (both local and district) in the catchment area. 2 He stated that people on the ground do not understand the Classification project. He further stated that he has noted from his personal experience that people on the ground tend to be excluded during the initial stages of the project. Mr Nkululeko Somhlahlo Tsiba Trust & Mhlontlo Local Municipality PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Ms Mohapi stated that due to the technical nature of the project, the approach is to hold PSC meetings which are then supported by dedicated sessions focussing on Catchment Management Forums (CMF) in the study area. She indicated that the CMF meetings require careful and structured use of language so as to be able to coherently address the issues to the people on the ground effectively. Inviting community members to platforms such as PSC is not always the best option. Mr Mulangaphuma will be attending the CMF meetings to present the status of the project and provide continuous updates to the people on the ground. 3 He indicated that he is a representative of the Amampondomise Royal Council and Umhlontlo Local Municipality. He was of the opinion that the PSC meeting will complement other efforts on the ground as there are other processes underway which would be more effective if brought together. These parallel processes include different areas under leadership of separate Chiefs and are handled by different departments. He further stated that there had been a complaint from Amampondomise Traditional Leaders as they are uninformed about what is happening regarding the Mzimvubu Classification process and the Mzimvubu Dam. As a Mr Nkululeko Somhlahlo Tsiba Trust & Mhlontlo Local Municipality PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Ms Mohapi stated that DWS is represented by Mr Menard Mugumo on the Ntabelanga Dam project. Furthermore, the Provincial Head, Ms Portia Makhanya is responsible for ensuring that everyone (including people on the ground) is kept up to date regarding the resource management matters within the Eastern Cape Province. Mr Maxwell Sirenya is also representing the Mzimvubu Tsitsikamma Proto-CMA. She indicated that DWS is hoping for better co-operation particularly among the stakeholders in the management of water resources. She further stated that although it is not mandatory, she would prefer that local municipalities be invited to form part of the local meetings because although South
result, he indicated that he attended the meeting with the intention to contest, however after the presentation by Mr Mulangaphuma, he is better informed about the Classification process. He stated that their task as Mhlontlo Local Municipality is to bring together stakeholders at a local level to ensure that they move together in unison. African Local Government Association (SALGA) is invited to meetings, there tends to be a communication breakdown when it comes to relaying information back to the local municipalities. She DWS colleagues to ensure that invitations are sent to the relevant municipalities so that they are part of their processes as it is a good platform for them to be educated regarding the management of water resources. These meetings will also educate and help municipalities to understand the reasons for when DWS declines their water use license applications. 4 He whether the study is based on the whole Mzimvubu Water Management Area (WMA), including the Tsitsikamma River. Mr Wayman Kritzinger Agri- Eastern Cape PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Ms Mohapi stated that in February 2016, the area had to be revised based on the information and studies that were taking place in different parts of the country. This was to ensure that there were no contradictions and that project teams were able to support each other. DWS aims to look at significant river systems. It was decided that the Tsitsikamma portion of the WMA will have to be dealt with at a later stage as there are studies currently being undertaken that necessitated its exclusion from the current Mzimvubu study. As such, Tsitsikamma is not included in this current study. The study area consists of the Mzimvubu River and its tributaries as depicted on the study area map. Dr Patsy Scherman confirmed that the study area is the T3 Mzimvubu Catchment, and not the entire Tsitsikamma to Mzimvubu WMA.
Ms Mohapi further explained that during the Classification process, various studies and processes are looked at including areas which have already been classified. They also look at varying aspects that indicate which priority areas have to be protected. The National Biodiversity Act relates to protected areas, as such, if the area is protected according to the act, certain development might not be permissible to take place. 9 He asked whether planned municipal schemes specifically around the Mzimvubu area have been included in the prioritisation. He also stated that he is of the opinion that not only Ntabelanga Dam should be part of the criteria. He further asked if climate change will be factored in the future phases when scenarios are being developed. Climate change is important in understanding what could be the possibilities and monitoring thereof. Mr Bheki Kunene Dept of Water & Sanitation Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Dr Scherman stated that climate change is a complicated subject. Regarding the scenario step, from PSC members will be critical to ensure that aspects which will make a fundamental difference are prioritised. She reported that the hydrology team undertaking the water resource use importance would flag various aspects and details would be contained in the Status Quo/Delineation Report. The team has started to consult with local people who have an intimate knowledge of the area. The details from the Feasibility Study Water Resources Report will be also be assessed. She also acknowledged that Technical Task Group (TTG) meetings are incredibly useful as a wealth of information surfaces during discussions. The scenario steps, which refer to large-scale changes within the next 10 years will be discussed at the beginning of next year (2017). 10 He emphasised the need to co-ordinate with other groups who are already doing work on the ground. He commended Mr Maxwell Sirenya, Dept of Water & Sanitation PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Dr Scherman stated that the PSC meetings have been set up in such a way that they provide a platform for interactive
Aquatic and Marine Science fact that tributaries and the river above and below the dam would be managed differently due to the presence of the dam. There are still linkages however, as a river system is linear, and management would have to be coordinated. 21 He referred to the choice of the study area and the pronouncement by Ms Mohapi that at some stage the aim of the study was to cover the whole WMA up to Tsitsikamma. He is interested to know what prompted the decision to exclude Tsitsikamma because DWS is still responsible for the whole WMA. Mr Maxwell Sirenya, Dept of & Sanitation Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Ms Mohapi stated that this concerns Water Resource Classes and RQOs, and is not a Reserve study. She stated that in an area where one determines a Reserve, no matter what the level of confidence is, if that area has not yet been classified, that Reserve remains preliminary. It was not possible to deal with the whole WMA at the same time as the Reserve component is not at the same level throughout. The Water Resource Classes also have to be determined first before Reserves can be finalized. 22 He questioned whether there is an intention of covering areas which are outstanding in the future Mr Maxwell Sirenya, Dept of Water & Sanitation Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Ms Mohapi explained that there is definitely an intention to cover what is still outstanding, but due to resource constraints, they are not moving as fast as they would have wanted to because if they do not finalise the Reserves, they end up having to deal with desktop Reserves, thus affecting the delivery time of the issuing of licences. Therefore, when DWS have the gazetted the Reserve, that is going to be less of a burden on the resources that they have currently, hence the importance of sorting out issues around Classification. 23 She asked where do projected population changes come in. As an example, if there is an expected population change by 10% or 20%, the Basic Human Needs Reserve Dr Sukhmani Mantel Rhodes University – Institute for Research PSC Meeting 1, East London, 05 Dec 2016 Dr Scherman stated that the scenario step looks at all the consequences and incorporates anticipated changes or growth. There is an economic consequences step and ecosystem services and water quality
35 He stated that people are concerned about the Mzimvubu Dam in the Mzimvubu River. He requested that the meeting addresses some of the issues that are coming out. Water Research Council and National Research Foundation are in agreement with Walter Sisulu University about issues relating to water scarcity in South Africa. Dr Francis Kuriah Walter Sisulu University PSC Meeting 2, Mthatha, 18 July 2017 Ms Mohapi requested Dr Kuriah to allow the meeting to proceed and the study team to share project progress and information which has been prepared in line with meeting objectives. Dr Kuriah will then be given an opportunity to raise his issues and questions if they are still not addressed after the presentations. 36 He stated that he attended a meeting on 17 July 2017 within the area which is a collaboration between DWS and the civil society organisation, Water Caucus. At the meeting, he was informed that local DWS officials did not respond to the invitation and were not present. They requested DWS to consult with all communities including the municipalities so they can understand the findings of the assessment. They are looking at the role that the community can play in the classification process. Mr Matome Mahasha Department of Water and Sanitation PSC Meeting 2, Mthatha, 18 July 2017 Ms Mohapi suggested that Mr Matome directs his comments to the existing provincial and/or regional structures, where he is also actively involved. She felt that some internal DWS matters need to be first presented and discussed within those structures prior to discussing them at PSC meetings. The Classification Study will not be in a position to go to each community in the study area. There are regional offices which are supporting the mandate of the national office and need to be engaged using the correct inter-departmental procedures. She requested Mr Weni and Mr Mahasha to communicate as department officials with a view to addressing this matter. Mr Weni Mr Mahasha 37 He requested Dr Scherman to indicate the location of the proposed Mzimvubu Dam. Dr Francis Kuriah Walter Sisulu University PSC Meeting 2, Mthatha, 18 July 2017 Using a big map placed on the wall, Dr Scherman pointed to the approximate location of the proposed Ntabelanga Dam. It was pointed out that the position is for project purposes only, and not related to construction location.