Commission 1

1. Commission 1

2. Our understanding of the Planning commission • External commissioners – highly respected strategic thinkers • Pulling all dilemas with regards to planning together and co-ordinate strategic direction for resources, • Awareness raising about the water sector • Strengthening capacity for planning within govt at all levels • Provide national strategic perspective on where growth and development need to be directed • Alignment and cohesion in terms of making key infrastructure decisions and development initiatives • Adaptable plan envisaged to cater for all inputs and contributions from all sectors

3. Key issues • Intergovernmental planning is critical– water cuts across many sectors • Need for all sector departments to ensure that we speak with one voice • Consider existing corridors of information within government • Munimecs • Cluster system • Intergovernmental committees • Need for planning co-ordination within DWA itself between the various programmes and directorates to ensure synergy and co-herence • What kind of decisions will be taken and what impact will these have on the water sector

4. Implications for the Sector • Finalisation of the WFGD strategy as a framework for planning around water at both provincial and national level • Creating a balance between the social and economic value of water • Inclusion of vulnerable groups through WFGD framework needs to be incorporated • Investigate the Global factors – Climate change • The sector needs to re-look at their capacity for planning and critically evaluate what gaps exists to respond well to the planning commission • There is a need for a cross cutting planning tool that integrates plans from all Dept. • Ensure water sector representation at the sub-committees

5. Key proposals - Representation • Appointment of commissioner that understand water issues • A representative or expert • who is prepared to draw on the wider resources from the pool of experts • Knowledge of the bigger sector wide mandate • Should be mandated and by the positions from the WSLG supported by water sector • The experts must be linked to the WSLG for proper feedback and reporting • The term of office needs to be clearly defined • Key investment decisions linked to water must be discussed with the water sector & and then aligned to the national planning framework

6. Positioning • WFGD • Sectorial co-ordination (WSLG) • Use the WSLG for strategic discussion & submission to the planning commission • Institutional re-alignment process needs to be finalised to complete & facilitate proper planning • CMAs, WUAs • The sector should get its act together even before the planning commission - finalise all strategies and to guide planning • Use the planning commission as a platform for awareness raising about the water sector issues • The sector needs to be active in writing papers to influence debate and positions in a manner that is understandable • Improve communication of the sector agenda and programme

7. Challenges • Ensuring that the plan is integrated and has buy-in from all • Ensuring that all sectors and provinces consider that WFGD and mainstream water in their planning processes • The national planning framework does necessarily not indicate time frames • How will gaps be addressed, will it be the commissioners responsibility or the sector to lead • Channel to resolve barrier or challenge • The approval of developments by environmental affairs through the EIA which does not always have a biase for water consideration • The location of other resources which might need for water to be transported to site e.g coal • Inability to harness water trough infrastructure and get key allocation right.