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The aim of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is to ensure

the availability and supply of water at national level to facilitate

equitable and sustainable social and economic development, to

ensure the universal and efficient supply of water services at local

level and to promote the sustainable management of forests.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has aregional office in each province. These offices dealwith the day-to-day water and forestry issues ofprovincial and local government. They supportmunicipalities in their day-to-day water andsanitation service delivery by providing planningguidance and crisis management.

The regional offices also provide support andoversee provincial institutions such as water-userassociations (WUAs), water boards and catchmentmanagement agencies (CMAs). They are the firstport of call when applying for a water-use orforestry licence. In co-operation with waterservices authorities (WSAs) and water boards theymonitor the quality of drinking water.

Out of a total budget of R5,3 billion in 2007/08,R3,1 billion (or 58% of the budget) was allocated toregional offices. The department employs over16 000 people.

Hydrological conditionsSouth Africa is located in a predominantly semi-aridpart of the world. The country’s climate varies fromdesert and semi-desert in the west to subhumidalong the eastern coastal area, with an averagerainfall of about 450 mm per year. This is wellbelow the world average of about 860 mm per year,while evaporation is comparatively high.

South Africa’s inland water resources include 22 major rivers, 165 large dams, more than4 000 medium and small dams on public andprivate land, and hundreds of small rivers.

The country’s water resources are, in globalterms, scarce and extremely limited. The total flowof all the rivers in the country combined amounts toabout 49 200 million cubic metres (m3) per year.This is less than half of that of the Zambezi River,the closest large river to South Africa. Groundwaterplays a pivotal role, especially in rural watersupplies.

However, owing to the predominantly hard-rocknature of South Africa’s geology, there are fewmajor groundwater aquifers that can be used on alarge scale.

The poor spatial distribution of rainfall meansthat the natural availability of water across thecountry is also highly uneven. This is compoundedby the strong seasonality of rainfall over virtually

the entire country, and the high within-seasonvariability of rainfall, and consequently, of run-off.

As a result, stream flow in South Africa’s rivers isat relatively low levels for most of the time, withsporadic high flows occurring – characteristicswhich limit the proportion of stream flow that canbe relied upon to be available for use, and whichalso have implications for water-related disasterssuch as floods and droughts.

To aggravate the situation, most urban andindustrial development, as well as some denserural settlements, have been established in remotelocations away from large watercourses. As aresult, the requirements for water already farexceed its natural availability in several riverbasins. Widespread and often large-scale transfersof water across catchments have, therefore, beenimplemented in South Africa.

To facilitate the management of water resources,the country has been divided into 19 catchment-based water-management areas. Eleven of thesewater-management areas share internationalrivers.

Over the years, water-resource development andmanagement in South Africa have continuouslyevolved to meet the needs of a growing populationand a vibrant economy, within the constraintsimposed by nature. These developments havelargely been made possible by recognising wateras a national asset, thereby allowing itstransportation from where it is available to wherethe greatest overall benefits for the nation can beachieved.

Sufficient water resources have been developedand are available to ensure that all currentrequirements for water can reasonably be met,without impairing the socio-economic developmentof the country.

Where feasible, special management techniquesmay be applied to improve water quality toappropriate standards for particular uses. Thequality of groundwater varies according tohydrogeological conditions and anthropogenicimpact. However, most major aquifer systemscontain potable-quality water.

Measures will also be introduced to ensure themost beneficial and efficient use of water in thecountry from a social and economic perspective.

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Provided that South Africa’s water resources arejudiciously managed and wisely allocated andused, sufficient water of appropriate quality will beavailable to sustain a strong economy, high socialstandards and healthy aquatic ecosystems formany generations.

South Africa depends mainly on surface-waterresources for the urban, industrial and irrigationwater supplies in the country. In general, surface-water resources are highly developed over most ofSouth Africa. Groundwater is also extensively used,particularly in the rural and more arid areas,contributing to some 60% of newly servicedhouseholds (since 1994).

In the northern parts of the country, both surfaceand groundwater resources are nearly fullydeveloped and used. Some overexploitation occursin localised areas, with little undeveloped resourcepotential remaining. The reverse applies to thewell-watered south-eastern region of the countrywhere there are still significant undeveloped andlittle-used resources.

The total mean annual run-off of water in SouthAfrica under natural (undeveloped) conditions isestimated at a little over 49 200 million m3 per year,including about 4 800 million m3 per year of wateroriginating from Lesotho, and about 700 million m3

per year originating from Swaziland, whichnaturally drain into South Africa. Agriculturalirrigation represents close to 60% of the total waterrequirements of the country, while urbanrequirements constitute about 25% as the second-largest user sector. The remaining 15% is sharedby the other sectors (all standardised to 98%assurance of supply).

The total net abstraction of water from surfacewater resources amounts to about 10 200 million m3

per year for the whole of South Africa, afterallowing for the re-use of return flows. Thisrepresents about 20% of the total mean annualrun-off of 49 200 million m3 per year (allstandardised to 98% assurance of supply). A further8% is estimated to be lost through evaporationfrom storage and conveyance along rivers, and 6%through land-use activities. As a national average,about 66% of the natural river flow (mean annualrun-off) therefore still remains in the country’s rivers.

Water-resource management anddevelopment Government is committed to ensuring thateveryone in South Africa has access to functioningbasic water-supply services and that everyone has

access to a functioning basic sanitation facility by2010.

In 2006, 10,84 million households had access towater infrastructure, contributing to government’starget of eradicating the backlog of people withoutaccess to water by 2008. In 2006, 9,05 millionhouseholds had access to basic sanitation.Households with access to basic sanitationincreased from 50% in 1994 to 71% in 2006.

Government is also committed to eradicatingbucket systems in formal settlements.

By the end of August 2007, a little more that100 000 households were still using the bucketsystem. The challenges to eradicate the bucketsystem include:• community expectation to replace buckets with

full waterborne systems• insufficient water resources resulting in higher

unit costs• the need to construct new or upgrade bulk

infrastructure to deal with additional loadbrought about by additional waterbornesanitation systems.

Government has set targets to eradicate:• the bucket-system in formal settlements • water and sanitation backlogs in clinics,• the backlog in schools• water-supply backlogs• the general sanitation backlog.In 2007/08, the department was expected toestablish a special programme for bulk water-services infrastructure, which includes waste-water treatments plants. A grant of R1,4 billion hasbeen allocated over the next three years.

To meet these targets, R1,9 billion has beenallocated for water and sanitation services andsubstantial resources allocated to municipalitiesthrough the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG)programme.

The substantial restructuring of the Departmentof Water Affairs and Forestry, which is expectedto be completed in eight to 10 years’ time,includes:• establishing CMAs to perform water-resource

management functions currently performed bythe department’s regional offices

• transferring water-service delivery andoperations to WSAs.

As WSAs are now providing water services, thedepartment’s role is to:• act as custodian of the country’s water resources • provide water-services policy and guidelines • provide ongoing support to the water sector

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22• act as a water-sector regulator. The department remains focused on the phasedimplementation of the National Water Act, 1998

(Act 36 of 1998), with a particular emphasis onimplementing a new organisational structure,which includes:• Establishing the National Water Resource

Strategy (NWRS), which will set out theprocedures, guidelines and overall strategy formanaging water resources.

• Developing and testing a strategy forcompulsory water-use licensing to facilitateequitable access to water resources forhistorically disadvantaged individuals.

• Enhancing water-use efficiency.• Ensuring compliance with dam-safety

regulations and enhancing public safety atwater-resource installations.

• Investigating and implementing appropriateinstitutional arrangements for the optimalmanagement of the Working for Water (WfW)Programme.

• Building national capacity to monitor the state ofwater resources, so that accurate information isused in decision-making about the use andmanagement of water resources.

• Creating the National Water Resource Infra-structure Agency (NWRIA) to manage anddevelop national infrastructure. The agency wasexpected to be established in 2008.

In accordance with the international best practiceof decentralising and democratising water-resource management, the Inkomati CMA hasbeen established, with more agencies to follow.

Monitoring water resourcesRiver flow is monitored at 1 200 flow-gaugingstations and some 260 major reservoirs aremonitored. The evaporation and rainfall stationnetwork comprises 360 stations.

The oldest flow-gauging station still in operationin South Africa is on the Mooi River nearPotchefstroom in North West. It celebrated acentury of monitoring in August 2004.

A new initiative to monitor precipitation inmountainous areas has been launched. There are21 operational rainfall stations in the mountains ofthe Western Cape and five stations are operationalin the Mpumalanga escarpment. Observations arerelayed through the cellular short-messagesystem. The data is updated daily on the

Major dams of South AfricaFull supply

Dam capacity (106 m3) River

Gariep 5 341 Orange

Vanderkloof 3 171 Orange

Sterkfontein 2 616 Nuwejaarspruit

Nuwejaarspruit Vaal 2 603 Vaal

Pongolapoort 2 445 Pongolo

Bloemhof 1 264 Vaal

Theewaterskloof 480 Sonderend

Heyshope 451 Assegaai

Woodstock 380 Tugela

Loskop 361 Olifants

Grootdraai 354 Vaal

Kalkfontein 318 Riet

Goedertrouw 304 Mhlatuze

Albert Falls 288 Mgeni

Brandvlei 284 Brandvlei

Spioenkop 277 Tugela

Mthatha 253 Mthatha

Driekoppies 250 Lomati

Inanda 241 Mgeni

Hartbeespoort 212 Crocodile

Erfenis 207 Groot Vet

Rhenosterkop 204 Elands

Molatedi 200 Groot Marico

Ntshingwayo 198 Ngagane

Zaaihoek 192 Slang

Midmar 175 Mgeni

Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

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Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’s websiteat www.dwaf.gov.za.

Water levels are monitored at some 1 000observation boreholes across South Africa.Particular attention is given to monitoring indolomitic areas. In addition, a small network of raingauges is in operation to monitor rainwater quality.

The importance of qualitative information onSouth Africa’s water resources has led to anincreasing drive towards creating a national water-quality monitoring network.

The National Aquatic Ecosystem HealthMonitoring Programme (NAEHMP), initially knownas the National Aquatic Ecosystem BiomonitoringProgramme, is responsible for managing aquaticecosystems.

Until recently, the programme focused mainly onriverine ecosystems. The short name, River HealthProgramme (RHP), was adopted for this componentof the NAEHMP. However, the original broader focusof the monitoring programme remains valid,namely, monitoring the ecological health of allaquatic ecosystems (estuarine and riverineecosystems) managed by the department.

The NAEHMP focuses on the biological attributesof a river that serve as indicators of its ecologicalhealth. The rationale for initiating a biomonitoringprogramme is that the classic approach ofmonitoring only physical and chemical water-quality attributes was inadequate for generatinginformation on the overall health of an aquaticecosystem. Monitoring chemical attributes alonewas found to be insufficient to detect, for example,the cumulative effects on aquatic ecosystems ofextended exposure to multiple stressors.

Such stressors include habitat alteration, barriersthat alter stream flow, water abstraction and alienspecies being introduced. Aquatic communities(e.g. fish, riparian vegetation and aquaticinvertebrate fauna), however, are adapted to livewithin a certain range of environmental conditions.

These organisms’ biological communitiesintegrate, respond to and reflect the effects ofchemical and physical disturbances that occur inaquatic ecosystems over extended periods, andprovide a direct, holistic and integrated measure ofthe ecological integrity of a river.

If healthy and diverse biological communitiesinhabit a watercourse, the watercourse as a wholeis considered to be ecologically resilient andhealthy. However, from an RHP point of view, ahealthy water resource does not guarantee thefitness of that resource for domestic, recreational,industrial and agricultural use.

The NAEHMP’s main objectives are to:• generate a national perspective of the health of

aquatic ecosystems in South Africa • develop the capacity and information base

required to enable the department and otherrole-players to report on the status of and trendsin the ecological health of South Africa’s riversystems, in an objective and scientifically soundmanner

• generate information products and audit-management strategies that could assist indistinguishing between aquatic ecosystemsexposed to sustainable use and thoseexperiencing ecological deterioration.

The NAEHMP, and in particular the RHP, is regardedas the “flagship” for water-resource qualitymonitoring in South Africa. Products of the RHPhave attracted wide attention and recognition, andprovide strategic water-resource managementinformation and training material for use in schoolsand universities, as well as in awareness creation.

The National Chemical Monitoring Programmeassesses and reports on the chemical status ofwater resources in South Africa. Based on thereport produced in 2002, the main water-qualitychallenges for domestic water-users are high levelsof dissolved salts and, in some places, high fluorideconcentration. The other challenges facing irrigatedagriculture are the high sodium absorption ratio,high electrical conductivity, high pH and high levelsof chloride.

Another global challenge affecting South Africa iseutrophication or excessive plant (including algae)growth in dams. This is due to high levels ofnutrient input from point sources of pollution anddiffuse sources of pollution from catchments.Annual reports indicate that 50% of dams in SouthAfrica are seriously affected (hypertrophic), whilethe rest range in quality from good (oligotrophic) topoor (mesotrophic).

Another problem is the sporadic outbreak ofcholera and other water-borne diseases, mainlydue to poor sanitation and hygiene at household

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry hasimplemented a drinking-water quality-management systemwhich sees municipalities supplying data on drinking-waterquality, which enables the department to identify possibleproblems and work with the affected municipality to resolvethese problems. In addition to other capacity-buildinginitiatives, the department has seconded a number ofengineers to municipalities to provide support.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22level. The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal areespecially prone to cholera outbreaks.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry isdesigning water-resource monitoring programmesto assess and report on the radiological(radioactivity) and toxicological quality status ofSouth African water resources. The National ToxicityMonitoring Programme also reports on the status ofDDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and otherpersistent organic pollutants. This information willbe reported internationally to the StockholmConvention through the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs and Tourism.

In 2005/06, municipalities identified a number ofchallenges concerning drinking-water quality.Therefore, the department, in consultation withlocal government, has been working with theDepartment of Health on the collection, testing andmanagement of drinking-water quality.

The department has introduced the electronicWater Quality Management System to WSAs. Bymid-2007, more than a 100 WSAs were using this

system to ensure effective management ofdrinking-water quality. Water boards are alsoassisting municipalities in ensuring high standardsof drinking-water quality.

In 2007, the department was revising theFramework for Drinking-Water Quality Management.

One of the biggest challenges faced bymunicipalities is the lack of bulk-waterinfrastructure and waste-water treatment capacity.The department therefore established a specialprogramme for bulk water-services infrastructure.This programme is expected to be introduced in2007/08, and a grant amount of R1,4 billion hasbeen allocated over the next three years.

Another international obligation is reporting onchemical water quality through the GlobalEnvironmental Monitoring System’s WaterProgramme.

Municipal Infrastructure GrantThe MIG, a conditional grant from nationalgovernment to local government to supportinvestment in basic municipal infrastructure toeradicate backlogs, was implemented in April2004.

The purpose of the MIG is to facilitate and ensuremore effective and integrated service delivery bylocal government and the Department of WaterAffairs and Forestry, working with the Departmentof Provincial and Local Government in seeking toensure that funds are made available. (SeeChapter 1: Government system.)

The department’s support to municipalitiescomprises: • planning support regarding integrated

development plans (IDPs) and water-servicesdevelopment plans (WSDPs)

• monitoring the water-purification and waste-water treatment works’ operations

• facilitating project selection, feasibility studiesand service-level options

• supporting the implementation of a tariffstructure and the Free Basic Water (FBW) Policy

• supporting the Section 78 process (division ofpowers and functions for water servicesbetween district and local municipalities) andselecting water-services providers

The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry has committed tothe following: • Ensuring that women are firmly in the driving seat in

forestry and water, not only as recipients of water, but asempowered owners of their own enterprises, as leadersand as managers.

• Establishing an organisation for women in the water andsanitation sector to contribute to the empowerment andcapacity-building of women in this sector.

• Driving the process of restructuring the department byestablishing the National Water Resources InfrastructureAgency, the catchment-management agencies and thetransfer of forests and water schemes.

• Ensuring that bucket toilets in formal settlements areeradicated, and that all schools and clinics have adequatewater and sanitation.

• Ensuring that there are well-developed programmes tofind the needed skills in the water and forestry sectors,now and in the future. The department will continue todrive the 2025 capacity-building programme for the watersector, working with all relevant players in the watersector towards a coherent, comprehensive and successfulprogramme.

• Ensuring that the Forestry Broad-Based Black EconomicEmpowerment Charter is finalised and implemented andthat the transformation of this sector benefits the poor andthe marginalised in rural areas.

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• training councillors and officials in water-services and water-demand management

• mobilising resources to support municipalities.

Policy and legislationThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996, and the Bill of Rights enshrine the basichuman right to have access to sufficient water anda safe and healthy environment. The two Acts thatenable government to fulfil these rights through theDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry are the:• Water Services Act, 1997 (Act 108 of 1997),

which created a regulatory framework withinwhich water services could be provided.Schedule 4 of the Constitution vests theresponsibility for water and sanitation services inlocal government. National government,however, is responsible for the regulatoryfunction.

• National Water Act, 1998, which aims to ensurethat water resources are protected, used,developed, conserved, managed and controlledin a sustainable manner, for the benefit ofeveryone in South Africa.

National Water Act, 1998The Act provides for:• integrated management and sustainable use of

surface water and groundwater• devolution of surface and groundwater to

catchment and local level • government to play a support role through

functions such as promoting awareness,providing information and building capacity.

The Act aims to control the use of water resources,protect them from being impacted on or exploited and polluted, and ensure that every person hasequitable access to them.

The Act gives the Department of Water Affairsand Forestry the tools to gather the information itneeds to optimally manage the country’s waterresources. The registration of water-use is one ofthese tools.

All water users instructed to register have thestatutory obligation to do so. There are strictpenalties, prescribed in the Act, for those who donot comply.

All water users who do not receive their waterfrom a service-provider, local authority, waterboard, irrigation board, government water schemeor other bulk supplier, and who use water forirrigation, mining purposes, industrial use, feedlotsor in terms of a general authorisation, must

register. This includes the use of surface andgroundwater.

Other uses of water that must be registeredinclude:• Diversion of rivers and streams.• Discharge of waste or water containing waste.• Storage, which includes any person or body

storing water for any purpose (includingirrigation, domestic supply, industrial use,mining, aquaculture, fishing, water sport,aesthetic value, gardening, landscaping, golfing,etc.) from surface run-off, groundwater orfountain flow in excess of 10 000 m3, or wherethe water area at full supply level exceeds onehectare (ha) in total on land owned or occupiedby that person or body, and who is not inpossession of a permit or permission.

• Stream-flow reduction activities (afforestation).All afforestation for commercial purposes,including communal forestry for commercialgain, that took place prior to 1972, must beregistered. Forest owners who have permitsissued under forestry legislation need notregister.

• Local authorities and other bulk suppliers withtheir own water sources and purification works.

• Controlled activities such as irrigating with waste,power generation with water, atmosphericmodification or recharging of aquifers.

An assessment of the environmental requirementsof the rivers and streams concerned is conductedbefore a licence can be issued.

The implementation of the National PricingStrategy for Raw Water began in 2002 to ensurethat, as far as possible, the costs of themanagement of water resources and water-supplyinfrastructure are borne by water users.

The majority of water users pay the water-resource charge or cost for which they are billed.However, underrecovery of costs remainsconsiderable.

Action has been taken against a number ofillegal water users across South Africa in responseto growing concern about an apparent increase inthe rate of illegal water use in some catchmentareas.

Of the 597 schools targeted for the provision of water duringthe 2006/07 financial year, 76% received water. More than50% of 2 409 schools targeted for the provision of sanitationhad been provided for.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22National Water Resource StrategyCabinet approved the first edition of the NWRS inSeptember 2004. The NWRS describes how thewater resources of South Africa will be protected,used, developed, conserved, managed andcontrolled in accordance with the requirements ofthe National Water Policy and the National WaterAct, 1998.

Through the NWRS, South Africa reached one ofthe first recommendations of the JohannesburgPlan of Action, adopted at the 2002 World Summiton Sustainable Development, to develop nationalwater-resource management plans.

The strategy contains estimates of present andfuture water availability and water requirements. Italso proposes actions to be taken to achieve asustainable balance between water availability andrequirements. This is necessary to providesufficient water, which is essential for human life,for participation in economic activity and for theprogressive re-allocation of water to sectors ofsociety that were previously excluded.

A vital element of the NWRS is the progressivedecentralisation of the responsibility and authorityfor water-resource management to CMAs and, ata local level, to WUAs. These institutions,representing water users and other stakeholders,will facilitate effective participation in water-resource management in their areas. It will alsoenable the Department of Water Affairs andForestry to move from its present multiple roles asoperator, developer and regulator to become thesector leader, policy-maker, regulator and monitor.

The department will lead the creation of newinstitutions over a number of years, and will supportand guide them in executing their tasks.

While the actions include the construction of newinfrastructure such as dams, pumping stations andpipelines to meet increasing water demands,attention is mainly given to arrangements for thecareful management, use and protection of waterresources.

Water Services Act, 1997 The Act aims to:• set out the rights of consumers, and the rights

and duties of those responsible for providingwater services

• provide for the right of access to basic watersupply, and the right to basic sanitationnecessary to secure sufficient water and anenvironment not harmful to human health orwell-being

• allow the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry toset national standards (including norms andstandards for tariffs) to ensure efficient,equitable and sustainable water services

• promote the effective and sustainable use offinancial and natural resources

• establish effective and financially viablestatutory institutions to assist local governmentto fulfil its obligations

• ensure the production by WSAs of WSDPsrequired by municipal legislation within theframework of IDPs

• provide a comprehensive framework for theoversight and regulation of water boards underthe authority of the Minister of Water Affairs andForestry

• provide a framework for the collection andpublication of information about water services.

Strategic Framework for Water Services(SFWS)In 1994, the White Paper on Community WaterSupply and Sanitation played a key part in creatingan enabling policy framework for the delivery ofwater and sanitation services. However, since1999, local government’s responsibilities havechanged significantly and the Department of WaterAffairs and Forestry has transformed from being animplementer to a regulator. This necessitated therevision of the policy, which culminated in theSFWS.

The framework provides a comprehensive policysummary regarding the total water services sectorin South Africa, and sets out the vision, targets andpolicy for the next 10 years. The key challenges areto address prevailing inequality and to providebasic services, higher levels of service andsustainable service, including institutionalsustainability.

In October 2003, following the approval of theSFWS, the department and the South African LocalGovernment Association signed a joint declarationcommitting both parties to give effect to the SFWS.

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The key policy themes of the SFWS are:• eliminating the backlog in basic service provision• providing higher levels of service• providing free basic services (water supply and

sanitation) • credit control• institutional reform of water-services providers• a decentralised fiscal framework• a long-term vision for regulation. Existing policies on free basic services, theprovision of basic household sanitation and thetransfers of infrastructure from national to localgovernment aim to ensure that:• everyone in South Africa who has access to

a functioning basic water supply is providedwith free basic water

• everyone who has access to a functioning basicsanitation facility is provided with free basicsanitation by 2010

• everyone has access to a functioning basicsanitation facility supply by 2010

• all assets of water-services schemes aretransferred from the department to WSAs by2008.

More detailed strategies to give effect to theimplementation of the SFWS are the: • Institutional Reform Strategy• Regulatory Strategy• Legislative Review (amendments to the Water

Services Act, 1997) • Sanitation Strategy • Free Basic Services Strategy• Transfer Strategy (of infrastructure assets to

local government).

Water-resource managementWater-resource management in South Africa hasundergone major revision along with the reform ofwater policy and legislation. The National Water Act,1998 provides the principles for water-resourcemanagement. This policy aims to manage waterresources in an integrated manner to ensure ahealthy and stable water-resource base to meet thecurrent and future needs of South Africa.

Water Allocation Reform (War) Programme The War Programme is a proactive approachtowards redressing race and gender inequitiesregarding water use – where “water use” refers topromoting access to water for productive purposes(and not to the provision of basic water services).

This includes actions ranging from promotingapplications from historically disadvantagedindividuals, to supporting the licence-evaluation

process to promote equity, as well asimplementing the compulsory licensing processitself. Through this programme, the Department ofWater Affairs and Forestry is developing andoverseeing the implementation of frameworks(policies, strategies, guidelines and procedures) forcompulsory licensing, and the allocation of waterbetween and among users.

By mid-2006, a document titled Position Paper:Water Allocation in South Africa – A Framework forWater Allocation Reform, under development since2004, was being finalised. It outlines the high-levelrules for allocating water to promote race andgender reform, while minimising potential negativeimpacts on existing lawful users and the economy.A draft position paper formed the basis for publicconsultation on reform, and was launched in April2005.

Awareness material on the programme hasbeen developed and will be available in theappropriate official languages where theprogramme is being implemented. The materialincludes pamphlets on compulsory licensing andunderstanding the verification and validation ofwater-use, and a booklet on the productive use ofwater.

A toolkit of methodologies in support of War hasalso been developed. The toolkit uses the positionpaper as its basis, and outlines practicalimplementation methods that promote the goals ofthe War Programme. The department’s intention isto speed up the process and to improve theefficiency with which licences are evaluated withinthe Batho Pele prescripts.

As key role-players in the programme, provincialand local government, through their provincialgrowth and development plans (PGDPs) and IDPsare central to informing, and being informed by, theway water allocations are made in their areas ofjurisdiction. The awareness materials and toolkitwill assist municipalities in determining waterrequirements in IDPs – in terms of WSDPs, andother plans, for example local economicdevelopment, land use, agriculture and theenvironment.

The Olifants Basin is one of the pilot projects forthe War programme, and aims to reallocate waterto deal with imbalances of the past.

One of the major challenges for the Olifants isthe issue of water pollution owing to miningactivities, power generation and other land-useactivities. These challenges are worsened bylimited capacity to monitor and intervene.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22By mid-2007, integrated catchment-

management studies were also under way at theThukela Basin, under the auspices of the HelpProgramme.

National Water Resource InfrastructureAgencyIn August 2005, Cabinet approved the establish-ment of the NWRIA to ensure long-term watersecurity for South Africa.

The NWRIA will develop and operate SouthAfrica’s major national dams and water-transferschemes, which are currently managed directly bythe Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Theseinclude the Vaal Dam, the Tugela-Vaal transfersystem, the Orange River Scheme and the WesternCape system.

The agency will also integrate the Trans-CaledonTunnel Authority (TCTA), the parastatal organisationresponsible for funding the Lesotho HighlandsWater Project. It will not be responsible for domesticwater supplies, which remain the responsibility ofmunicipalities and regional water boards.

The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry will beresponsible for deciding what projects need to bebuilt in terms of the NWRS. The agency will berequired to make funding arrangements, and toensure that projects are designed and builtaccording to appropriate technical, social andenvironmental standards, and operated effectivelyand efficiently.

The NWRIA is expected to be operational by April2008.

Water-management institutionsThe National Water Act, 1998 sets out theframework for the management of South Africa’swater resources. This framework provides for theestablishment of water-management institutions,which include CMAs and WUAs.

Catchment-management agencies CMAs aim to ensure equitable, efficient andsustainable water-resource management. They arerequired to establish governing boards, which areresponsible for integrated water-resourcemanagement and developing a catchmentmanagement strategy.

The boards have to represent the various sectorsof society within their specific water-managementareas and will consist of water users, potentialwater users, local and provincial government, andenvironmental interest groups.

The department aims to establish CMAs in SouthAfrica’s 19 water-management areas, as requiredby the National Water Act, 1998.

The department will devolve administration tolocal water users and communities, accompaniedby vigorous capacity-building, so that historicallyexcluded communities can participate in watermanagement.

Internal strategic perspectives have beendeveloped for the water-management areas.

These are the forerunners of the catchment-management strategies that will be prepared by theCMAs when they are established. They describe thewater availability and water requirements in eacharea, and outline the approaches to be adopted formanaging water resources. In particular, theyprovide general principles for the CMAs to authorisewater use.

In March 2007, the second National Sanitation Week wascelebrated and the National Health and Hygiene Strategywas launched. This strategy recognises the closerelationship between the delivery of water and sanitationinfrastructure and the improved health of a community. Thestrategy also informed the theme for 2007’s NationalSanitation Week, which was Sanitation for Health andDignity.

The purpose of Sanitation Week is to highlightgovernment’s work to ensure that all South Africans haveaccess to sanitation, to communicate the critical importanceof looking after sanitation facilities, and to informcommunities of the need to wash their hands after using thetoilet and before preparing food.

There is an international movement to address the lackof sanitation. The United Nations’ General Assembly, inadopting the millennium development goals in 2000, agreedto halve the global backlog in sanitation and water by theyear 2015. Government has set its targets higher andcommitted itself to ensure that all buckets in formalsettlements are eradicated, all clinics have safe andadequate water and sanitation, all schools have safe andadequate water and all households access to basicsanitation.

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Water-related researchBeing a water-stressed country, South Africaprogressively needs to find innovative ways ofmanaging water resources to ensure that the basicneeds of its citizens are met, that social andeconomic development is not restricted by a lack ofor a poor quality of water, and that sustainability ofwater resources and water-dependent ecosystemsis achieved.

As reflected in the Water Research Commission’s(WRC) mission and its various undertakings, theWRC functions as a “hub” for water-centredknowledge.

It is a networking organisation linking the nationand working through partnerships. The innovativeorganisation continuously provides novel (andpractical) ways of packaging and transferringknowledge into technology-based products for thewater sector, and the local and internationalcommunity.

The WRC will continue to play the leading role inbuilding a sustainable water-related knowledgebase in South Africa by: • investing in water research and development • building sustainable and appropriate capacity• developing skills for the water sector • being adept in forming strategic partnerships to

achieve objectives more effectively while makingoptimal use of the latest global information andknowledge and other technologies available.

The Water Research Act, 1971 (Act 34 of 1971),provides for the establishment of the WaterResearch Fund, which derives income primarilyfrom levies on water consumption.

In supporting the creation, dissemination andapplication of knowledge, the WRC focuses on fivekey strategic areas:• water-resource management• water-linked ecosystems• water use and waste management• water in agriculture• water-centred knowledge. The WRC also calls for specific mechanisms toaddress key strategic issues of nationalimportance. These are dealt with in four cross-cutting domains:• water and society• water and the economy• water and the environment• water and health.To ensure that research results are relevant to thebroader objectives of water-resource management,the applicability of research in each key strategicarea is maximised by addressing the relationships

between water and society, the economy, health,and the environment.

The WRC’s key objective is supporting thedevelopment of human resources in the watersector. Involvement in research is recognised as animportant vehicle for building and developingexpertise among water-resource practitioners.Every research project is required to incorporate astrong element of capacity-building, especiallyamong previously disadvantaged individuals.

The Department of Science and Technology andthe National Research Foundation are partners withthe Department of Water Affairs and Forestry andthe WRC in ensuring that approaches to waterresearch are consistent with South Africa’s broadpolicy on science and innovation.

Water boardsWater boards have been established as service-providers that report to the Minister of Water Affairsand Forestry. The boards manage water services intheir supply areas and provide potable water atcost-effective prices. By mid-2007, there were15 water boards that have been set up asfinancially independent institutions, in terms ofSection 34(1) of the Water Services Act, 1997,aiming to be financially viable.

These water boards are: Albany Coast Water,Ikangala Water, Overberg Water, Amatola Water,Lepelle Northern Water, Pelladrift Water, BloemWater, Magalies Water, Rand Water, Botshelo Water,Mhlathuze Water, Sedibeng Water, BushbuckridgeWater, Namakwa Water and Umgeni Water.

The impact of their financial performance on theDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry has beenlimited. Apart from providing seed funding to someof the newly formed water boards, and providingoperating subsidies where they have undertakenspecific functions on behalf of the department, thedepartment has only had to provide financialassistance in exceptional circumstances.

Irrigation boards and water-userassociationsWUAs are established in terms of Chapter 8 of theNational Water Act, 1998 for localised users tomanage their water use jointly and in a moreintegrated way. The Act requires that all irrigationboards formed under previous legislation musttransform into WUAs.

In terms of sections 61 and 62 of the Act, thenew policy framework for financial assistance towater-management institutions for irrigatedagricultural development aims to promote initial

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22access to irrigated agriculture, and to improvesustainable irrigation development by subsidisingemerging farmers.

By mid-2007, all irrigation boards were beingtransformed into WUAs. Of the 279 irrigationboards, some 68 had been transformed into38 WUAs. Some 23 new WUAs were established,most of which are focused on emerging farmers.

The new associations include the Lower OlifantsDam in the Western Cape and the ImfundaYophongolo, KwaZulu-Natal. The Western Capeassociations include commercial and resource-poor farmers, while Limpopo associations aremade up of resource-poor farmers only. Thetransformed irrigation boards include Hex Valleyand Kabous River, Western Cape; and Nkwalini,KwaZulu-Natal.

By mid-2007, a number of WUAs were usinggovernment-guaranteed loans worth R300 million.

Working for Water ProgrammeThe WFW Programme is an Expanded Public WorksProgramme. Alien invasive plants (Aips) causebillions of rands of damage to South Africa’seconomy yearly, and are the single biggest threat tothe country’s biological biodiversity. The country’sbiological diversity also underpins the tourismindustry and creates jobs. It is equally worrying thatthese species undermine ecological integrity whenthe land’s ability to produce is compromised. Socialissues such as poverty and unemploymentinevitably follow.

It is estimated that between 6% and 7% of SouthAfrica’s annual water run-off is being consumed byAips.

The core business of the programme is tocontribute to the sustainable prevention and controlof Aips, thereby optimising conservation and theuse of natural resources. In doing so, it addressespoverty relief and promotes economic empower-ment and transformation within a public-worksframework.

WFW is recognised internationally as one of themost effective programmes for addressing theproblem of Aips, combining environmental issueswith social-development objectives. It estimated thatAips have invaded over two million ha of South Africa.

The programme, using community labour,removes Aips from South Africa’s river courses andwater sheds and cleared over 7 900 km2 of land in2006/07.

Natural mean annual run-off and ecologicalreserve (million m3 per annum)Water Natural mean Ecologicalmanagement annual run-off(1) reserve(1,2)

Limpopo 985 156

Luvuvhu/Letaba 1 185 224

Crocodile West andMarico 855 165

Olifants 2 042 460

Inkomati (3) 3 539 1 008

Usutu to Mhlatuze (4) 4 780 1 192

Thukela 3 799 859

Upper Vaal 2 423 299

Middle Vaal 888 109

Lower Vaal 368 48

Mvoti to Umzimkulu 4 798 1 160

Mzimvubu to Keiskamma 7 241 1 122

Upper Orange 6 981 1 349

Lower Orange (5) 502 69

Fish to Tsitsikamma 2 154 243

Gouritz 1 679 325

Olifants/Doring 1 108 156

Breede 2 472 384

Berg 1 429 217

Total 49 228 9 544

1) Quantities refer to the water-management area underconsideration only (water that originates or is required inthat water-management area).

2) Total volume given, based on preliminary estimates,impact on yield being a portion of this.

3) Includes Komati catchment in Swaziland (mean annualrun-off = 517 million m3/a).

4) Includes Pongola catchment in Swaziland (mean annualrun-off = 213 million m3/a).

5) Includes contributions from Sengu and Caledon rivers inLesotho (mean annual run-off = 4,765 billion m3/a).

Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

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were under way to provide a further 200 rain-watertanks in Limpopo, Free State and Eastern Cape, and1 000 of the smaller Jojo water tanks in ThabaNchu in the Free State.

Dams and water schemesThe central objective of managing water resourcesis to ensure that water is used to support equitableand sustainable social and economictransformation and development.

Dams and water schemes form an integralcomponent of the strategy to meet theseobjectives. The NWRS provides details on possiblemajor water schemes to be developed in the next25 years, amounting to about R21 billion at 2004price levels.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestryfollows an integrated approach to managing SouthAfrica’s water resources. Proposed new waterschemes need to comply with the NWRS, requiringthat water-demand management programmes be implemented before embarking on newinfrastructure development.

Strict environmental-impact assessments mustalso be performed in accordance with laws andregulations administered by the Department ofEnvironmental Affairs and Tourism. The guidelinesissued by the World Commission on Dams must befollowed.

The following major schemes are underconstruction or reaching the implementation stage:• Berg River Project: The Minister of Water Affairs

and Forestry has directed the TCTA to implementthe R1,55-billion privately funded schemecomprising the Berg River Dam near Franschhoekin the Western Cape, and the associatedsupplement scheme comprising a weir, pumpingstations and pipelines to increase the water supplyto the Western Cape. Construction of the dam by aprivate contractor started in June 2004 and wasdue for completion in 200708. Construction of thesupplement scheme, using government andprivate resources, was expected to commencein 2005 for commissioning during 2007. At70 metres (m) tall, the 990 m-long dam wall will bethe highest concrete-faced, rock-filled dam wallin South Africa.

• Nandoni Dam Project: Water-treatment works forthe Nandoni Dam, in Limpopo, were expected tobe completed in 2007. The R389-million dam,which will benefit over 700 000 people, isexpected to be completed in 2008.

• Vaal River Eastern Subsystem AugmentationProject: The Minister of Water Affairs and

It also provided over 1,8 million days ofemployment for 29 000 people and, with a budgetof R387 million, there are plans to expand theprogramme under the Jobs for Growth Programme.

Part of the programme is Operation Vuselela,where the Department of Water Affairs and Forestryhas partnered with the Department of Defence toclear Aips from more than 5 500 ha of DefenceForce land, and providing 44 000 days ofemployment to military veterans.

Campaigns such as Weedbuster Week providethe opportunity for WFW to raise awareness of itsactivities, and bring the importance of Aip control tothe public’s attention. While Weedbuster Weekspecifically highlights the problem within SouthAfrica, it is linked bilaterally to Australia and NewZealand, and through multilateral agreements tothe broader Global Invasive Species Programme.

Flood and drought managementThe latest South African Disaster-ManagementPolicy and ensuing legislation brought about amajor shift in focus from reactive to preventativeand mitigative disaster management.

From a flood-management perspective, the SouthAfrican focus has shifted from primarily structural tonon-structural, accentuating the value of, forexample, floodplain zoning and flood warnings.

Draft regulations for support to resource-poorfarmers were published, and support to thesefarmers was expected to be increased during2007/08. By mid-20007, rain-water harvestingtanks had been supplied to these farmers and plans

The South African Government has started a massivecampaign to reduce the high level of water loss in thecountry’s water distribution system.

Some of the interventions being planned to curb wastageincludes a national water-wise campaign, the investigationof the possible development of water-conservation anddemand-management regulations and the possibility ofintroducing a national fund to support municipalities andother qualifying water users to implement water-savingtechnologies.

Ministerial awards will also be held in 2008 to recognisethose who have excelled in the areas of water saving andmanagement, while the National Water-Use EfficiencyInformation System will be set up to share ideas andapproaches to improving the state of water use in thecountry.

The new pricing strategy for charges for water use,which came into effect on 1 April 2007, makes provision forthe establishment of a waste discharge charge system thatis based on a “polluter pays” principle.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22Forestry directed the TCTA to augment the watersupply to Sasol and Eskom by implementingabstraction and desilting works alongside theVaal Dam shoreline, and a pumping station and a120 km-long steel pipeline of 1 900 mmdiameter to the Bosjesspruit and Trichardsfonteindams in Mpumalanga. Construction of theprivately funded project was expected to becompleted in 2007/08 at an estimated cost ofmore than R2 billion.

• The Olifants River Water Resource DevelopmentProject: This project was commissioned toachieve an increased assurance of water supply.It is part of government’s aim to secure bulkwater for domestic supply purposes to stimulateeconomic activity and promote the socio-economic development of the people of this partof Limpopo in line with the PGDS and the SpatialDevelopment Framework. Phase one of theproject was the raising of the Flag Boshielo Damby five metres, which was completed at the endof 2006. The prosperity of this area is closelylinked to the mining industry, which createsemployment opportunities and economicgrowth; and water is the catalyst for thisdevelopment. The local mining sector has spentmillions of rand on the Lebalelo water pipelinefrom the Olifants River to the Steelpoort area.The mines have also carried the cost for theraising of the Flag Boshielo Dam.

The construction of this dam is the secondphase of the Olifants River Water ResourceDevelopment Project, one of the flagshipprogrammes of government’s Accelerated andShared Growth Initiative for South Africa(AsgiSA). The importance of this dam is twofold;the first is to supply water to the towns,industries and poorly serviced rural communitiesin the Sekhukhune District of Limpopo. Secondly,the dam will supply water to the mines that willhelp to unlock vast mineral deposits, mainly inthe form of platinum-group metals (PGMs) foundin the region. These PGMs are at present thelargest known unexploited mineral wealth inSouth Africa.

The construction of the De Hoop Dam and theassociated bulk water-distribution infrastructurewill cost about R5 billion, and municipalities in

the area, supported by the national andprovincial government, are preparing to invest anadditional R3 billion on infrastructure to treat anddistribute potable water to rural domestic andurban users. More than 800 000 people in theproject area will benefit from improved domesticwater supply when availability of water from thedam is secured. The construction of the dam wasdue to start in 2007 and be completed in2009/10.

• Mooi-Mgeni River Transfer Scheme: Phase oneof the water-transfer project comprising the newMearns weir on the Mooi River near the town ofMooi River and the raised Midmar Dam nearHowick on the Mgeni River was commissionedduring 2003 to augment the water supply to theUmgeni area in KwaZulu-Natal. Phase 2A, to becompleted towards the end of the decade, willinclude the construction of the Spring Grove Damon the Mooi River near Rosetta. The Spring Grovepumping station (Phase 2B) will follow at a laterstage to suit the demand requirements ofUmgeni Water.

• In KwaZulu-Natal, the Hluhluwe regional waterworks is expected to be completed by the end of2007/08. This project will provide ruralcommunities in Northern KwaZulu-Natal withwater for domestic use.

• In the Northern Cape, a R22-million waterpipeline was being constructed from the OrangeRiver to Colesberg.

• In Gauteng, government was rehabilitating theVlakfontein Canal as part of the Usutu VaalScheme, and rehabilitating and refurbishingwater and waste water treatment works in theVaal River system.

• The North West was expected to install earlywarning systems in the groundwater aquifers inthe Vryberg area to detect levels of groundwater.

Groundwater resourcesGroundwater, despite its relatively smallcontribution to bulk water supply (13%), representsan important and strategic water resource in SouthAfrica, since it services between 52% and 82% ofcommunity water-supply schemes in the EasternCape, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West andKwaZulu-Natal.

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Owing to the lack of perennial streams in thesemi-desert to desert parts, two thirds of SouthAfrica’s surface area is largely dependent ongroundwater. Although irrigation is the largest user,the supply to more than 300 towns and smallersettlements is also extremely important. Throughgovernment’s commitment to meeting the basicwater needs of communities, groundwater hasbecome a strategic resource for village watersupply in the wetter parts of the country, because ofits cost-effectiveness in a widely scattered small-scale-user situation.

Groundwater also contributes a considerableportion to river flow. This requires reserving asignificant share of groundwater resources toprotect aquatic ecosystems in terms of the NationalWater Act, 1998. The maximum quantity ofgroundwater that can be developed economically isestimated at about 6 000 million m3 a year, whilesome 4 000 million m3 of groundwater (mainly inthe dry season) contributes to surface-water flowannually.

Regional and internationalco-operation and initiativesSouth Africa has signed co-operative agreementswith a number of countries in the southern Africanregion with which it shares water resources, suchas:• Mozambique and Swaziland on the Incomati and

Maputo rivers• Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia on the

establishment of the Orange Senqu RiverCommission

• Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique on theestablishment of the Limpopo WatercourseCommission

• Lesotho on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project• Swaziland on the Komati River Development

Project.These co-operative agreements improve SouthAfrica’s bilateral and multilateral relations in theAfrican Union. All the countries involved benefit,while sharing development costs.

During 2006/07, the department raised SouthAfrica’s profile in the international community byhosting an international conference on Earthobservation technology for use in obtaining water-related information. The department’s officialsalso presented papers at international con-ferences.

South Africa is increasingly seen as a leadinglight in addressing the pressing water andsanitation challenges faced by the poor and by

people living in rural areas. This view wassupported during the launch of the 2006 UnitedNations (UN) Development Programme’s HumanDevelopment Report in the Western Cape.

During 2007/08, the department planned to hosttwo international events, the UN Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation symposium onhydrological issues in November 2007 in Gautengand the African San Conference in KwaZulu-Natalin February 2008. The department was alsoexpected to participate in the Water andSustainable Development exhibition to be held inZaragoza, Spain, during 2008.

In addition to participating in the AfricanMinisters’ Council on Water, South Africa has beenactive in watercourse commissions that wereestablished to manage the rivers it shares withLesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique,Botswana and Zimbabwe.

ForestryProvincial and local government play a crucial rolein the national forestry agenda. Many provincesand municipalities are aware of the benefits offorestry, not just for the social and aestheticbenefits which trees and forests provide, but moreimportantly for the livelihood support and economicbenefits they provide.

In terms of the economic growth anddevelopment which forestry offers, the Departmentof Water Affairs and Forestry is working closely withother government structures in the Eastern Capeand KwaZulu-Natal to fast-track the afforestationlicensing process, which involves support from anumber of other provincial departments.

These new forestry areas will be singularlyimportant in transforming and growing the forestrysector and, as such, afforestation forms animportant part of the Forestry Broad-Based BlackEconomic Empowerment (BBBEE) Charter, whichhas been completed and agreed with the sector.

The department has worked closely with otherdepartments on the process of reducing theadministrative burden on forestry development.Applications for afforestation have increaseddramatically from 800 ha in 2004 to 5 500 ha in2007. Under the charter, government aims toprocess about 15 000 ha per year for the next10 years to get a net increase in forestry of about10 000 ha per year.

The department has almost halved the originaltime of nearly 18 months to process a licenceapplication, and has plans in place to furtherreduce this timeframe. It also plans to use the

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22progressive provisions of the National Forests Act,1998 (Act 84 of 1998), to provide direct support tocommunities in this and other forest-enterpriseareas. Strategic interventions such as theestablishment of the special-purpose vehicleAsgiSA Eastern Cape (Pty) Ltd will assist in drivingthe implementation of the forestry programme inthese key areas.

Afforestation will take place in rural areas wherethere are few other viable opportunities for jobcreation and economic activity. The development ofthese additional raw material resources will attractgreater processing capacity in the form ofsawmills, board mills, chipping plants andtreatment plants. All these will lead to broadeconomic growth. For example, through thisafforestation an additional R500 million per yearcould be generated in plantations, which had aturnover of R32 billion in 2006, and in excess ofR1,5 billion could be added per year in the value-adding processes.

The Chief Directorate: Forestry has developedand adopted a new vision for forestry. South Africaneeds to create an enabling environment foreconomic and social development throughsustainable forestry, especially at local level.

Forestry encourages growth and development ofthe First Economy, thereby increasing its potentialto create jobs. Following a recently publishedsupply-and-demand study on softwood sawlogs inSouth Africa, the department commissioned asimilar study for roundwood. The objective of thisreport was to establish the supply and demand atregional and national levels.

The forestry sector is an important contributor togross domestic product and employment. Itemploys about 170 000 people and contributesmore than R16 billion annually to the South Africaneconomy. The impact of the sector is feltparticularly in rural areas and there is significantscope for this sector to expand and therebycontribute towards uplifting those in the SecondEconomy.

Over the past few years, much work has beendone in the forestry sector to improve yields,restructure institutions, improve community accessand redefine government’s role. The ForestryBBBEE Charter recognises the link between the

transformation and growth of the sector. Throughthe strategic environmental assessments that havebeen conducted, about 100 000 ha of newcommercial forests can be planted over the next10 years.

The forestry programme also encompassesexpanded greening and tree-planting projects. Theprogramme prioritises work on fire programmesand encourages the establishment of fire-protection associations.

Forestry supports small growers and facilitatesnew afforestation, especially in the Eastern Capeand KwaZulu-Natal. Growing trees in these areaswill add to the economy, and will provideemployment and entrepreneurial opportunities tolocal people.

Fruit trees have multiple purposes: they helpclean the air, reduce heat, provide nutrition andsupport good mental health and well-being.

The department has been involved in planningfor the expansion of forest areas in the EasternCape, where most forestry opportunities areavailable and where the local rural economy needsstimulation. A strategic environmental assessmentconducted in the Eastern Cape has identified areasfor new afforestation, which are being pursued.

It is estimated that at least an initial 30 000 ha ofland could be afforested and that this could beincreased to more than 150 000 ha of land once theproject gains momentum. The areas couldaccommodate small growers and communityafforestation, if correctly planned, and couldexpand the broad base of black people engaged inforestry. In KwaZulu-Natal, options for newafforestation also exist, and conservative estimatesshow between 30 000 ha and 40 000 ha aresuitable for this purpose. This will createsubstantial employment opportunities.

This view is expressed in the Genesis Report,which looked at the costs and benefits of the forestsector. The report was commissioned by theDepartment of Trade and Industry. Following thisreport, the Government has identified forestry asone of seven “strategic industries” that will beincluded in a comprehensive Industrial DevelopmentStrategy. The Department of Trade and Industry andthe industry have produced the Forest Sector Growthand Development Strategy as part of this initiative.

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Indigenous forests are indispensable to thecountry’s heritage, beauty, wildlife and environment,while commercial forests provide jobs andeconomic opportunities for many people, especiallyin rural areas. Forestry represents a substantialinvestment in the country and plays an importantrole in the Integrated Rural Development Programme.

Plantations cover about 1,3 million ha of SouthAfrica. Over 80% of them are found inMpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the EasternCape. They produced more than 22 million m3 ofcommercial roundwood, worth an estimated R5 billion, according to a study done in 2005. Theyprovide direct employment for about 107 056people, of which 67 556 are in formal employment,30 000 are contract workers and 39 500 are smallgrowers and their helpers.

Together with the processed products, the totalindustry turnover was about R15 billion in 2005,including R6,8 billion worth of wood-pulp.

A pulp and paper log intake of about 17,3 million m3, mining timber of 826 000 m3,charcoal of 258 000 m3, and almost 4,8 million m3

of sawlogs and veneer logs and poles of about351 000 m3 were transferred to processing plantsin 2005.

The sales of timber from primary processors byvolume in 2005 were as follows: sawn timber,2,2 million m3; pulp, two million tons (Mt); miningtimber, 639 390 t; panel products, 512 802 m3;poles, 293 021 m3; charcoal, 46 790 t; chips/millresidues, about six Mt; and firewood, 13 251 t.

Between 390 000 and 560 000 people dependon plantation forestry for their livelihoods,particularly in the rural areas.

About half of the more than 1 700 indigenoustree and shrub species found in South Africa growalong the south and east coasts and on thesouthern and south-eastern slopes of inlandmountains. The other half is spread over the interiorplateaux.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestryplans to transfer the management and control of allstate natural (indigenous) forests by the end of2008/09 to other competent managementagencies, primarily to provincial governmentdepartments or national and provincialconservation agencies.

This includes the official handover to SouthAfrican National Parks (SANParks) of about 97 000 haof state forest land in the southern Cape andTsitsikamma areas. SANParks, as a conservationagency, will manage natural forests in terms of allthe provisions of the National Forests Act, 1998.

Progress was made in releasing state forest landthat was no longer required for forestry purposesas part of the process to deproclaim state forests inmountain-catchment areas. The total area releasedin the Western Cape, Sederberg and De Mond areascomprised 146 888 ha. In the Eastern Cape, thetransfer of uncontested natural forests has begun.Agreement has also been reached on the transferof contested areas.

A socio-economic impact analysis will inform thefinalisation of an exit strategy for the Blyde stateforest land. Findings are that there will be no joblosses on the side of government for the duration ofthe rehabilitation process, lasting between five and 10 years; and that there will be a net increase in jobopportunities in the medium to long term.

The Real Yellowwood (Podacarpus latifolius) isSouth Africa’s national tree. There are differentspecies of yellowwood trees that can grow higherthan 40 m with a girth of 8 m, and can live for up to800 years. The Big Tree near the Storms RiverBridge (46 m), the King Edward VII in the KnysnaForest (46 m) and the Eastern Monarch in theAmatola mountains (44 m) are the best-knowngiants.

National Arbor Week is celebrated annually at thebeginning of September to encourage the greeningof South Africa. Two different trees of the year arenominated annually: a common variety and ascarcer, possibly endangered, species. The 2007trees of the year were the common wild currant(Rhus pyroides) and the poison bride’s bush(Pavetta schumanniana).

The aim of Arbor Week is to promote awarenessof the need for planting and preserving indigenoustrees throughout South Africa. It highlights theopportunities for sustainable economicdevelopment, community participation, povertyalleviation and job creation in forestry to create abetter life for all. The theme for 2007 was Plant aTree – Grow our Future.

The Arbor Week campaign aims to:• promote improved knowledge of trees,

particularly indigenous trees, and theirimportance

• stress the necessity for everyone to contribute tothe greening of South Africa by planting andcaring for trees

• highlight the vital roles of trees in the naturalenvironment

• contribute to the achievement of green, dignifiedand healthy environments in all parts of thecountry

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22• encourage the youth to participate in tree-

planting activities and related environmental-education programmes.

It highlights the opportunities for sustainableeconomic development, community participation,poverty alleviation and job creation in forestry,thereby contributing towards growth, developmentand a better life for all. The target audience includesall South Africans but more specifically ruralcommunities, municipalities and schools.

The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry,Ms Lindiwe Hendricks, proclaimed the first 21champion trees as protected under the NationalForests Act, 1998 in the Government Gazette inDecember 2006. These individual and groups oftrees were shortlisted by a panel of experts from alist of proposed trees considered to be of nationalconservation importance. Among the listed treesare: • the famous Tsitsikamma Big Tree along the

Garden Route• the Post Office Milkwood Tree of Mossel Bay• the Sagole baobab in Limpopo (one of the two

largest trees in South Africa)• camphor trees planted at Vergelegen Estate

three centuries ago. Guidelines have been developed for the use ofthese trees to ensure their continued economic andecological benefits to South Africans.

The Champion Tree Project has entered anexciting phase, with new discoveries ofexceptionally large trees. In Aderne Gardens inCape Town, officials measured an enormous Indianrubber fig with a trunk circumference of more than11 m and a crown diameter of more than 44 m.

Applying the international formula for tree sizethat combines height, trunk size and crown

diameter, it was discovered that this tree has a sizeindex similar to the Sagole baobab in Limpopo. Thismeans that the title for largest tree in the country isnow shared by two trees at opposite ends of SouthAfrica, one an indigenous tree in the far north andthe other an exotic tree in the far south.

A new cycle of nominations for champion treesbegins at the start of August each year, while thenominations of the previous cycle are thenevaluated by the Department of Water Affairs andForestry and its panel of experts.

Contributing to socio-economic reformand growthGovernment recognises that BEE will not beeffective if it does not have the support of theprivate sector.

The BBBEE Charter for the Forest Sector will beinstrumental in achieving the objectives of thescorecard as suggested by the Department of Tradeand Industry.

The Forestry BBBEE Charter process waslaunched at the Forestry Indaba in April 2005.

Forestry Enterprise Development (FED) relates tothe concept of using forests and forest-basedresources as a vehicle for economic growth,employment and socio-economic upliftment thattakes people from a subsistence livelihood systeminto a market economy. The concept is also centralto the department’s pro-poor agenda and a keycomponent of BBBEE in the forestry sector.

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestrysupports FED. This includes transferring stateforests, developing an afforestation strategy for theEastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and includingforestry as a key sector in PGDPs.

The Directorate: Forestry Development supportsthe establishment of community projects throughregional forestry staff.

An estimated R2 million from the CommunityFacilitation Fund has been spent to support theestablishment of projects.

Current projects include bee-keeping, which is apartnership with the Agricultural Research Council,and establishing medicinal nurseries in partnershipwith various stakeholders.

In 1997, Cabinet decided that the State shouldexit from commercial-plantation forestry.

Apart from Arbour Week, the Department of Water Affairsand Forestry organises Water Week, Sanitation Week andWeedbuster Week. The department also has youth-development initiatives such as Baswa le Meetse, the WaterAllocation Reform Programme, which seeks to redresshistorical water allocations, a programme to supportresource-poor farmers, and plans to establish a nationalwater-resource infrastructure agency.

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To allow the restructuring, the commercialplantation forests of South African ForestryCompany Limited (Safcol) and the Department ofWater Affairs and Forestry were combined andpackaged into five stand-alone special-purposevehicles, operating as wholly owned subsidiaries ofSafcol.

Following an in-depth review by the Departmentof Public Enterprises, in consultation with othergovernment departments, Cabinet decided todispose of the Safcol subsidiary, KomatilandForests (KLF). KLF’s commercial operations will bealigned with the requirements of improved industrystructure and operation of the saw-log market, andownership of KLF will be transferred to the privatesector.

The Department of Public Enterprises will beresponsible for ensuring clear guidelines regardinggovernment’s objectives and will empower theSafcol Board to implement Cabinet’s decision. Thegoal will be to ensure that, in future, the value of theState-owned forests will contribute optimally togovernment’s objectives for the forestry, timber,pulp and paper sector.

South African Forestry Company Limited Safcol, a wholly owned state enterprise, wasformed in 1992 and acquired the Department ofWater Affairs and Forestry’s commercial forestryassets and related business in April 1993. It alsoacquired the remaining commercial forestry assetsof the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry tofacilitate the privatisation of the State’s forestryassets. Since 1993, Safcol has played a leading rolein the forestry industry, especially by introducingnew forest engineering and sawmilling technologyto the local industry. Safcol was also the leader inthe introduction of forest certification in SouthAfrica. Its operations in KwaZulu-Natal were thefirst in the local industry to be certified by theForest Stewardship Council (FSC).

After completing the privatisation transactions, Safcol holds a minority interest in each of the fourprivatised entities. These holdings are earmarked tobe used mainly to benefit employees andcommunities, offering: • up to 9% for an Employee Share Ownership

Programme (Esop).• 10% for communities, directly or through the

National Empowerment Fund. By March 2007, the Esops for two of the privatisedentities had been implemented, with a third close toimplementation. The fourth Esop will be substitutedwith a cash settlement for eligible employees.

The disposal of contributions to the communitiesis awaiting policy guidelines.

The remaining Safcol interest, after the disposalsto the Esops and the communities, together with anyother assets held by Safcol, will be disposed of by31 March 2009, in line with existing policy guidelineson the disposal of non-core assets as part of theprocess of winding up the affairs of Safcol.

Industry and exportsThe industry was a net exporter of almostR1,9 billion worth of goods in 2006, more than 98%of which was in the form of converted value-addedproducts. Had it not been for this trade surplus inforest products, the country’s trade deficit ofR69 billion in 2006 would have been almost 3%higher.

The forest-product industry ranks among the topexporting industries in the country, havingcontributed 2,51% to total exports and 1,74% tototal imports in 2006. Capital investment in theindustry amounted to some R35 billion in 2006.

The value of forest-product exports has grownby 115% over the past decade, from R4,6 billion in1996 to R9,9 billion in 2006. In real terms (takinginflation into account), this growth was 25% or acompounded real growth of 2,3% per year over thatperiod. However, the net trade balance in foreigntrade in forest products increased from 1996 byonly 12% in nominal terms (minus 35% in realterms) to R1,9 billion in 2006.

In 2006, paper products were the most important(R3,699 billion or 37% of the total), followed bysolid wood products (R2,989 billion or 30%), pulp (R2,910 billion or 30%), and other products (R309 million or 3%). Woodchip exports, which areexported mainly to Japan, accounted for 68%(R2,045 billion) of total solid-wood product exports.

As with other export-based industries, thestrength of the Rand has had a negative effect on

South Africa has identified the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as key for development in the forestry, wood andpaper sector, with reforestation a vital part of the strategy.

The Government envisages between R20 billion andR30 billion of investment by the private sector, including theIndustrial Development Corporation, over the next five yearsto develop the economies of the two provinces.

Forestry is one of the sectors identified as a key growtharea in terms of the Accelerated and Shared GrowthInitiative for South Africa, which aims to reduce poverty andunemployment and help the country achieve an economicgrowth rate of 6% per year.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22the Rand-value of forest-product exports during thepast several years, with the total value of exports in2006 being only R382 million more than in theprevious year, but some R1,3 billion or 12% lessthan when at its peak in 2002.

Stringent environmental codes of practice areimplemented in all plantation and processingactivities. The Chief Directorate: Forestry of theDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry promotesoptimal development of forestry and arboriculturein South Africa.

The National Forests Advisory Council (NFAC)was established in terms of the National ForestsAct, 1998. It advises the Minister of Water Affairsand Forestry on all aspects of forestry in thecountry. The NFAC is actively involved in developinglocal criteria, indicators and standards forsustainable forest management (SFM), and makesrecommendations on how public access to state-owned forests can be improved.

Achieving sustainable forestmanagementApart from ecological considerations in determiningwhere it is appropriate to grow trees, there areother ecological, social and economic considerationsthat must be addressed when growing trees.

These criteria, indicators and standards will formthe basis for monitoring the sustainability offorestry operations in commercial and naturalforests. Managers and owners will be required toreport against these criteria, which also form usefulguidelines for new entrants to the sector.

The commercial forestry industry in South Africais committed to practising SFM and is a worldleader in forest certification. Over one million ha, orover 80% of the entire planted area of commercialforestry plantations in South Africa, is certified bythe FSC and the ISO 14001 certification schemesas being sustainably managed. By March 2007,1 630 418 ha of plantation forestry land (plantedand conservation areas combined) in South Africawas certified by the FSC, the second-largest area inthe southern hemisphere after Brazil. There wereno certified plantations in 1996.

Although large forestry companies do not own allthe certified forests, having their own specialistenvironmental departments has helped the rapid

expansion of certification, as they ensure that landis managed according to their own stringentenvironmental codes of practice. To promotetransparency, members of the public are invited tojoin company staff when regular audits are done.

There has also been a large increase in thenumber of non-corporate growers who havebecome certified. This can be attributed to factorssuch as the FSC’s acceptance of group-certificationschemes and the availability of local FSC auditors,both of which have reduced the cost of certificationconsiderably.

The introduction of small, low-intensity managedforest audits enables small and community forestryschemes to be FSC-certified. As part of itscommitment to the practice of SFM, the forestryindustry is also involved in the NFAC’s Committeefor SFM, which develops criteria, indicators andstandards for SFM, tailored to meet South Africa’sspecific conditions.

The industry is also involved in an FSC nationalinitiative, the result of which will be the acceptanceand use by FSC auditors of criteria, indicators andstandards for SFM which take into account localSouth African conditions. Currently, the FSCauditors have to use generic measures.

After extensive consultation, the Institute ofNatural Resources, which was contracted by theCommittee for SFM to develop these criteria, hasdeveloped a draft set which was tested in 2004 andaccepted in 2005. A manual was produced withguidelines, standard operating practices andchecklists for reporting on criteria and indicatorsfor plantations. A training course was developedand staff in the cluster were trained to use themanual.

Through the Forestry Industry EnvironmentalCommittee, a set of environmental guidelines waspublished in 1995 to encourage and facilitatetimber growers to practise SFM, implementing bestenvironmental practices.

These guidelines were widely used in SouthAfrica and abroad. A second updated and morecomprehensive, user-friendly edition of theguidelines was published in July 2002. These areused by certification agents in completing thephysical environment component of their FSCaudits.

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The indigenous forests of the southern Cape,previously managed by the Department of WaterAffairs and Forestry, received FSC-certification – afirst on the continent for high forests. It is a majorstep towards the sustainable management of thecountry’s natural forests.

LegislationThe National Forests Act, 1998 reflects the visionfor the future of forestry in South Africa. This visionemphasises SFM, and explains how people andcommunities can use forests without destroyingthem. The Act sets out rules for protectingindigenous forests, and ensures that the public hasreasonable access to state-forest land forrecreational, cultural, spiritual and educationalpurposes.

South Africa is richly endowed with more than 1 700 tree species. Some are threatened, and atotal of 47 species is now protected under the Act.Protected trees may not be cut, damaged or soldwithout a licence. The listing of protected trees isnot primarily aimed at preventing the use of suchtrees, but at ensuring sustainable use throughlicensing-control measures. A list of protected treespecies is available on the Department of WaterAffairs and Forestry’s website at www.dwaf.gov.za.

The National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998(Act 101 of 1998), bans open-air fires when the riskof veld blazes in an area is high. It also introducesthe concept of voluntary fire-protectionassociations (FPAs) formed by landowners. Itfurther obliges the Minister of Water Affairs andForestry to operate a national fire-rating system inconsultation with the South African Weather Service(SAWS) and fire associations. The Act also allowsthe minister to impose minimum firefightingrequirements on landowners.

Protection of life and property is a basic humanneed and the department has been moving aheadin implementing the National Veld and Forest FireAct, 1998. Due to the high incidences of fires duringextreme weather conditions, it is a priority for thedepartment to ensure registration of FPAs. By mid-2006, 59 FPAs were registered. The departmentadvised and assisted FPAs in compiling businessplans, including the principles of risk assessment.By mid-2006, 36 FPAs had been assisted with theirbusiness plans. The department plans to reviewFPAs’ performance regularly. There is also ongoingawareness-raising and information-provision onpolicy matters.

The department’s Veldfire Bulletin is producedquarterly. Special bulletins are also produced

occasionally depending on the need, such as thespecial Veldfire Bulletin on FPAs.

The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS)was launched during Arbor Week 2005. The NFDRSis an early warning system for veldfires. TheDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry hasdelegated the operation of this system to the SAWS.The SAWS will operate the system and issue dailyveldfire warnings as it does with other weatherinformation. Warnings will be communicated toFPAs, the departmental fire advisers, DisasterManagement, Department of Provincial and LocalGovernment and other role-players.

Indigenous forestsThere are around 530 000 ha of indigenous ornatural forests in the country, which occur mainlyalong the southern and eastern escarpment, thecoastal belt and in sheltered kloofs or ravines.

Natural forest cover is slow, which led to thedevelopment of the commercial forest sector inSouth Africa over the last 100 years. Nonetheless,natural forests have continued to play a major rolein the livelihoods and well-being of many ruralcommunities.

There has been an increase in the use of naturalforests as sources of medicine, building material,fuel wood and food. An estimated 80% of SouthAfrica’s population still uses medicinal plants, mostof which are sourced from natural forests.

For the first time, South Africa now has a detailedinventory of all its natural forests, which will beused to accurately monitor changes in forest areas.The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry alsocompleted a forest-type classification for naturalforests, which are represented by 24 broad foresttypes. The Natural Forests Protected Areas System,completed for all forests in 2004, guides the settingaside and demarcation of natural forests asprotected areas.

Systematic timber harvesting occurs in areas ofthe production-management class. Harvesting isconcentrated on overmature trees, with logs beingsold by tender and/or on public auction. Onaverage, 3 750 m3 of round logs are harvestedannually (150 m3 of stinkwood, 750 m3 ofyellowwood, 2 500 m3 of Australian blackwood and350 m3 of other species).

Another valuable product of the indigenousforests of South Africa is the seven-week fern(Rumohra adiantiformis), which is harvested in theKnysna and Tsitsikamma forests.

The South African market for this fern isconsiderable and reaches its peak in September,

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22when sales exceed 420 000 bunches, and onlyslightly fewer in December.

WoodlandsWoodlands can be defined as vegetation formationdominated by trees, but not to the extent that thecanopies are continuous and overlapping.Woodlands cover 29 million ha, constituting 21% ofland cover. This vegetation covers extensive areasin the low-lying, drier areas of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Woodlands havethousands of species (5 900 plants, 175 mammals,and 540 birds), of which the majority are used forone purpose or another.

Woodlands are the most extensive vegetationtype in southern Africa and dominate Africa as awhole. Globally, woodlands cover between aneighth and a sixth of the Earth’s land surface.

The woodlands are, however, a valuable sourceof fuel, building material, craft-timber and a varietyof non-timber products. These include fruit, fodder,medicinal compounds, honey, meat andmushrooms, and form the backbone of thelivelihoods of millions of people. The annualMarula-fruit (Sclerocarya birrea) harvest is worthsome R1,1 million a year to rural communities.

Commercial forestsDuring the 1930s, government started establishingextensive plantations to make South Africa self-sufficient in its timber requirements, and to providemore job opportunities in a diversified economyduring the depression. Commercial plantations ofexotic species proved to be a sound investment and the private sector established large plantationsof pine, eucalyptus and wattle trees.

By mid-2006, the private sector owned 1 021 390 ha (or 77%) of the total plantation areaof 1 333 563 ha, as well as virtually all theprocessing plants in the country. The remaining23% (312 173 ha) was under private ownership.The extent of public ownership will decreasesignificantly due to restructuring.

In 2006, capital investment in these plantationsstood at R16 billion, 55% of which was attributableto investment in trees. A further 23,3% was tied upin land, 13% in roads, 7,2% in fixed assets and1,4% in machinery and equipment.

Plantation yieldsOf the 1 333 563 ha of plantations in 2005, 54%were softwood species and 46% hardwoodspecies. Some 38% of the plantation area wasmanaged mainly for sawlog production, 56% forpulpwood and 3% for mining timber, while thebalance of 3% was grown for the production ofpoles, matchwood (poplar) and other minorproducts. Plantation yields vary from an average of16 m3 per ha per year for softwood, to 21 m3 per haper year for eucalyptus and 10 m3 per ha per yearfor wattle (timber and bark).

Likewise, the rotation ages vary from amaximum of 30 years in the case of pine sawlogs,to six to 10 years in the case of eucalyptus pulp andmining timber.

Production from plantations amounted to some22 million m3 in 2005.

Primary wood-processingSouth Africa has 211 primary wood-processingplants, 206 of which are owned by the privatesector and five of which are owned by local andstate authorities. Of these, some 115 are sawmills;16 mining-timber sawmills; 49 pole-treatingplants; 25 pulp, paper and board mills; one matchfactory; and five charcoal plants. The totalroundwood intake into these processing plants in2005 was 23,6 million m3 valued at R5 billion. Thevalue of sales of timber products produced by theseprimary processing plants totalled R15,025 billion.Some R16,3 billion was invested in primaryroundwood-processing plants (at book value). Atmarket value, this increased to an estimatedR35 billion.

The pulp industry in South Africa is dominated bytwo main pulp-and-paper manufacturing companies,Sappi and Mondi. They rank among the largest in thesouthern hemisphere, own assets in many parts ofthe world, and are internationally listed.

The saw-milling industry produces sawn timber,which is used in producing solid wood products,such as lumber for roof trusses, flooring, etc. andconsumer products such as furniture. The furnitureindustry consumes about 250 000 m3 of mainlyindustrial timber.

A large number of companies operate in thissector, with the five biggest companies contributing

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51% of total production. Some 52% of total sawntimber is produced in Mpumalanga.

Research and trainingSouth Africa has world-class forestry-researchinfrastructure and personnel, with almost 2% of theforestry industry’s turnover (private and publicsectors) devoted to research. The priority fields ofresearch include tree-breeding through appliedsilviculture, climate and soils, environmentalimpact and management solutions, forest biology,hydrology and forest protection.

The major institutes servicing the researchneeds of the industry are the Institute ofCommercial Forestry Research in Pietermaritzburg,the Forestry and Agriculture BiotechnologyInstitute, and the Council for Scientific andIndustrial Research in Pretoria. The NationalBiodiversity Institute also plays an important role interms of species protection.

The total annual forest-sector research anddevelopment investment in South Africa isapproximately R163 million, more than 80% ofwhich is funded by the commercial forest industry.

The faculties of agricultural and forestrysciences at the universities of Stellenbosch,KwaZulu-Natal and Venda offer forestry degrees.The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University(George Saasveld Campus) offers diplomas andlimited degree courses in forestry disciplines. TheNatal University of Technology offers a diploma inPulp and Paper Technology, and the Fort CoxCollege of Agriculture and Forestry a diploma inSocial Forestry.

Skills training is provided by a number ofindustry-sponsored and in-house training centres.Industry-sponsored bursaries are available, as arecompany-sponsored bursaries for study at theseinstitutions.

The Forest Industries Education and TrainingAuthority (Fieta) is, among other things, responsiblefor ensuring that the training undertaken by theindustry meets certain quality standards. It alsomanages the distribution of training grants toemployers and to Fieta-sponsored projects whichwill help meet the goals of the National SkillsDevelopment Strategy within the sector.

Over the past two years, the department,together with Fieta, has been offering bursaries tostudents who choose to study in the forestry field.

Community forestryThe White Paper on Sustainable Forest Develop-ment in South Africa states that community forestry

is designed and applied to meet local social,household and environmental needs and to favourlocal economic development.

Community forestry is implemented bycommunities or with the participation ofcommunities, and includes tree-centred projects inurban and rural areas, woodlots, and woodlandmanagement by communities and individuals.Community forestry has gained impetus throughmore focused core functions, particularly in urbangreening and forest enterprise development.

Participatory Forest Management (PFM) of theDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry is anintegrated approach that contributes to achievingthe SFM of South African forests.

Elements of PFM were initially developed forindigenous state forests. However, the aim is to usePFM as an approach to managing all forest typeswhere feasible (indigenous forests, plantations,woodlots and woodlands) and where different typesof ownership and management (state, provincial,communal, private and community) exist.

Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA)FTFA is the sub-Saharan African partner of GlobalReleaf, an international greening organisation.

FTFA’s mission is to contribute to a healthy and sustainable quality of life for all, throughenvironmental awareness and greeningprogrammes.

Since its inception in 1990, FTFA has developed,managed and promoted numerous sustainablegreening programmes, including land-usemanagement and food security throughpermaculture.

FTFA works in partnership with government, theprivate and public sectors, and civil society.

FTFA attempts to provide trees to as manyunderserved communities as possible with the helpof sponsors and certificate programmes.

The Urban Greening Fund is managed by theFTFA, the departments of water affairs and forestryand of agriculture, and the Institute of Environmentand Recreation Management. It was set up withdonor funds, which included R1,2 million from theDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry.

It is a collective fund that supports partnershipsaimed at sustainable development through treeplanting, parks, food-gardening projects andenvironmental education.

Organisations, companies and individuals cancontribute to the fund to help disadvantaged SouthAfricans to create a greener, healthier and moresecure life.

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SA YEARBOOK 2007/08 | WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY22AcknowledgementsDepartment of Water Affairs and ForestryEstimates of National Expenditure, 2007, published by National TreasuryForestry South AfricaSouth African Forestry Company LimitedWater Research Commissionwww.csir.co.zawww.dwaf.gov.zawww. forestry.co.zawww.gov.zawww.trees.org.zawww.southafrica.info

Suggested readingBate, R and Tren, T. The Cost of Free Water. Johannesburg: Free Market Foundation, 2002.Coates Palgrave, K and M. Everyone’s Guide to Trees of South Africa. 4th revised ed. Cape Town: Struik, 2002.Draft Key Issues Paper on Forestry and Poverty in South Africa, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 2005.Ferns, Foliage and the Foliage Industry; A Sub-Sector Analysis, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 2003.Genesis Analytics, The Contribution, Costs and Development Opportunities for the Forestry, Timber, Pulp and

Paper Industries in South Africa, 2005.Lawes, M. et al. eds. Indigenous Forests and Woodlands in South Africa. Scottsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal

Press, 2004.McCullum, H. ed. Biodiversity of Indigenous Forests and Woodlands in South Africa. Maseru: Southern African

Development Community/International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/Southern African Research and Documentation Centre, 2000.

Manufactured Timber Products: A Sub-Sector Analysis, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 2003.Pakenham, T. Remarkable Baobab. Cape Town: Sunbird (Jonathan Ball), 2004.Study of Supply and Demand of Industrial Roundwood in South Africa, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry,

2005.Systematic Conservation Planning for the Forest Biome of South Africa, October, 2005.Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik, 1997.Venter, F and Venter, J. Making the Most of Indigenous Trees. Pretoria: Briza Publications, 1999.