PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON WATER AND FORESTRY International Water and Forestry Agreements

DWAF’S RELATIONS WITH SADC DWAF relations with SADC countries started with the signing of the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems in August The management of internationally shared watercourses, in line with the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses in the SADC region is a top priority for DWAF.

The Revised Protocol sets the framework within SADC for future water resource development and management in shared watercourses. South Africa shares the four rivers with its neighbouring states: – – Orange – – Limpopo – – Incomati (Nkomati and Crocodile rivers) – – Maputo

The functions of SWI include: Facilitate joint basin studies, development plans and management plans Facilitate communication and the sharing of information Facilitate capacity building Facilitate procurement and management of funds, particularly from donors Recording of decisions, agreements and minutes Oversee the implementation of water sharing agreements

Shared Watercourse Institutions (River Basin Organisations) – RSA / Namibia / Lesotho / Botswana (ORASECOM) – Orange River – RSA / Mozambique / Botswana / Zimbabwe (LBPTC / LIMCOM) – Limpopo River – RSA / Mozambique / Swaziland (TPTC) – Incomati River & Maputo River – RSA / Lesotho (LHWC) – RSA / Swaziland (JWC) – RSA / Namibia (PWC) – RSA / Botswana (JPTC) – RSA / Mozambique (JWC)

ORANGE SENQU RIVER COMMISSION (ORASECOM) On 3 rd November 2000 Honourable Ministers established ORASECOM Each Member State is represented by three Commissioners.

ORASECOM MANDATE ORASECOM advises Member States on Integrated Water Resources Management in the Orange-Senqu River Basin, The Ministers instructed the Commission to work in good neighbourliness to achieve its objectives.

ORASECOM PROGRESS TO-DATE Development of its own Rules and Procedures Feasibility study for the establishment of a permanent ORASECOM Secretariat, Development of IWRM Plan for ORASECOM, Capacity building for ORASECOM.

BI-LATERAL COOPERATION Lesotho’s developments of Lowlands Water Scheme, Metolong Dam project, and Phase-II of Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Developments of Lower Orange River Management Study,

BI-LATERAL COOPERATION cont’ ORASECOM is kept informed about: Joint Permanent Technical Committee between Botswana and RSA. Permanent Water Commission between Namibia and RSA. Lesotho Highlands Water Commission.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROJECTS Botswana: Molopo Groundwater investigation and resource evaluation project, Feasibility study of the sustainable management of the Molopo-Nossob river system, Draft Agreement relating to the cross border water supply along the Molopo river.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROJECTS Lesotho: Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme, Metolong Dam Project, Direct abstraction from the Caledon River to augment Maseru Water Supply.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROJECTS Namibia: Feasibility studies completed for the: Tandjeskoppe Irrigation Project, Sendelingsdrif Irrigation Project, Brukkaros Irrigation Project.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROJECTS Republic of South Africa: Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Construction of a pipeline from Vaal Dam to Eastern Highveld

LIMPOPO RIVER BASIN  The Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LWC) Agreement was signed in June 2004  The first action will be to develop an integrated Water management strategy or plan for the basin.  UN Habitat has started with a project on sustainable land use planning for water and land management for disaster preparedness and vulnerability reduction in the Lower Limpopo River Basin.

INCOMATI & MAPUTO RIVERS BASIN  The Tripartite Interim Agreement between Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa (Incomaputo Interim Agreement) has been signed in 2002 at the World Water Summit on Sustainable Development.  Studies to implement the agreement are in progress.

COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE HAVE BILATERALS Bi-lateral relations with SADC countries and other African countries – RSA / Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission (JBCC) – RSA - Algeria BNC – RSA - Nigeria – RSA - Kenya – RSA - Rwanda Multilateral Africa Relations: SADC, African Union, NEPAD, AMCOW – SADC Water Sector – African Union – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – African Ministerial Council On Water (AMCOW) – Water and Food – Water and Energy

BILATERALS OUTSIDE AFRICA Current bilateral co-operation outside Africa  RSA - Cuba  RSA - China  RSA - Japan  RSA - Russia Bilateral co-operation under negotiations  RSA - Vietnam  RSA - Brazil  RSA - India

ROLE OF DWAF - PARTICIPATION IN AFRICAN MINISTERIAL COUNCIL ON WATER (AMCOW) – AMCOW established to promote integrated water resource management on Africa level – It is anticipated that AMCOW will be established as a Specialised Technical Committee of AU in the near future – AMCOW is instrumental in the development of the Africa water facility (AWF), a financing mechanism to make funds available to promote IWRM, water resource development and water services and sanitation development in Africa. – DWAF played a key role in the development in both AMCOW and AWF and will continue with it.

MULTILATERAL CO- OPERATION – Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) – World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) – 2002  Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) 2002 – 3 rd World Water Forum in Japan in 2003 – Commission on Sustainable Development in 2004/05 CSD 13 and 14 – Commission on Sustainable Development in 2006 – will focus on Energy – 4 th World Water Forum in Mexico in 2006

FORESTRY AGREEMENTS – SADC Protocol on Forestry – United Nations Forum on Forestry (UNFF) – Africa Forests Law Enforcement and Governance Declaration (AFLEG) – United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC)

THANK YOU