The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has resolved to engage the Minister of Water and Sanitation on the reported financial challenges facing the department.

The process will start with the gathering of information from Members of Parliament within the Committee and any other source with information on the root causes of the alleged challenges.

“To facilitate an informed engagement the Committee saw it appropriate to empower members with all the necessary information. The Committee was alarmed by the reports, especially because of the centrality of water provision in socio-economic development,” said Mr Mlungisi Johnson, the Chairperson of the Committee.

The Committee has set a deadline of Friday, 17 February 2017, for the gathering and distribution of the information to MPs. Following this, the Committee will determine an appropriate date to summon the Minister to appear before the Committee.

“Our main aim is to expedite this process as it deals with the handling of the public purse, which by law must always be handled with care and consideration,” Mr Johnson concluded.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Mr Mlungisi Johnson