Johannesburg:The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is set to host a public consultation on Tuesday regarding the review of the Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services (SFWSS). This initiative aims to enhance service delivery across South Africa.
According to South African Government News Agency, the consultation will take place at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre. It will provide stakeholders the chance to comment on the draft framework and contribute to shaping the future of water and sanitation services.
The SFWSS, originally established in 2003, offers a structured approach to delivering constitutionally mandated water services throughout South Africa. After over twenty years, the department is reviewing the framework to better address the current realities and provide updated strategic guidance.
Cabinet has approved the draft SFWSS for public comment, inviting the public as well as interested stakeholders to help guide the future of water and sanitation service delivery in the country. The revised framework aims to offer sustainable, reliable, equitable, and inclusive services, addressing policy, legislative, institutional, environmental, and social changes since 2003.
The draft framework prioritizes several areas, including sanitation, gender, climate change, environmental and financial sustainability, digital transformation, and services to communities on privately owned land. It also aims to tackle inequalities affecting vulnerable communities.
The department emphasized that this consultation is part of a broader public participation process, allowing stakeholders to engage with the proposed strategic direction, priorities, and targets in the draft SFWSS. Following the consultation period, the department will review and consider the submissions before finalizing the framework.