Volume II - The Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development ...

Northern Cape PSDF
Volume 2
December 2011
In terms of the proposed model, the Minister of Water Affairs will retain the responsibility to
establish various water sector institutions through consultation with various government
and water sector stakeholders.
Map C.3: Water management institutional arrangements (Source: Department of Water
Affairs).
C.2.2 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
The Northern Cape borders on Namibia and Botswana. Most of the rivers shared with
Botswana are ephemeral due to very low rainfall figures, but the Province shares a
significant part of the Orange River with Namibia. Chapter 10 of the 1998 National Water
Act, 36 of 1998, discusses issues related to international water management and outlines
the establishment of institutional bodies to implement international agreements with
respect to the management and development of shared water resources with neighbouring
countries. It outlines the key governance functions, reporting requirements, and
management of financial affairs. The key functions of such bodies are as follows:
• Investigating, managing, monitoring and protecting water resources.
• Regional cooperation on water resources.
• Acquiring, constructing, altering, operating or maintaining a water work.
• Allocation, use, and supply of water.
At the time of the promulgation of the National Water Act, the Noordoewer Joint Irrigation
Authority, which was established through an agreement on 14 September 1992 with the
Office of the Premier &
Department of Rural Development & Land Reform
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Dennis Moss Partnership