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the Board will assume control (perhaps on a caretaker basis) for certain settlements in
KwaZulu.
The Department of National Health and Population Development, in terms ofthe Health Act
No. 63 of 1977, is the local authority in all areas of Natal where there is no proclaimed
local authority. The responsibility of the Department in these so-called Section 30 areas
is inter alia to provide advisory health services. No "hard" services (clinics excepted) are
supplied. Environmental management undertaken by the Department includes water as
well as sanitation and pollution in general, with an emphasis on the prevention of
communicable diseases. Where development in an area passes beyond a certain point,
local government responsibility is assumed by another form of local authority, which is
usually the Development and Services Board. The Department will provide advice and
assistance in areas controlled by a local authority, if specifically requested to do so by that
authority. The final local authority is the Natal Parks Board which is empowered by virtue
of the (Natal) Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 15 of 1974, to perform certain local
authority functions (including health), in areas under the jurisdiction of the Board.
The Water Services Advisory Board established in terms of the (Natal) Water Services
Ordinance No. 27 of '1963, was originally designated as the controlling/advisory body for
the (former) Regional Water Services Corporations. The corporations became part of the
Joint Services Boards in 1991. The Joint Services Boards therefore "inherited" the powers
of the former corporations as described in the Ordinance. The Joint Services Boards
accordingly, must make application to the Water Services Advisory Board for permission
to increase tariffs, or to raise loans to finance new reticulation schemes, or to upgrade
existing facilities. Certain technical (engineering) matters likewise, fall under the authority
of the Advisory Board. Small local authorities can approach the Board for financial advice,
and financial or technical assistance.
While the Natal Provincial Administration and the KwaZulu Government (see below), plus
the two water boards in Natal, the various local authorities, the Joint Services Boards and
the Department ofWater Affairs and Forestry all play important roles with regard to water
supplies, it is the KwaZulu/Natal Joint Executive Authority - established by the Joint
Executive Authority for KwaZuluand Natal Act No. 80 of 1986 - which provides an overall
liaison/co-ordinating function for the two regions. Such co-ordination includes water and
other infrastructure. Co-operation is enhanced by the Republic of South Africa-KwaZulu