The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) of South Africa has recently revised the regulations for water use license applications to ensure equitable allocation of water resources and streamline the licensing process. The revised regulations were published on May 19, 2023, in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to reduce the processing time from 300 days to only 90 days.
Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala recently reaffirmed the South African government’s commitment to ensuring equitable water supply and dignified sanitation for all citizens. Their statements align with the country’s constitution and Minister Senzo Mchunu’s proposed budget for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
Mining houses in South Africa are urged to register their tailings dams to ensure compliance with dam safety regulations. The South African Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is updating its database of all tailings dams that meet the requirements to be classified as Dams with a Safety Risk.