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Lindiwe Sisulu, the human settlements, water and sanitation minister, is in line for a new advisory committee, the fourth group of advisers allocated to her since the sixth administration of government started in May last year.
City Press has seen a departmental recommendation prepared last week for Sisulu, requesting approval for the appointment of a new ministerial advisory committee on water services.
Among the water experts tipped to advise Sisulu – at a projected annual cost of R9.2 million which taxpayers will fund – is her political associate Mphumzi Mdekazi (R1.7 million) and former Kaizer Chiefs public relations officer Putco Mafani (R1.7 million).
The remaining two candidates are Clifford Derrick (R1.7 million) – whom insiders in the department said had been brought in as a videographer – and Patrick Ritshuri (R1.7 million).
The committee chairperson candidate is mentioned as Mr G Nkwinti, whose projected salary will amount to R2.4 million.
According to internal documents, “a member of the committee will be remunerated for subsistence, travel and other expenses”. A key requirement was that “members of the committee shall ... have a proven and clear understanding and experience of South Africa’s water services”.
The appointments would be linked to Sisulu’s term of office and were effective from last Sunday.
The recommendation was signed by director-general Mbulelo Tshangana on February 23 and by David Mahlobo, the deputy minister of water and sanitation, the next day.
The department said on Thursday that Sisulu had “not yet approved the appointment of the proposed committee [and] as such we cannot run departmental matters through the media”.
Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau confirmed that all the individuals met the criteria of being experts in water services.
Notwithstanding the above, said Ratau, “the minister is empowered by legislation to appoint such an advisory committee”.
“The water and sanitation challenges we face as a country are massive and the minister might employ multiple pairs of hands to ensure that such challenges of access to water, as a basic right of the people, are delivered to citizens,” Ratau said.
Sisulu was “responsible for two, very big and service delivery-driven departments, thus the need for such committees”.
Last December, City Press reported that Sisulu had been accused of orchestrating a jobs-for-pals scheme. Mdekazi was one of the people earmarked for a chief director post in the department, which critics in the department described as a “reward”.
The department confirmed on Thursday that both Mdekazi and Xolisile Mbada were employed as “additional to the establishment” in line with the public service regulations for a short-term post of one year.
Internal government documents showed that, as far back as November, efforts were under way to identify suitable posts for Mbada and Mdekazi to be appointed “permanent to the establishment”, but formal recruitment processes had to be followed.
Mdekazi was widely regarded as the key driver and chief fundraiser for Sisulu’s political ambitions – including a potential relaunch of the ANC presidency campaign.
Mbada was referred to as Sisulu’s “former bodyguard”.
. The right of access to basic water supply and the right to basic sanitation necessary to secure sufficient water and within an environment not harmful to human health or wellbeing;
. Setting up national standards and norms and standards for tariffs in respect of water services;
. Preparing and adopting a water services development plan by authorities;
. A regulatory framework for water services institutions and water services intermediaries;
. Establishing and disestablishing water boards and water services committees and their duties and powers;
. Monitoring interventions with regard to water services institutions;
. Providing financial assistance to water services institutions; and
. Promoting effective water resource management and conservation.
The document, signed by Mahlobo and Tshangana, included a request that the recommendations be sent to the chief financial officer for a signature.
The side notes on the document indicated that the profiles of the panel members would be included in the record for “ease of reference”.
“It is suggested that gender imperatives are taken into account,” another note said.
Insiders said other advisory groups that worked with Sisulu include the rapid response team, the water advisory panel and the human settlements panel.
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