KUGOMPO CITY- Emerging farmers have appealed to the Eastern Cape Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to make raw water more affordable after the department launched public consultations on proposed tariffs for the 2027/28 financial year and the following two years.
The consultations, led by the Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Catchment Management Agency (MTCMA), got under way at International Convention Centre(ICC) in KuGompo City on Monday in accordance with Section 56(1) of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).
The engagement brought together representatives from municipalities, agriculture, industry and other water users to discuss proposed raw water tariffs for the 2027/28, 2028/29 and 2029/30 financial years before they are submitted for approval.
Addressing stakeholders, MTCMA Chief Executive Officer Themba Ngubeni said the annual consultation process was intended to ensure transparency in the setting of water tariffs and to give users an opportunity to understand and comment on the proposed charges.
“Today we are gathered here for the annual consultation session with all the raw water users for the financial years 2027/2028, 2028/2029 and 2029/2030,” Ngubeni said.
He explained that the consultation was a legal requirement aimed at ensuring openness in how tariffs are determined.
“We are mandated by Section 56 of the National Water Act to conduct consultations and to be transparent about how we arrive at the budget, the cost drivers and what informs the tariff that is going to be charged to all raw water users,” he said.
According to the agency, the proposed tariffs include charges for water resource management and national water resources infrastructure. Once stakeholder comments have been received, the proposals will be submitted to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Economic Regulator before being forwarded to the Minister for approval.
While participants welcomed the opportunity to engage with officials, concerns about affordability dominated discussions, particularly from representatives of the agricultural sector.
Chairperson of the Zanyokhwe Irrigation Scheme Board, Dr. Litha Matiwane said the consultation had improved stakeholders understanding of how water tariffs are calculated but stressed that more support was needed for emerging farmers.
“The workshop brought information that improved our understanding of how these costs are determined and also gave us an opportunity to raise our inputs,” Dr. Matiwane said.
He appealed to the department to consider reducing costs for new entrants into farming.
“What I would like to voice out is that at least for the farmers who are still upcoming, the cost must come down a little,” he said.
Matiwane said affordable access to water was critical for developing farmers and would contribute to food security, job creation and rural economic growth.
Department of Water and Sanitation official Fumani Khoza, who is responsible for Institutional and Stakeholder Engagement, said the consultation process would continue in communities across the Eastern Cape to ensure broader public participation.
“We will go to the people and assist them in registrations,” Khoza said.
He added that transport would be arranged for residents who are unable to travel to consultation venues, making it easier for communities to participate in the process.
Khoza emphasised that the tariff document currently under discussion remains a proposal and encouraged all stakeholders to submit comments before the consultation process concludes.
He said contact details of departmental officials would be shared to enable continued engagement, monitoring and enforcement.
The Department of Water and Sanitation is expected to host further consultation sessions across the Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Water Management Area before the proposed raw water tariffs are finalised and submitted for ministerial approval.
Sthabile Sambela
14 July 2026
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