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Click on one of the links below to view the details.....
· 2010 Year Plan
· Dates and Themes
· Agendas
· Maps
Background
During the drought period of 1995 Rand Water established various forums as a communications vehicle between them and their bulk customers, including various relevant stakeholders in the water sector. The Forums have been inclusive of the entire water sector in Rand Water’s area of supply and representatives included both politicians and officials.
Since then there has been new developments in the water sector. There have been changes in legislation that necessitated a critical review of Rand Water’s position in the supply chain. Rand Water is now positioning itself as the “preferred” provider of water services and related products to its customers.
The capacity of municipalities to recover water related costs still remains a major challenge. This is a challenge that Rand Water has to face in order to ensure that all customers in its area of supply are capacitated to enable them to pay for bulk water and related service products. The partnership between Rand Water and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) will also assist municipalities with improvements in their cost recovery programmes.
The Forums that are presently in operation are: Water Services, Mining, and Industry Forums. These Forums are essentially meant to inform direct customers and industry customers of issues and challenges related to the supply of water in their areas.
Rand Water has sought the services of Regional Account Executives to service Municipal, Industry and Mine customers to ensure that communication channels are constantly open.
Objectives of the Forums
The Forums are a vehicle of communications with Rand water customers. Its main objectives are to educate the customers on all water related matters and create debate around relevant topics. The outcomes of this should be for Forums and Forum members to make inputs and influence decisions in the water sector.
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The Forums are also used as a marketing and communications vehicle for both Rand water and its Customers as both parties give presentations on relevant topics that are covered. This improves the provision of services through competition as all stakeholders are aware of what their counterparts are doing and to what extent that affects them.
Forums should be viewed as “Superior Knowledge Transfer Centers”.
Partnership with Municipalities
It is very important that Rand Water builds strong partnerships with its customers. The Forums play a role in strengthening the partnerships between Rand Water and its customers and between Municipalities themselves.
Rand Water is playing a major role in terms of assisting municipalities with any service related challenges that they may face. The Water Cycle Management section in Rand Water ensures that these projects are effectively managed. (See partnerships)
4 Stakeholders
The following stakeholders are members of the Forums:
· Department of Water and Environmental Affairs
· Gauteng Association of Local Government
· Municipalities (District and Local in Rand Water’s area of supply).
· Provincial Department of Local Government
· Department of Provincial and Local Government.
· SANCO
· Chamber of Mines
· Labour (SAMWU).
· Some Key role players from the Industries.
· NGO’s
5 Memberships
Presently membership is limited to politicians and officials. Decision-making and reporting back to Councils and various structures is an important part of the Forums. Each institution mandates representatives and also ensures that they attend and give constant feedback on the activities of the Forums.
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