Water. Desalination + reuse
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20 In Site September 2017 Water. desalination + reuse S o u t h A f r i c A M A r K E t o P P o r t u N i t i E S Base camp South Africa as a gateway South Africa can still be seen as a good base from which to access other markets in Africa, particularly the sub-Saharan countries includ- ing Namibia to the north-west, boasting a long South Atlantic coastline, and neighbouring Botswana to the north, which is landlocked. Across Africa, groundwater plays a significant role in water supply: Namibia is currently researching the potential of Ohangwena aquifer II; and Bot- swana is investing in a north-south pipeline to bring water from the new Dikgatlong Dam to capital city Gabarone. Namibia's ministry of finance brought in the new Public Procurement Act in April 2017, aimed at improving levels of exper- tise, leadership, accountability and legitimacy in public procurement, and representing a step forward for potential PPP projects. Water boards Bulk water suppliers are key South Africa's department of water and sanitation (DWS), part of the ministry of water and environment, and the department of human settlement, sets water policy nationally. Across the country, 15 government-run water boards provide bulk water to around 52 district and 231 local municipalities, and in certain cases also run retail water and sanitation services. The country's three largest water boards are Rand Water in the northern province of Gauteng; Umgeni Water in KwaZulu Natal province, which sells bulk potable water to six municipalities, including eThekwini Metro Municipality; and Overberg Water, Western Cape. In June 2017, minster for water and sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, dismissed the senior managers at Overberg Water following an investigation into allegations of financial irregularity, and suspended Umgeni Water's chief executive pending an investigation into alleged corruption. Water restrictions are in place in Kwa-Zulu-Natal as well as in Western Cape, owing to drought. People Critics speak out Minister of water and sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane is a committed ally of South Africa's president Jacob Zuma, who in August 2017 narrowly survived a parliamentary motion of no confidence amid allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement. Mokonyane is under direct fire from critics who claim that the national department of water and sanitation that she leads is failing. Activists group, Undoing Tax Abuse, is threatening to bring a legal case against Mokonyane over delays to the Lesotho Highland Water Project Phase Two, which they claim has impacted on water security in Gauteng Province. Meanwhile, South Africa's national treasury in June briefed parliament over unpaid bills at the department totalling ZAR 1.5 billion ($113 million). Dan Mashitisho, director general of the water and sanitation department, and second-in- command to Mokonyane, became another senior water official to be suspended by the minister, in July 2017, just six months a er he was appointed. Hitachi is piloting RemixWater in the city of Durban to 2020. The system combines seawater desalination and water reuse to produce drinking water.