The Department of Water and Sanitation conducted their first public consultation in Upington on Tuesday, 30 January 2024 to gather input on the amendment of the National Water Act and Water Services Act. The department says these consultations will be conducted until 01 March 2024 and will also continue in all other provinces to engage with the public in ensuring that the legislation benefits both the current and future generations of the country. The Northern Cape provincial Head of Department, Iketletso Lekalake led the first public consultation and expressed the aim of the initiative stating the following........... INSERT [AIM OF WAS] Lekalake encouraged communities to engage in public consultations. She says it is the residents that needs the transformation and can thus contribute towards the transformation.........INSERT [Community benefit WAS] Lekalake goes on to say that the nationwide public consultations are intended to be open, inclusive, and accessible to the public at every stage of the engagement process. She concludes by stating that written comments can still be sent and that final input will be shared before to the new bill's final approval..... INSERT [FEEDBACK WAS] 

Journalist: Tasha-Ree Kella
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