Purpose: The purpose of the Directorate: Reserve Determination is to develop and implement policies, strategies, systems, methodologies and guidelines to facilitate the determination of Reserves of water resources

Description of functions:

Chapter 3 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) makes provision for the preliminary determination of the Reserve and class before any water use license can be issued. Once the regulations for the water resources classification and a water resource classification system have been published, where appropriate, the class of a resource, the Reserve and resource quality objectives must be determined by the Minister.

• a) Determination of the Reserve (Section 16 of the NWA), and
• b) Preliminary determinations of the Reserve (Section 17 of NWA)

The service rendered by the Directorate: Reserve Determination can thus be outlined as follows:

• Develop and implement policies, strategies, systems, methodologies and guidelines for reserve requirements.
• Determining and updating the ecological class of all significant water resources.
• Scientific and Reserve Requirements (RR) related support for the implementation of strategic imperatives (i.e. Masterplan, NWRSS and NDP).
• Development and maintenance of strategic relationships within the department and with other organs of state, NGO’s and stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain the necessary RR support required to fulfil this function.
• Financial planning according to PFMA and MTEF.

Status of Reserve Determinations