Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)Chapter XI : General Powers and Duties of Minister73. General powers of Minister |
| (1) | The Minister may— |
| (a) | acquire a water services work and may transfer or dispose of any water services work belonging to the National Government; |
| (b) | construct, operate, alter or repair any water services work with the permission of the relevant water services institution; |
| (c) | contract with any person to perform any work which the Minister is authorised to perform under this Act; |
| (d) | act as a water services provider under contract or approval only if the relevant water services authority is unable to provide the water services; |
| (e) | provide water services in emergency situations; |
| (f) | perform the functions of a water services authority or water board; |
| (g) | levy tariffs for water services provided by him or her; |
| (h) | issue guidelines to water services institutions on performing their functions in terms of this Act; |
| (i) | issue model conditions for the provision of services for use by water boards and water services committees; |
| (j) | prescribe measures to be taken by water services institutions to conserve water; |
| (k) | prescribe how any matter arising out of the repeal of any law by this Act must be dealt with, to the extent that this Act or any other law does not sufficiently provide for it; and |
| (l) | on good cause, extend any time period provided for in this Act. |
| (2) | No water services work owned by the Minister may be transferred or disposed of— |
| (a) | without the approval of Parliament if its value exceeds an amount specified by notice in the Gazette from time to time by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance; or |
| (b) | without prior consultation with all affected water services institutions, if its value is within the specified amount. |
| (3) | The Minister acts on behalf of the National Government in owning, taking transfer or disposing of any water services work. |