R1.5 billion has been allocated to dam safety and rehabilitation programmes, says the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
This announcement was made by department minister Lindiwe Hendricks, following recent media reports which suggested serious problems with the country's water supply, including radioactive contamination, unsafe dams and waste spills.
"The Sunday Times on 3 February 2008 presents a gloomy picture of the state of water in South Africa and says that we are facing a water crisis similar to that of electricity. Fortunately we are not," said Hendricks.
Hendricks acknowledged that the article raised some important concerns but said that it did not outline all the measures and responses being taken by her department to address these issues.
Speaking to SABC News, Hendricks said department officials have conducted an investigation on the status of all the country’s dams and have identified 160 that currently do not meet safety standards.
The department is implementing appropriate clean-up programmes and local authorities have been instructed to provide communities affected by contaminated water, with safe drinking water.
Currently 43 dam safety and rehabilitation projects are underway.
Sapa
Steuart has done some 500 talks on South Africa's progress since 1994 and SA's prospects for the future' 
