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design phase of projects. Any additional infrastructure necessary to upgrade the service
however, will not be regarded as part of the basic needs system - with cost implications
for the residents.
The White Paper was less specific on sanitation guidelines, pending policy decisions inter
alia on housing schemes*. The point was stressed that sanitation must be viewed in the
broader context of health and hygiene education. The immediate priority is to provide
sanitation services to all households in a manner which meets health requirements, as well
as environmental parameters in terms of surface and groundwater quality. It was
acknowledged that conventional waterborne sanitation in most cases, is not viable and
achievable in the short term (due to cost). Adequate basic sanitation was defined as one
properly constructed and maintained VIP toilet per household. Responsibility for the
implementation and management of sanitation services falls within the jurisdiction of local
authorities. The Department, or other agencies such as the water boards, will only act if
there is no local authority - but only to establish a local delivery capacity. Residents
seeking Government subsidies must provide evidence of widespread individual household
support for the proposed scheme, including a financial contribution. A labour based
approach to sanitation provision, using local labour and materials, was recommended.
Second tier agencies including water boards will be required to train selected residents for
the operation and maintenance of sanitation (and water) schemes. All sanitation projects
must be in accordance with recognized housing standards.
The White Paper also provides information on costs, subsidies and tariffs for basic services
(see the beginning of this chapter). The vexing question of State subsidies is receiving
considerable attention and a definitive policy will only be finalized at some future date.
Subsidies accordingly, are not discussed in any detail in this publication, but should be
included in a second edition. In essence, the policy of the Department is that water and
sanitation schemes should be self-financing at a local and regional level * *. The only
exception concerns poor communities who are unable to afford basic services. In such
cases, the Department may subsidize the capital costs of construction of basic (minimum)
services - excluding operating, maintenance and replacement costs.
*
**
A draft White Paper on sanitation policy IDl! se will be released in the near future.
For a discussion of some implications at local government level, see: Thompson, B., Palmer, I. and
Eberhard, R., 1996. Financial modelling of municipal services in Souttl African towns, Development
Souttlern Africa. VOl 13151, p. 745 - 758.