REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA 302. Factors linked to previous discriminatory practices still prevent the free disposal of water to all people. For instance, the lack of necessary infrastructure in rural areas and the lack of effective cost-recovery programs are challenges. 303. Linked to the access of safe water and the right to sanitation is the issue of acid mine drainage in South Africa. It is a phenomenon caused by a series of chemical reactions that occur between water and sulphite minerals which combine to form sulphuric acid solution. It is most prevalent in areas where mining has exposed fresh sulphite minerals to elements and in South Africa it is notably in the gold fields, various coal and copper mines. A December 2011 report on mine water management in the Witwatersrand gold fields to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on mine management, the main risks identified with regards to the above problem were risks owing to the flooding of mines and risks owing to the decanting of acid mine drainage to the environment. The generic approach suggested to the management of this issue focuses on three priority areas: decant prevention and management, ingress control in terms of the reduction of the rate of flooding and central decant volume, finally water quality management. 304. With regards to water infrastructure, progress has been made with regard to Water Augmentation Schemes and the rehabilitation of 9 out of 25 dams has been completed. Progress has also been made to address water licence backlogs. Securing adequate funding for water infrastructure through an appropriate pricing strategy is a focus area. 88