Agb Adjunkspeaker, die Langkloof voer jaarliks meer as R400 miljoen se vrugte na Europa uit. Di uitvoere onderhou sowat 1 500 werkers. Die Koukamma-munisipaliteit in die gebied het funksioneel en finansieel in duie gestort, en daarmee saam onder andere die instandhouding van die rioolstelsels in die gebied.
Ek was gister daar. Rou riool loop langs huise verby, loop in strate af en vorm poele waar kinders speel. Die riool syfer nou af na die boere se besproeiingsdamme en sal uiteindelik ook die Nelson Mandela-metropool se waterbronne besmet.
Die boere kan hulle uitvoersertifisering, die GATT, na Europa verloor. As dit gebeur, stort die hele ekonomie in die Langkloof in duie.
Tot dusver reageer die Oos-Kaapse regering net eenvoudig nie, ook nie die Kantoor van die Premier, met wie ek direk geskakel het nie. Die Minister vir Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering gooi 'n dowe oor en die Minister van Omgewingsake en Toerisme was, lyk dit my, sy hande in onskuld. Ek moedig nou die gemeenskap aan om regstappe teen die regering te doen.
Agb lede, help red hierdie mense in die Langkloof van ondergang, want u regering doen dit ni. [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Dr J T DELPORT (DA): Hon Deputy Speaker, the Langkloof annually exports fruit to the value of more than R400 million to Europe. The Koukamma Municipality in the area has collapsed functionally and financially, bringing about, amongst other things, the breakdown of the maintenance of the sewerage systems in the area.
I was there yesterday. Untreated sewerage runs past houses, runs down into the streets and forms pools where children play. The sewerage is now trickling down to the farmers' irrigation dams and will eventually also pollute the water reservoirs of the Nelson Mandela Metropole.
The farmers can lose their export certification, the GATT, to Europe. If that happens, the entire Langkloof economy will collapse.
Up to now the Eastern Cape government has simply not responded, and neither has the Office of the Premier, whom I have contacted directly. The Minister for Provincial and Local Government turns a deaf ear and, it seems to me, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism washes his hands of the matter. I am now encouraging the community to institute legal proceedings against the government.
Hon members, help to save these people of the Langkloof from ruin, because your government is not doing it. [Interjections.]]
Order! Hon members, please lower your voices. Order!