Hon Speaker, the lack of adequate water in Jozini in the Umkhanyakude district is a mounting crisis that has been made worse by a crippling drought in the area. At times, the water crisis is so severe that even the local hospitals have to make do without water.
The Umkhanyakude Municipality has written numerous letters to the national government seeking assistance, but has received no reply to date. The municipality is also currently R16 million in the red due to the fact that it has had to hire water tanks from suppliers at a very high cost. Yet, the nearby Jozini Dam, which has the capacity to deliver water to the community, remains unutilised for reasons unknown to us.
The IFP, therefore, calls on government to immediately intervene in the crisis, and we call upon the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to visit the area as a matter of urgency to meet with the mayor and his executive committee members.
Furthermore, we call upon the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs to assist the Umkhanyakude Municipality in repaying the millions in debt, and to urgently give the municipality the necessary assistance they need to create a viable and sustainable water supply for the community. I thank you.