Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, colleagues, members of the House, it is the first time that I come and respond to questions. At the same time, I see that my colleague Madam Ntwanambi has a fresh look in terms of her hair. [Laughter.] Clearly, it tells me then that things are changing.
The question I am expected to respond to is the question of ... [Interjections.]
May I correct one mistake. We are starting with hon Mokgobi.
Yes, thank you very much.
With regard to the issue of the Western Cape, I was informed by hon member Marius Fransman about the issue of water cuts in this metro municipality. Subsequent to that I went to speak in an interview that was held on Parliament: A View from the House on SABC 2, where people raised the same issue - that water had been cut.
After that I was invited by the community of Mitchells Plain. When I went there, I found something that was shocking to my system. I discovered a situation where water had been cut and was still being cut at that particular time by the metro. I found that to be very strange because it is unconstitutional and illegal for anybody not to provide water to the citizens of this country.
From there I also went to the community of Site C in Khayelitsha, where about 5 000 people in the centre of the City of Cape Town Metro Municipality don't have any sanitation. There are no toilets. When they have to relieve themselves, they must go to the veld or to the N2 road. This is happening in the City of Cape Town Municipality. I also found that this community of 5 000 people has only four water taps.
We also went to another area called Lwandle, where people are living in new houses. However, these are waterlogged houses, which basically means that they are living in water in that area. People therefore experience a lot of illnesses because of the conditions they live in. During rainy days water from the gravesite flows into the houses of the people.
Subsequent to that I then established an intergovernmental task team, led by Mr Jazz Mokoena, to look at the issues. The task team comprises the provincial government and the metro municipality. I have seen propaganda in the media where it is alleged that ANC members cut water before I arrived. That is propaganda to us. The task team has been requesting people to come forward and provide evidence regarding the water that has been cut so that we can deal with the issues.
When I was there, I also saw excessively high water bills. We said that the team from the national government, the provincial government and the municipality must look at the matter. We told them to work together in finding out where the problem is so that they can ask for solutions. As the Ministry, we are not interested in petty political issues. We are rising above those. Our task is to focus on service delivery. Our task is to ensure that we improve the quality of the lives of our people.
However, people must understand that we won't spare any effort against anybody from any party, including the opposition. If there is any wrong doing by the opposition, we will deal with them without fear, favour or prejudice. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA: Sekela-sihlalo, ndiyabulela. Mphathiswa, ingaba olo phando luzakuqhubekela nakwezinye iilokishi zomasipala ombaxa ngoba asiyoKhayelitsha kunye ne-Mitchells Plain kuphela? Ukuba ungaya eGugulethu, abantu abaninzi baphethe iileta ezipinki, baphethe amaphepha okucinyelwa amanzi.