Hon Speaker, Umkhanyakude remains dry. On 30 October 2008, the IFP released a statement concerning the lack of access to water that the residents of the Umkhanyakude district had been struggling with. Exactly five years later, nothing has happened, despite the numerous promises made - and broken - by the government to the people of Umkhanyakude. Those promises have gone unfulfilled and will probably be resurrected for the benefit of the upcoming elections.
People have been reduced to fetching water from rivers because the water schemes at Shemula and KwaJobe are dysfunctional. It seems the tactic of government, especially of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, is to promise the people one thing to get votes while, in reality, they will be forgotten once the government gets what it wants.
This issue goes beyond political affiliation. People are suffering because leaders are refusing to take responsibility for the promises they made to get people's votes. People will continue to disrupt government, and even the electoral process, if this situation is allowed to continue. I thank you.
