Hon House Chairperson, hon members, in 1994, only 59% of the population had access to clean and safe drinking water. Twenty one years later in 2015, the country had progressed to a position where only 3,64 million South Africans did not have access to water. Today, that figure stands at approximately 3 million South Africans still without access to basic water services.
Although this decrease in the amount of citizens without access to water is laudable for this government, there remain considerable challenges not only in respect of delivering such services to many remote rural areas and informal settlements - but additionally, there is just as critical the challenge of ensuring that there is sufficient natural clean water supply for our current and steadily increasing population now and into perpetuity, which is compounded by the fact that South Africa is already a water scarce country.
The water challenge South Africa faces today as a nation is a composite one that is compounded upon by both micro domestic and macro international factors. The domestic factors fall under the ambit of the past legacy of exclusion under apartheid and resource allocation as well as current mismanagement by the current government of water infrastructure, centralism of power and lack of co- operative governance - particularly in respect of water resource management, lack of required skills and overarching endemic corruption in our public services. Added to this are other significant issues such as a steadily growing population which will require totally
different approaches to food production, of which clean water is an essential component.
Macro challenges in the main are centered around the ever-increasing threat of global climate change, the deleterious effects of which already challenge South Africa's water supply. The nation is situated within a georegion scientifically proven to become increasingly more prone to drought and aridity if climate change is not addressed globally and the increase in global mean temperatures are not limited to 2 C above preindustrial levels, whilst aiming more ambitiously at only 1,5 C rise.
Although South Africa has adequate legislation in place, it fails as regards the implementation and pragmatic actions required in order to fully realise and protect the rights as enshrined in the Constitution. The country must therefore take immediate steps to ensure the protection, sustainable use and continuity of its water supply now and into perpetuity for its current and future generations. [Time expired.]
As we contribute as members in this debate, I look at the contributions ... [Time expired.] Thank you.
Hon members, there are too many members standing around in the passages, please take your seats.
House Chair ...
Setswana:
Dumelang batlotlegi ba Palamente. Metsi ke botshelo. Diketekete tsa batho di ka tshela kwa ntle ga lerato mme e seng kwa ntle ga metsi. Motl Ngwezi, Motswana o buile a re, tselakgopo ga e latse nageng. Mathata a metsi mo nageng ya rona ke tlhobaboroko.
Re a dumela re le ANC, gape re a netefatsa re le MaAforikaborwa gore re le mokgatlho o mogolo wa badimo le batho, tlhobaboroko eno e tla nna bothata jwa maloba le maabane. Kgetsi ya tsie e kgonwa ka go tshwaraganelwa, gape sedikwa ke ntjapedi ga se thata.
English:
The ANC has over time being realistic about the enormity of inherited challenges within the water sector, which was depicted by unequal access to water and its associated benefits to the majority of the black citizens of our country. However, of value are the sound policies, legislation and programmes underpinning the water sector that has ensured that accessibility to water for all citizens is prioritised.
This is further illustrated in the effective drafting of legislation such as the National Water Act, the Water Services Act and various regulations that determine the effective governance of water in the county. The culmination of various policy design, legislation and programme implementation in the last few years has resulted in a valuable contribution by the National Planning Commission and the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation entitled the Draft National Water Security Framework. It therefore provides the basis for the future water security in the country with systematic and highly defined information on what the state needs to do to ensure that water scarcity for future generations is effectively attained.
As the framework argues and I quote:
Water security is not simply a state of adequate water, but rather a relationship that describes how individuals, households and communities navigate and transform hydrosocial relations to access the water that they need and in ways that support the sustained development of human capabilities and well being in the full breadth and scope.
The framework, together with the master plan, provides a blueprint for the sustainable water provisions to attain economic and social transformation to ensure equity in access to this valuable resource. This then begs the question, "What does water security means for the lived realities of the citizens of the country toward a prosperous economic and social development?" As clearly articulated in the ANC manifesto, the percentage of household with clean drinking water has increased, hon Ngwezi, from 51% in 1994 to 88% currently. We are a nation at work.
This is indeed an achievement that very few countries could and can achieve. Whilst looking at future scenarios, one has to be realistic that the climatological conditions such as erratic rainfall and increased demand by all sectors in the country create conditions for water insecurity in the country.
It is not only environmental factors that have a bearing on the future of our water security; but other threats such as failing and aging infrastructure which contributes to excessive water leaks, inadequate wastewater treatment, as well as poorly managed forestry, mining and agricultural activities that undermine the sustainability of water security in our country.
The state, more especially the Department Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, has over the years systematically worked toward ensuring a secure water supply for all citizens and to keep the economy going. Of course, the ruling party - the ANC, has attained this by ensuring that its policies address not only the inequity in water; but worked towards balancing water security in
our country for all citizens, not only currently, but for future social and economic purposes.
Setswana:
Melao le melawana e, ke yona e thusang Lefapha la Metsi le Kgelelo ya Leswe gore e tswe mo seemong se se sa jeseng di welang, mme e bone gore e aga bodiredi jwa metsi jo bo dirang le dipusoselegae go isa metsi kwa metseselegaeng ya rona. E netefatse gore bo dipusolesegae di na le bokgoni ba go aga metswedi e e tsepameng, e bile re rute go rotloetsa set?haba ka kakaretso gore ditirelo tseo ba di fitlhelelang, di a duelelwa.
Ga gona ka mokgwa o re ka akgang Afrikaborwa e e nonofileng kwa ntle ga gore re nne seoposengwe le set?haba. Botlhokotsebe mo mading a puso a bo fedisiwe gore baagi ba kwa Giyani, Hamanskraal le Vaalbank ba fitlhele metse a a nowang. Ke a leboga. [Nako e fedile.]
Chairperson, the ANC government must wake up.
Order hon members! Order!
South Africa is on the verge of a national water disaster, with drought, poor infrastructure maintenance, corruption and the lack of political will to act swiftly to prevent this disaster, worsening.
Afrikaans:
In die afgelope paar maande het krane leeggeloop in die meeste provinsies regoor die land.
English:
Scarce fresh water is decreasing in quality because of the increase in the pollution of our rivers and streams. And the culprits? Wastewater treatment works run by dysfunctional and corrupt municipalities with a licence to kill the environment.
Afrikaans:
En wat doen die ANC regering hieroor? Absoluut niks!
English:
Access to the secure, safe and sufficient source of fresh water is a fundamental requirement for the survival, wellbeing and socioeconomic development of all humanity; yet, government continues to act as if fresh water is an everlasting resource. Well, it's not. National government is the custodian of water resources on behalf of South Africans and government acts through the Minister to fulfill this constitutional mandate.
Afrikaans:
As die Minister en die Departement van Water en Sanitasie nie gaan optree om besoedelaars te stop om ons waterbronne te besoedel nie, is die Minister net so skuldig as diegene wat ons waterbronne besoedel.
English:
It is common knowledge that South Africa is a water- scarce country and therefore drought will play a crucial role in water supply. Despite the drought, the lack of infrastructure maintenance and the failure of infrastructure is a major contributor to our water crisis. We need to use less water! South Africa must become water wise and government must create public
awareness of the reality of the effects of climate change.
The delay of six years in phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlanda scheme is a classic example of how political interference harmed our water projects. Phase 2 was planned to be completed this year. The completion date has now moved to 2026, costing millions more to complete. While Nomvula Mokonyane was corrupting water, stopping the Clanwilliam Dam project and not assisting Cape Town with their water crisis, she also placed the rest of the country in danger of running dry.
Afrikaans:
Minister Nkwinti moes haar gemors kom regmaak en het opdrag gegee dat die konstruksie van die Clanwilliam Dam moet voortgaan, wat die projek met meer as twee jaar vertraag het.
English:
The City of Cape Town learnt the hard way that prevention is better than cure. The question is, did the ANC
government learn anything from this? It seems nothing at all!
While Cape Town and the greater Western Cape managed to narrow down water usage to prevent a disaster, danger still looms for the rest of the country reaching day zero.
The Minister needs to implement a water demand management strategy for municipalities, involving water meter replacement, pressure management, leak detections and free plumbing repairs for indigent households.
The country's nonrevenue water losses average at 41% with individual municipalities as high as 70%. Nonrevenue water losses cost us more than R9,9 billion per year. This, after spending R2,9 billion on the corrupt War on Leaks programme, and in the process not saving one drop of water.
Water infrastructure projects are also at risk, with municipalities owing the Department of Water and water boards R15,2 billion.
Afrikaans:
Stad Kaapstad het hul water verliese afgebring na 16% en spaar miljoene liters water elke dag. Hierdie is 'n baie goeie DA storie om te vertel.
English:
National government is failing to respond to this water disaster all around the country.
Afrikaans:
Dit is baie duidelik dat die ANC regering die bal laat val het om hul grondwetlike mandaat na te kom.
English:
In conclusion, the ANC government is failing South Africa, with millions of people struggling without water, not just because of drought but because of poor infrastructure, corruption and the mismanagement of our water.
Afrikaans:
ANC, julle moet wakker word! Suid-Afrika sal nie dag zero oorleef nie! [Tussenwerpsels.] [Applous.]
English:
Order! The next speaker is hon Ngwenya. [Interjections.] Order hon members!
Thank you House Chair. Our country and the Southern Africa region more generally, is at a crossroads and our society will have to make radical changes in the way we view life if humanity is to be sustained. Humanity has exhausted its credit limit on life and we survive on overdraft. We are injudiciously using more resources than nature can replenish ... life on earth. We are unable to use the little natural resources we have in a sustainable manner and we are failing to recognise just how much of a mess we are in.
The precarious state of our water resources is only a natural outcome of the climate pit we have dug for ourselves. It is closely related to the depletion of biodiversity; the injudicious conversion of natural environments to agriculture; the dependence on finite fossil fuels for our energy needs; the proliferation of
synthetic fertilisers; and the horrendous pollution of both our fresh water resources as well as the atmosphere.
In summary, the drought we are now experiencing is a window to a not too distant future. It is the beginning of the end of life as we know it, unless dramatic actions are taken by the government to radically change the nature of production and consumption in society.
Tragic as this is, our government is either clueless about the gravity of the matter or as usual you are crippled by inertia. More natural areas are converted into, either commercial agriculture or game farming, depriving our society of the natural buffer to the impact of climate change.
Our fresh water resources are under severe threat, with unplanned buildings on critical wetland areas. Our rivers are polluted with industrial waste and companies are not held to account for their pollution of fresh water resources and ground water resources.
Municipalities are chronically unable to fix and maintain existing water infrastructure, leading to the country losing almost a trillion litres of water annually.
Farmers along big rivers such as the Orange River are illegally diverting water to their illegally constructed dams and the state has no capacity to monitor this or to hold them to account.
Swift and radical action is needed to secure our short and long-term access to water. Municipalities must be empowered and given resources to train and employ artisans on a massive scale to repair damaged water infrastructure so as to reduce water losses due to leaks. The national government must invest in up to date water infrastructure that will ensure not only access to water for households and businesses but also ensure that there are water treatment plants in each municipality to recycle and reuse water.
The department responsible for water management must employ state of the art fresh water resources to constantly improve the ecological health of our fresh
water resources, and report farmers who divert natural streams for their own illegally constructed dams. There must be tougher punishment for companies that pollute our rivers and wetlands, and they must be compelled by law to rehabilitate the ecological infrastructure they have damaged.
As a possible adaptation measure, we must fast-track research into and construction of desalination plants along the coast. South Africa is blessed with almost 3 000 kilometers of coastline and we should be using our scientific capacity to desalinate sea water to make it fit for human consumption. We need to make these interventions because the drought we now have is likely to become a permanent part of our lives for a very long time. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, let me first say that I have to agree with everything that hon Ngwenya has said, and the member of the DA ... It's not about the lack of rain that causes drought and the fact that our people don't have water; it's mismanagement of the scarce resource by this government!
Yes, hon Ntseke, more people have water now than 1994, but let us not use that as the benchmark. Everybody would have had proper, clear drinking water if the water resources were managed properly. Go to Bushbuckridge. Human beings are still sharing their drinking water with animals! So how can we gloat? We can say we've made progress, but we are far from achieving the goal that was set, that everybody should have clean, potable, drinking water.
But, having said that, let me extend the heartfelt condolences of the Inkatha Freedom Party to the families of those who lost their lives when the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands experienced a severe storm and tornado late yesterday afternoon. We wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.
This is yet another example of the changing climate patterns caused principally by global warming. Experts say that the number of tornadoes that will develop in South Africa is likely to increase as thunderstorms grow more severe. As temperatures rise with global warming, so do levels of evaporation and the number of thunderstorms.
So, we must focus on solutions. The hon Ngwezi brought a motion about the drought and the solutions. So, what are the solutions?
We have catchment areas that are not being utilised. Water is not ... hon Minister ... We have areas in every province where there is abundant water, but the water is just going to waste.
Where we have water, you have poor infrastructure, unmaintained infrastructure ... Most of the water is going to waste because of poor maintenance of infrastructure.
Don't laugh about it, hon Deputy Minister! You must come to areas where we go. Because we also visit areas where people don't have water to drink. Not a drop to drink! This is a serious matter! There is corruption in the Department of Water Affairs. There is corruption which other hon members have referred to. There is corruption in some areas. Allegedly, Ugu District Municipality, where technicians are sabotaging some of the water supplies so that truck owners can come there and supply
water to people ... because councilors have interests in these trucks.
Now, what are we going to do about that?
Hon Minister, there is plenty of water in South Africa. But, we need to plan, we need to conserve, we need to mitigate and adapt in order to ensure our water resource resilience is now and into the future.
Let's take Jozini Dam. We have a case of water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink! Millions of liters of water in the Jozini Dam, but people living around that dam in Umkhanyakude District ... You are going to lose that district in the next election because people don't have water to drink. There's water there, but there is no ability to ensure that that water is piped to the people in the area. That municipality is devoid of any technical ability to get water to the people.
So, let us not come here and wax lyrical about the fact that so many people have had water since 1994. We applaud that, but more can be done and more should be done, and
that "more" should be done by the department of whatever you call it now ... Human Settlements and whatever and whatever. In fact, we should have a department of water affairs because water is life and needs to be treated as a priority. Thank you.
Afrikaans:
Geagte Voorsitter, die Minister van waterwese het gevra dat die debat na vanaand toe uitgestel word omdat sy teenwoordig wees. Die vraag wat die FF Plus vra is, hoe ernstig is die watertekort in Suid-Afrika as sy weer nie teenwoordig is nie.
English:
Hon Mey, please hold on. Hon members, the noise level in the House is simply too high. I want to request that, if you want to have lengthy discussions with a colleague, you leave the House, complete your discussion outside and then return to the House.
Hon member, please continue.
Afrikaans:
Die gesegde is dat die derde wreld oorlog nie sal gaan oor grondgebied of beleidsverskil nie, maar wel oor water. Dit is welbekend.
Suid-Afrika is 'n dro land. Hy's een van die 30 droogste lande in die wreld, en ons sit met 'n watertekort wat al hoe erger word.
Wat is die redes vir die tekort? Die belangrikste is dat daar te min damme oor die afgelope 25 jaar gebou was. Die bevolking se groei is te vinnig. Die immigrante wat instroom uit Afrika ... Dis duisende wat ook van water voorsien moet word. Dan natuurlik die lekasies en watervermorsing, veral by ons munisipaliteite ...
Ons is reeds in 'n krisis. Ons stuur nie op 'n krisis af nie. Hoe gaan ons dit oplos?
Die maklikste maniere is om meer damme te bou. Maar, om deesdae 'n dam te bou neem tussen sewe en tien jaar. Ontsouting, die suiwering van mynwater en riool ...
Maar, ek wil vir julle een ding vertel. Ons moet so ietwat in die verlede teruggaan.
English:
I grew up in the Karoo, and we made use of water tanks to store rain water. In South Africa, we have 16 millions households. We must see them as an advantage to solve our water problems.
Afrikaans:
Hoekom s ek so? As elke persoon in Suid-Afrika vandag 'n watertenk het, dan hoef ons nie oor die onmiddelikke toekoms bekommerd te wees nie.
Ek wil net vir u 'n voorbeeld noem. Drie miljoen HOP huise is die afgelope 25 jaar gebou. Nie een watertenk is by daardie huise aangebring nie. As daardie 5 000 liter tenke net twee keer 'n jaar oorloop, is dit genoeg om die Churchilldam in die Oos-Kaap te vul.
Ons kan nie meer uitstel nie. Ons kan nie toelaat dat een bouplan in Suid- Afrika goedgekeur word sonder dat daar nie voorsiening gemaak is vir watertenks nie. 'n
Watertenk van 5 000 liter kos R4 600. Dan moet u onthou, daar word werk geskep.
Ons het die geld. In 2015 het die departement was waterwese R1 miljard terugbetaal aan die Tesourie. In 2016 was dit R827 miljoen. Ons kon al oor 'n halfmiljoen watertenke in Suid-Afrika opgesit het.
Kom ons staan saam. Die enigste oplossing in Suid-Afrika is watertenke. Die mense in baie dorpe maak al gereed om hulself selfvoorsienend te maak deur middel van watertenke.
Ons moet onmiddelik begin om watertenke op it sit. Dit is die enigste antwoord. As ons wag vir die ANC om damme te bou, gaan ons nog baie lank moet wag. Baie dankie.
Hon House Chairperson, with South Africa being an arid country and also listed as one of the driest countries in the world, we should be actively preparing for a national day zero so that God forbids and when it happens we are ready. As from 2014 we experienced the worst form of drought ever. Food security was also
heavily affected due to farm taps running dry thus affecting the gap between supply and demand and quality of food supplied nationwide.
We are blessed to be surrounded by coastal areas that are high in humidity and if we capitalise on this by accelerating and piloting fourth industrial revolution based mechanisms in the supply of water we will just be fine. Being future orientated is also good and well as it assist us not to be reactive but be current situation is also alarming where you find communities around Port St Johns drinking water from ponds with animals. Communities from Hammanskraal are sitting with a water problem and only have muddy water available for consumption. Qwaqwa still does not have running water and is also recovering from the aftermath, Makhanda in the Eastern Cape and Nkomazi in Mpumalanga. What do we need to do?
I think the first point of departure is for us to review the Water Act. As of now the Water Act will not stand the test of time in terms of addressing the problems we are having and the sooner the better that we review the Water Act. The Bylaws that are within different municipalities
must be able to save and conserve water. I would like to reiterate the issue of cutting water to rural areas. That programme is not sustainable at all.
IsiXhosa:
Inene, igcwele nje lurhwaphilizo lodwa.
English:
The sooner the better that we buy tanks to harvest water for those communities instead of cutting water to them as we have done as ATM at Xolobeni. We started to roll out the issues of assisting the government in terms of distributing some water tanks to rural areas. We need to build more artificial dams...
IsiXhosa:
... umzekelo kusandula kunetha iimvula kwaye amanzi amaninzi amkile ngezitalato. Alikho iqhinga lokuqokelela amanzi ahla ezintabeni ukuqinisekisa ukuba amanzi afikela kula dama akhiweyo ...
English:
... so that we do not lose even a single drop of rain water. Let us tap into alternative water harvesting because that programme is very critical for us to embark upon. Ensure that there is effective consequence management for those affected in department's money mismanagement. That will assist us. Incorporate CSIR in the investment of continued research in this enigma. Incentivise investors to implement the innovations of the research concerning water scarcity. The ATM is keen to assist as and when they are needed. Thank you very much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND
SANITATION (Mr M Mahlobo): Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, our Chief Whip, Comrade Pemmy, and Comrade Dories, our Deputy Chief Whip, chair of our committee and members of the committee, hon members, fellow South Africans, yesterday on 12 November 2019, we had a snap debate in the recognition of what our country has achieved by winning the Rugby World Cup trophy for the third time in three different countries.
Most of us shared a tear of joy when His Excellency President Ramaphosa, Captain Siya Kolisi and the rest of
the Springbok hoisted the cup in Yokohama, in Japan. We needed this as a nation and people. Despite all odds, we once again demonstrated that united in our diversity we can achieve our goals.
The words of our first democratic President, His Excellency Nelson Mandela, remained timeless and profound during this epoch when he said, I quote:
Sports have the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sports can create hope, where there was once only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination. Sports is the game of lovers.
A lot of progress has been achieved in the last 25 years in changing the lives of our people for the better ...
Order, hon mebers! Order! Order! Continue, hon member.
Chairperson?
Why are you rising, hon member?
Chairperson, we had the tributes yesterday. Today is the water debate. [Interjections.]
No, hon members, lets give the member an opportunity to discuss South Africa's deepening water crisis. Continue, hon member. Order, hon members.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND
SANITATION Mr (M Mahlobo): ... but we are the first to admit that more still needs to be done.
We live in a country where water is scarce, that only 30 or so other countries have less water per person. [Applause.]
We must now take into account climate change, which will make our natural water supplies even more difficult to predict.
We have been exposed to prolonged heat wave conditions and the late onset of rains has caused local supply failures. A number of dams, especially in small towns and rural communities are at a critical level or almost dry. We are continuously monitoring the dams' levels as part of our early warning system and we are applying appropriate measures to ameliorate the situation.
We are pleased that even though rainfall was sporadic in most parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, most parts of Gauteng are starting to experience the rain. This is indeed a welcome relief even though some parts in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo are affected negatively by flash floods and inclement weather condition. We are pleased that the MEC for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal is working with the affected communities.
As a country, we shouldn't expect the forecasting success to continue. It's unusual for seasonal forecast to be so confident. The way we operate our national water infrastructure already takes into account of the big, year- to-year variability in climate change and other variables.
We also try to help other water managers to do the same thing, unfortunately, they don't always listen. [Interjections.]
Point of order, Chairperson.
Hon member, will you just take your seat, please. Hon Mahlobo, will you take your seat, please. What is the point of order, hon member?
Thank you very much, Chairperson.
IsiZulu:
Bengicela ukuthi kuMahlobo nkosi yami, mhlonishwa wami ngiyakuhlonipha lena eyamanzi ungayidlaleli. [Uhleko.] U- Cogta uhlulekile, awekho amanzi. [Ubuwelewele.]
Hon member, that is not a point of order, please. Please, take your seat.
Don't play with our people.
Continue, hon member.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND
SANITATION (Mr M Mahlobo): Often small towns keep pumping water despite the fact that they are warned that, once dam levels fall to a particular point - and we tell them what it is - they will get into trouble. When the dam is dry, they run to us and say there is a crisis as we were told in the City of Cape Town. Before there was a big crisis, they were warned to invest in infrastructure development. They said no, they were saving water, using it more efficiently. Then the drought came and they were in crisis.
Much of the existing water infrastructure like major dams was planned for specific sector's needs to the exclusion of other water users.
Communities and rural households have been excluded in the planning of some of the rural water infrastructure, resulting in a number of networks passing these communities. A decision has been made.
In uMkhanyakude, we have decided that Jozini Dam is a multipurpose dam. We have been there in uMkhayakude during the Investment Conference.
We can confirm now that more than 40 mega litres of a water infrastructure bulk has been built. The most important issue, hon Singh, is to note that we need to deal with the question of reticulation
We have put aside more than R230 million and our director-generals are working on that particular space. Therefore, the problems of uMkhanyakude working with the district and the premier are being resolved. Let's talk
about issues happening in our communities. Equally so, there are times when there were challenges.
The people of Tshwane, you must not try to come and claim easy victories, taps run dry because the infrastructure has not been managed properly. It was hit by lightning. We went there to one of a biggest district hospital, supporting Mpumalanga, supporting North West and supporting people of Gauteng. Those patients could not be serviced because the City of Tshwane had failed. But because we understood that we must never bring politics into water, we came into the space and help that particular municipality. [Applause.]
In the Gauteng province - this is what we are doing. There is schedule maintenance for the Lesotho Highlands.
With the current demand, we are abstracting more than 22%. We don't want to send panic to our people. The situation is under control. Gauteng is being supplied by 14 dams, excluding the one that you think that it is going to be shutting down. But there are majors that must be taken. One of the majors that we have already taken is
public awareness. With regard to the water loses that are happening of about 50%, we say let's reduce the night peak. At the same time, we are balancing the system. This is the government at work.
The problem in Gauteng we need to deal with as we are working with the premier is the question of the waste water treatment works. The City of Tshwane, Johannesburg and all these other cities, they are polluting the Vaal River System, the Apies River and Hartbeespoort. We have taken a decision. Next week, the Deputy President will be calling all the affected premiers. The polluters will pay.
On 5 December, we are taking the City of Tshwane to court for polluting our water. [Applause.] Polluters are going to pay. [Applause.]
The other thing that we can confirm about Gauteng is that there is migration and growth. Hon Bassoni, tell the truth about the Polihali Dam. The Minister is in Lesotho today. [Interjections.] There is a sod-turning. We are planning for that particular growth. Therefore, we are a
government at work. With the Provincial Government of Gauteng and the premier, we are very satisfied; we are going to make a difference. [Interjections.]
Most parts of the Eastern Cape have experienced prolonged drought, failing infrastructure and management of the resource affecting many communities.
It has been the site of wholesale livestock deaths and failed crops as a result of the prolonged drought and we have not seen rain for quite some time.
The two Deputy Ministers and the Minister, we have engaged with the leadership of the province. We have also noted that out of the 46 dams they have, 22 dams in the Eastern Cape are at a critical stage. We support the move by Sarah Baartman, Chris Hani, Amathole, Alfred Nzo and Nelson Mandela that we should be in a position to declare drought to assist those communities. [Applause.]
In the Butterworth, we must know that there is already the drilling of the boreholes and there is a need of an emergency pipeline from Tsomo River to Butterworth.
In Graaff-Reinet, an alternative source is to support Graaf-Reinet Bulk Water Supply Scheme and is being explored.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, there is implementation of ground water scheme, fast track phase 3 of Nooitgedatch, phase 4 of Coega Kop Wen-?eld and implement water conservation and demand measures.
In Amathole District, we are implementing the augmentation from the Fish River. But the province is not out of the woods yet. But working together with our water board and the municipality, the situation is not insurmountable.
In the Free State, the Rustfontein Dam level that support Mangaung is low right now. We are looking at the augmentation from the Katse Dam, including the Welbedatch Dam and also implementing water conservation and demand management.
The Saulspoort Dam is currently above 80% supporting Fezile Dabi. Due to available water a release is being
undertaken to deal with the pressure on Frankfort and Tweeling and Vrede. [Applause.]
In QuaQua in Maluti-A-Phofung, additional reservoirs of 3 megalitres have been completed, 58 boreholes have been tested as we speak right now. We are working to transfer water as an emergency relieve from the Syferfontein Dam to the Fika-Patso Dam in QuaQua so that they too can have a drop of water. [Applause.].
In KwaZulu-Natal as I have spoken, we have dealt with the situation of uMkhanyakude. We have met with the major of the Zululand District. In the supporting plans, we need to set out the question of reticulation.
In the King Cetshwayo District, you need to know that the water board has been directed to uMhlathuze Local Municipality to work with those communities.
The largest dams which are Goedetrouw and Pongolapoort are currently sitting at below 40%. They are nearly depleted around Ulundi Weir.
What we are saying is that if we look down at the resilience of the Hluhluwe Scheme, the Klipfontein is around 63%. You need to be able to know that we are monitoring the Darasa situation. The Mhlathuze Water Board has been directed by the Minister and the premier to work with those communities.
In the areas supported by Umgeni water, there is a joint operation centre that has been put in place. If we can look to the system of Umgeni right now, it is lower than normal.
If you look at the Albert Falls Dam, it's currently around 33%, but the Midmar Dam is around 92%. We are currently maximising pumping water from the Spring Grove Dam to Midmar Dam. We are also pumping water from Inanda Dam to Durban Heights. The current system there is well managed and people of KwaZulu-Natal in those particular areas should not be worried.
The Hazelmere Dam, which is in the North Coast, only 33% of the capacity is available. Therefore, we are looking
at the question of impounding so that we can impound the auction from the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme.
The Umzinto Dam in the South Coast is at 41% and EJ Smith Dam is at 71%. Where necessary, Mpambanyoni Emergency Scheme can be commissioned to supply additional 8 megalitres.
If we look around Kokstad, there is Crystal Springs Dam that is more than 75% and a river pump station by Umgeni. We are very pleased that the chief operating officer is working on an emergency order to support that.
In Limpopo, we met with the leadership of the province on the weekend. Of their 28 dams only 11 dams are below the level of 40%. We are worried about Tzaneen, Mogalakwena, Makhado, Modimolle, Bela Bela, Thabazimbi and Polokwane.
We can confirm that ground water is being exploited. Additional 1 313 boreholes are going to be looked at.
In Polokwane, additional 19 megalitres funded through water services infrastructure grant will be used for
ground water exploitation and upgrade Ebenezer Scheme and the Olifats Scheme.
In Mogalakwena, ground water source will yield additional
5 megalitres in Mokopane but requires funding whilst about 8 mega litres from Jakkalskuil cluster from ground water. We are using the disaster funding.
In Mopani - the Giyani project has been allocated about R114 million and R100 million in the current financial year. Our construction unit is currently busy to complete that project. We are very pleased that by the end of next year, we should have connected those communities.
In Sekhukhune, we are currently working on the question of ground water. The De Hoop Dam is full. Agreeing with the premier of the province and the leadership of the province, we need to conclude the question of the incomplete bulk infrastructure projects and also the reticulation.
In Mpumalanga - in Dr JS Moroka and Thembisile Hani, we know that Mkhombo Dam has been low. Additional 26
boreholes have been refurbished. We are doing an emergency supply pipeline to Mkhombo Dam. An additional R18 million from drought relief has been made available.
In Steve Tshwete and eMakhazeni, additional boreholes were done.
In Tweefontein, Graskop and Mashishing, the levels are very low. There is a deployment of tankers, but additional boreholes are being done.
In Mbombela - Pienaar, Dantjie and Msogwaba, the situation is very critical, but we have concluded in terms of appointing an implementing agent. The Umjindi Trust and Lomati Dam has dropped. We have imposed restrictions.
In Msukaligwa, the situation is moderate. We should be able to deal with the situation of the Heyshope Dam which is used by Eskom.
With regard to the North West, Northern Cape, including the Western Cape, details will be made available. We have information.
In the Western Cape, we are worried by areas supplied by Kammanassie, Hartebeest-kuil, calitzdorp, klipberg and Gamka River because they are being stressed and we are supporting those areas.
We will only succeed if we work together - water is everybody's business. We must use water carefully and wisely at home, and in our workplaces. We must respect and take care of our public infrastructure and make sure that others do the same.
Water conservation and demand management proceed on operation and maintenance, education and awareness and the use of ground water. We have agreed on the use of ground water by the mines with Minister Mantashe that we will work with the mines to reclaim and treat the ground water that is being available. We will also explore new technologies and desalination.
We are also working jointly with the Department of Co- operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, National Treasury and SA Local Government Association, Salga, to deal with debt owed by municipalities to water boards. Equally so, debts owed to municipalities by the government and state-owned enterprises must be paid.
The user pay principle must be able to apply without fail. Members of Parliament, members of the legislatures and councillors, they must all pay for their services if they want us to indeed respect them as honourable members.
The Ministerial Anti-Pollution Task Team has completed its work. Those who are using water illegally, we are going to bust you. Those who are storing water illegally, we are going to bust you.
Those entities, whether it's municipalities or industries, if you pollute, you are going to pay. We are actually sharpened to deal with those incidents.
The Ministers of Human, Settlements, Water and Sanitation and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in their respective Ministers and Members of Executive Councils, MinMecs, meeting that happened last week, they discussed this difficult matter of water. We have agreed that we are going to a join MinMec so that we can craft a complete plan and strategies to respond to the areas severely affected by drought, but let us not cause panic. This panic is being caused by other people with ulterior motive
We are building a water secure South Africa in which every South African will have an opportunity to play their part. Every drop you waste, someone somewhere is desperately looking for it.
We can and must build on these small developments. The path is much clearer. But we all need to work together and walk together to get to the destination we seek. God Bless Africa, her sons and daughters. I thank you.
Deputy Minister, whilst I acknowledge what you are saying and telling us all the initiatives
that you have put in place, I must admit that the situation in terms of water in South Africa is bleak and I think we are reaching a crisis proportion in South Africa; and I think we need to be very honest about it and address these challenges.
Let me just give you some statistics, Deputy Minister. Municipalities lose about R9,9 billion [Inaudible.] through leaks annually in South Africa. About 56% of the waste water treatment works are in poor condition. About 44% of the water treatment works are in poor condition; 11% are dysfunctional. Only 5% of water for agricultural land is used by black farmers. South Africa lost 50% of the water factory wetlands. Water in the rivers and dams and lakes are being polluted. The average domestic consumption worldwide is 173 litres per person but in South Africa it is 237 litres per person. It is estimated that by the year 2030 South Africa will run out of water.
So, what does it tell us? We have a serious problem in terms of water.
Now, let me go one step further. It is estimated that you losing an average of 37% to 40% through leaks, alone; and very little or nothing has been happening. Now, this is has been going on for tens of years and very little or nothing has been happening.
If you take her, the City of Cape Town, over 72 outlets of water, right here underneath this very House, there's water running into the sea; nowhere terms have been made to divert that water and save that water. [Interjections.]
In terms of the dams, Deputy Minister, with over 5 200 dams, only 315 of those dams are in the control of the state, with the rest of them being under private control; and we believe that is totally unacceptable.
The other problem we've got is if you look at the projects that were supposed to have been initiated in the first two quarters; the department has only been able to achieve 48 of that 51. So, what does it tell us is that this department is not functioning optimally. And while we appreciate the interventions, we are saying if we
allow ourselves to continue [Time expired.] doing that way we are going to have a serious challenge by 2030. [Applause.]
House Chair, on 17 October this year President Cyril Ramaphosa urged Southern African Development community, SADC, member states to implement comprehensive multi-year response plans to tackle the recurrent droughts and food insecurity. This was during the SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
While this sentiment is welcomed, I need to ask the President: Where is South Africa's drought plan?
Last year on 13 February 2018 our country was classified as a national drought disaster. This reclassification of drought as a national disaster designated the primary responsibility for the co-ordination and management of the disaster to the national executive who must act in close co- operation with the other spheres of government to deal with the disaster and its consequences.
Minister Mkhize at that time said that three provinces including Western Cape, some parts of the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape are extremely affected and are not yet showing any signs of improvement. That was 18 months ago
Afrikaans:
Die situasie het intussen vererger en steeds is die ANC regering missing in action. [versuim om hulp te verleen.] Of nee, die Adjunkpresident het oor die Noord-Kaap gevlieg en ges dat die droogte baie erg is en kort onmiddelike reaksie; maar geen aksie. Droogtes is 'n normale relmatige verskynsel van ons klimaat. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ons weet almal dat Suid- Afrika 'n dro land is en dat klimaatsverandering ons negatief benvloed.
Klimaatsverandering kan seker nie as 'n ramp gesien word nie maar die uitwerking hiervan - ondergemiddelde renval oor langer as ses jaar, sowel as gepaardgaande rekordho temperature ... [Tussenwerpsels.] ... is 'n huidige werklikheid en het ons ...
English:
Order hon member! [Interjections.] Continue hon member.
I like it if he shouts.
Afrikaans:
... land se boere op hul knie gedwing. Water is lewe en sonder water is daar dood. Geen mens, dier of plant kan oorleef as daar nie water is nie. Mense in dorpe en stede word direk geraak wanneer daar nie meer 'n druppel water uit hul krane kom nie. Duisende mense in plattelandse gebiede drink nog water uit strome en riviere. Wanneer hierdie water opdroog, raak die oorlewingstryd onmenslik. Daagliks hoor ons van meer gemeenskappe wat sonder water sit.
English:
The crippling effect on our agricultural sector is devastating. Not only do they have no income during this time but it cost billions of rand to keep animals alive.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to decide which animals you will feed and which you will leave to die?
This is a choice that our farmers make on a daily basis; most of them just don't have the funds to keep on buying feed anymore.
And it is not only our livestock farmers that are affected; grain and crop farmers struggled through below rainfall years during 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019. It has placed many farmers in massive debt and they cannot get further credit from the banks. The agricultural debt is growing and is currently around R190 billion.
We would like to thank the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, who has been instrumental in ensuring drought support to farmers and farmworkers in the Western Cape over the past three years. Not only is funding provided to buy feed and to help keep workers employed, much needed funding is also going into support for counselling. We have seen farmers committing suicide during this time and emotional support is welcomed.
We also recognise the efforts of the Eastern Cape; who has now been gazetted a drought in the province.
Thanks must go to all the groups who have raised funds to assist with fodder and drilling boreholes. This has been ongoing over the past four years and has kept many families and farmers alive.
But where is our national government? And where is our national drought disaster plan?
The DA would like to repeat our call that the drought be declared a national disaster in order to ensure improvement of planning, management and responses across various organs of state as well as sectoral stakeholders.
This drought affects more than one province and we cannot leave out to provincial governments to deal with this alone.
We urge Minister Thoko Didiza to convene an urgent agricultural MINMEC in order to discuss the impact of the drought and to shift funds from AgriParks, which are
white elephants, towards drought relief. This could make at least R1 billion available immediately.
We also ask Minister Mboweni to look at legislation that's regulating our banking sector in order to assist with soft loan repayments during this ongoing disaster.
We support the call by AgriSA to look at a way of agricultural insurance that could assist during drought periods.
But least of all, we call on the ANC government to find the political will to support farmers, black and white, during this difficult times.
I want to tell hon Mahlobo that in uMkhanyakude two sets of water pipes were already laid, pump stations and all [Time expired.] this is where the corruption comes in, stop corruption. [Applause.]
Chair, we really do believe that the diagonisation of the problem by all parties is correct. It is the categorisation thereof which is wrong because
once you start saying that the misuse of water is of the national Parliament it becomes wrong. Water is used by residents in the local areas, and not by the national Parliament. People that misuse and mismanage water are residents themselves and not the party or the national Parliament.
The issue of water and polluting is true, and is not done by the national Parliament or by the ANC, but it is done by the residents, business and farmers themselves. We believe that the nonrevenuing of water, not billing people, can only be addressed by correctly using the Water on Leaks people that we have employed. Of course, there is a way in which we need to correct them to work in a manner that will correct the situation. It is not correct that War on Leaks is a corrupt activity. It was a good organisation which needed to bring water in to the issue.
Unfortunately, most of the parties decided to put people who are not part of the committee to talk and then they missed the point. In the committee we all agreed that the interministerial task team, IMTT, was not active after
the Fifth Parliament and it must be activated. Just for your information, the interministerial task team has brought to us as a committee that all the Ministers that are in the cluster and the SA Local Government Association, Salga, have agreed that ...
IsiZulu:
ILUNGU ELIHLONIPHEKILE ELINGAZIWA: Kodwa amanzi awekho. [Ubuwelewele.]
Maningi uwaphuze wena.
English:
...we must install prepaid and smart meters in the usage; appointment independent revenue collectors for municipalities; government wide campaign to encourage a culture of payment for municipal must be done; strict management of payment default with firm actions by government before the court process come to effect; fix the municipalities to ensure the sustainability of services and finances; and ring-fence the debts. Most of the municipalities' debts are no longer being serviced. We are then saying that we need to ring-fence the debt
and create a mechanism of settling the debt through religiously paying off the current debts. The Municipalities that are owed must be paid and they must also pay because they owe. The Department must give within a month from today a programmatic way of how to go back and bring back the commitment of payment.
But in the process we also say we agree with the department that we need to repair the infrastructure in order to quell the water that we are losing. We need to campaign to raise awareness about the high level of per capita. For instance, you find an old lady who is indigent using the size of water which is equivalent to a very rich person. It means there is something wrong in that particular water usage. So we must curtail that particular point. We also say that progress will not only help the department to grow, but it will also help to service people with water.
The Deputy Minister has spoken about the ground water usage, the boreholes and so forth. Some of us who come from Bushbuckridge know that borehole water can help a
lot. It is for that reason that we support the programme that the borehole system must be used.
In the innovation process we have seen consumers benefiting from the technologies deployed in the water treatment conservation. Yes, we know that. For instance, in Tshwane area there is water. Interjections.] The committee went to Tshwane and we spoke to the Tshwane Municipality. There is a programme of purifying water. Of course, out of the four water treatment processes only two are working. We are working on the second one.
In closing, the committee irrespective of political parties has agreed that we are going to monitor and oversight to see to it that the Ministers revert to us with a programme to implement it. Politicising water will not help you, but working together will make us have water for everybody. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon House Chairperson, thanks to members who contributed to this debate. Hon Mashego, if you say we must not politicise issues of water you must tell the ANC to stop talking about this issue like as if they are
still campaigning for elections. They must talk like people in government, and not like people who are still campaigning. [Applause.] You talk like as if it is still before 2019. You must tell us about the plans that you are going to implement about issues of water, and not to score cheap political pints about this matter.
Hon Chair, today's debate, to remind members, was about issues of water crisis in this country. I am very disappointed that the Deputy Minister spends five minutes debating about the issue that we debated yesterday, the issue of sport. You can see as the country how little the lip service the government is paying because they are spending little bit of time talking about sport rather than talking about issues of water that is affecting this country.
Hon Deputy Minister, in our informal discussion yesterday you told me that you are on the ground and you site the issue of Jozini, for example. Thank you very much as government for having put a budget of R230 million to assist in the reticulation process in that area. But please, monitor that budget because five years ago in
that district money was stolen and bought pipes that were suppose to assist in delivering water. Those pipes are still sitting there in Ward 5 in Jozini. Please, ask your comrades they will show you those pipes. No one has ever been arrested for those corruptive practices. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Minister, let me tell you the reality. When you go back to uMkhanyakude just go to Ward 12 in Umhlabayalingana, there is no water there - nothing. If you go back to Zululand, for example, like you said you spoke with the mayor, just go to eDumbe, eNgoje, Vryheid and many areas, there is no water. Just go to uThugela there is no water. In fact, if you don't attend to the issue of uMkhomazi River Durban will soon collapse because that river is in crisis. It needs urgent attention, hon Deputy Minister.
Hon Tseke my colleague, I never said that the ANC-led government has done nothing since it took over in 1994. All I said is that it spends so much planning rather implementing. And it is funny that the ANC borrows most of its ideas from the Chinese government which is their sister party. But let me tell you why the Chinese have
been successful, they plan and implement on time and according to the budget. They take serious consequences for people who have failed to assist in the implementation. In this country if somebody has failed to implement it is business as usual and money has been lost. [Applause.]
Hon Singh and all members from this side, thank you very much. I indicated earlier on when I started I said when people have won elections they must not debate issue here like as if they are still canvassing for votes. Actually, you spoke like government because this side all they think about when you talk about issues of national importance like this, they think you want to steal votes from people. They don't understand that these issues are affecting our people. [Applause.] The only reason why they speak very shallow about issues of water maybe is because we have water on our tables where we are seated. There are people at various homes who do not have water to drink or even to bath. Their cattle are dying all over the country and you come here and speak very shallow about these issues. Next time you must learn to speak like government. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
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