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: