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.