Speaker, Deputy Speaker and hon members, I would like to respond to the statement by the member of the IFP, hon Sibuyana, whose statements are almost predictable these days.
Firstly, I want to say that we should never, ever campaign at the expense of people's lives. The tragedy of those people who have lost their lives because of the recent outbreak of cholera cannot be turned into a political football.
Secondly, I want to point out that the hon member is from the area - he referred to Bushbuckridge - and he is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry. The department has fully briefed this committee on the causes of the problem. The committee has also been briefed on the measures that are being taken collectively to ensure that the situation is arrested and on the measures that are being put in place to avert a situation like this occurring in the future.
The hon member will know that, in collaboration with the Department of Health, assisted by the province and the municipalities affected, we have arrested the spread of disease in this area. No more deaths as a result of cholera have been reported.
We have put measures in place to ensure that there is sufficient clean water for people to drink and that there are temporary structures that ensure clean sanitation.
We have spread the message of health and hygiene, not only in Limpopo, but also across Beit Bridge. We have assisted Zimbabweans to reconstruct their infrastructure. As a result, no more effluent runs down into our rivers. All of that has been done to ensure that we prevent further deaths in that area.
So all is being done, hon members, to ensure that we prevent a similar situation. However, the responsibility lies at national, provincial and municipal levels to ensure that our infrastructure is improved to the extent that such events do not happen again.
On the issue of climate change, I would like to agree with the hon member in respect of the ANC's statement regarding the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, but particularly on the environment.
On the issue of water conservation, I think a national, collective response to climate change is required. Rainfall patterns will change and global warming will increase. The one thing we need to do is realise that we are a water-scarce country and that we must stop wastage of our water resources. Municipalities and other water service authorities have to stop the leaks. All of us have a responsibility towards making sure that we save our water. Thank you.