Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, on the occasion of this very important debate in our institution, allow me to acknowledge that we have a responsibility as public representatives to safeguard this democracy and its institutions, as laid down in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is our duty to accelerate the pace of implementing the accountability systems of better performance in service delivery and financial management by fully and properly implementing the management and performance reforms.
Hon Chairperson, it is 100% correct that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa sets out water resource management as a national competency. It also states that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and that supports socially justifiable economic development. It further states that everyone must have a protected environment for the benefit of current and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures.
In its manifesto for the 2014 national elections, the ANC-led government committed itself to working with our people and addressing the challenges that we have in the water sector; and to moving forward towards the achievements of the vision of the Freedom Charter. The ANC will continue to work towards universal access to running water by providing access to those who still do not have it. For example, 92% of South Africans have access to potable water, compared to 60% in 1996.
Muxiximeki Balindlela, vaaki va Afrika-Dzonga va le ku kumeni ka mati ku ya hi leswi ku kunguhatisiweke xiswona hi nhlangano lowu nga eku fumeni wa African National Congress. [Hon Balindlela, South African citizens are receiving water as planned by the governing organisation of the African National Congress.]
Hon Minister, while we are aware of all the efforts that have been made, the department also needs to accelerate the rollout of basic sanitation infrastructure and addressing the water challenges in the rural areas and informal settlements. Illegal water abstraction, especially by irrigating farmers, presents a serious challenge.
Muchaviseki Holobye, ntlhontlho lowu hi vaka na wona swinene eka loko van'wana va fanele ku endla swikombiso swa ku pfumaleka ka mati hileswaku van'wamapurasi va yima endleleni. Van'wamapurasi va fika va pfala milambu leyi yisaka mati eka vaaki leswaku va kota ku kuma mati masiku hinkwawo. Ekuheteleleni, mati ma ya cheleta swimilana ku tlula ku nyika vanhu lava va faneleke ku hanya hi wona hikuva mati i vutomi. Loko hi nga ri na mati a ku nga vi na vutomi. Vo tala va lava va endlaka swona hi nga va hi tshamile na vona kwala xikarhi ka hina. Ndzi tshemba leswaku muchaviseki Balindlela va nga va un'wana wa vona. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Hon Minister, the challenge that we have is that when others are to make examples of the shortage of water, it is because farmers stand in the way. Farmers block the rivers that supply water to the residents, that they are able to receive water every day. Instead, water is being used to water plants more than it is being distributed to the people for survival because water is life. If we do not have water we cannot have life. Most of the people who do these things, we might be sitting with them in our midst. I trust that hon Balindlela might be one of them.]
We know for a fact that there are regulations that have been set to regulate water. The regulations aim to change the behaviour of water users and water institutions to ensure the sustainable and equitable use, protection, conservation and development of the national water resources. The Minister, as a shareholder in a number of water sector institutions, plays a role in providing strategic guidance and oversight to those organisations, which is different from the regulatory role of various organs of state.
The primary objective of regulation is to continuously improve compliance by water users and water institutions with the rules and authorisations, which could then result in equity in water allocation and access to water for socioeconomic development to redress the race and gender imbalances of the past and reduce poverty.
With all the regulating systems in place, Minister, we need to have the budget complemented with human resources, meaning that we should support the budget allocation for Vote 38 and the filling of all vacant posts.
Laha hi vulavula hileswaku swivandla leswi swi nga kona swi fanele ku pfariwa ku endlela leswaku ku tirha loku hi ku vulaka ka ku fikisela vanhu mati ku ta humelela. Ndzi nga nyika xikombiso hi ku vula leswaku vatirhi vo tala lava va tirhisiwaka eka Ndzawulo ya Mitirho ya Mfumo hi lavakulu. Kutani hi fanele ku langutisa leswaku vatirhi lava thoriwaka eka nkarhi wa sweswi hi lavantshwa, lava nga ha riki na matimba ya ku kota ku yima, va tsutsumatsutsuma va tiyisisa leswaku vaaki va Afrika-Dzonga va le ku kumeni ka leswi swi nga va ringanela. (Translation of Xitsonga paragraph follows.)
[Here we are referring to existing vacancies that should be filled to enable the work of supplying water to the people to be realised. I can cite an example that many of the employees who are working in the Department of Public Works are in their old age. We must ensure that those who get to be employed now are young people, those who still have strength to stand, and run around to ensure that South Africans receive what is due to them.]
In Programme 3: Water Infrastructure Management, your expenditure focuses on existing and new water infrastructure projects; the bulk distribution system of the De Hoop Dam; the upgrading of the pipeline from Steelpoort to Mooihoek; phase 2B of the pipeline from Boshielo Dam to Mokopane; the Umzimvubu Dam; the Nandoni Dam and the Nwamitwa Dam in Greater Tzaneen; and on distribution networks and pipelines. By so doing, we will be creating jobs and rendering services to our communities. As the ANC, we support the budget because it reflects the goals, objectives and targets set for each programme, on a quarterly as well as on an annual basis, and on the trends over the MTEF, both in allocation and expenditure.
Ndza khensa, khanimambo, inkomu. [I thank you.] [Applause.]