Hon Speaker, the residents of Louis Trichardt in Limpopo went without water for 27 days, and the degraded state of the infrastructure has been blamed for the lack of access to water.
For those 27 days, hospital equipment could not be cleaned, exposing people to infection. Sewage flowed constantly in the streets, and public toilets, especially in shopping malls, which were forced to close, exerting more strain on the capability of businesses to function.
Residents of Carolina in Mpumalanga claim that their water supply has not improved since the municipality was taken to court. In fact, the water now smells like bleach and they are afraid to drink it.
As we mark National Water Week, it is heartbreaking to see that the government is constantly failing at national and local levels and is always reacting to situations that arise, instead of delivering proper services in the first place in order to avoid major service-delivery disruptions to communities. People are tired of excuses that are made for the failure to provide clean, drinkable water, despite many claims of success in other places.
Water is an essential resource that needs to be well looked after. Our people deserve to receive clean drinking water with no harmful pollutants or fluoride in it, as these have long-term harmful effects. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Time expired.] [Applause.]