The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is a department which certainly has problems, but there is a new Minister in place in this particular department, and there is a turnaround strategy, which is under way. For the last two years, the DA has opposed this budget, because the turnaround strategy was never evident, but now there is one. It is important, however, to note what some of those problems are, so that we can hold the Minister to account over the next year. Indeed, we are lending support for this budget in this particular financial year.
The Water Trading Entity, with its disclaimer opinion, needs urgent attention. The Water Trading Entity cannot reliably provide information on fees collected from water users. It must be noted that for the last 23 months there has not been a permanent director-general in place in this department. Granted, the director-general was suspended and was ultimately removed from her position because of corrupt activities which she performed. For that we commend the department and the Minister, but ultimately there has been no permanent leadership in that department.
This is, however, a department with many good public servants who want to see change in this department, who want to deliver water to all the many South Africans who don't currently have it, who want to deal with the water quality issues. Therefore we lend our support because we want them to turn the situation around over the current year. Added to that, it is important that the backlog in water use licences is dealt with. This has been going on for far too long now. Added to that, the more than 100 mines without water licences have to be dealt with as well.
We commend the Minister for the action that has been taken on acid mine drainage, at last, albeit slow. It is important that that is accelerated as well. The DA will be watching the performance of the Minister and this department keenly over the next year, and we hope that we can again support this budget next year. [Applause.]