Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Chief Whip, Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members and distinguished guests, the month of June has been set aside by our government as Youth Month, as well as National Environmental Management Month. It is proper and fitting at this time of our evolution as a democracy to acknowledge the role played by the youth in the struggle for a united and democratic South Africa.
Their brave stance against apartheid policies and colonialism gave birth to the new dawn of democracy that we, today, are celebrating and are proud of. It is indeed important that we celebrate this memorable milestone and our achievements, whilst also bearing in mind that we still have more work to do in ensuring that we create a better life for all South Africans.
It is within this context that we also celebrate National Environmental Management Month. We ask the youth and the citizens of South Africa, again, to rise and fight for a safe and healthy environment that is not detrimental to our wellbeing and that is part of our future.
With regard to Budget Vote No 30: Environmental Affairs, the environmental sector has been at the forefront of ensuring that the natural resources of our country are conserved. Now we need to ensure that these resources are used sustainably for the benefit of all South Africans. A safe, healthy and functional environment is the constitutional right of everyone, and all sectors are dependent on this for their survival. Economic growth, health, education and the provision of basic services are all dependent on a safe, healthy and functional environment.
The department's budget allocation increased by R407,6 billion, which, after taking inflation into account, is an increase of 11,4% for 20ll-12. The main allocations are for Programme 3 - Oceans and Coasts, which receives a total budget allocation of R723,3 million in 2011-12. This represents a real growth rate of 1,5% in the budget allocation for the Oceans and Coasts programme. The increase in the budget is related to the replacement of the polar research vessel, which is urgently required for all coastal and marine research. All these allocations are aligned with the strategic plan of the department and are all required for it to implement its mandate.
The department has indicated that research and integrated coastal management - to improve local government institutional capacity to effectively apply the oceans and coasts policy and regulations and to increase the number of provincial and local authorities with coastal management units - are strategic objectives to be achieved over the 2011-12 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period.
However, the budget allocations for the subprogrammes Integrated Coastal Management, and Oceans and Coastal Research declined. So, the select committee would like to reiterate that in order for provinces to do their work, they need to be supported with resources and training.
The biodiversity and conservation programme received a budget allocation of R430,4 million in 2011-12. A large proportion - 80,5% - of the biodiversity and conservation programme's budget is comprised of transfer payments to the SA National Parks, Sanparks, and the SA National Biodiversity Institute, Sanbi, which are key conservation initiatives and which are fully supported. Sanparks and SANBI are entities that are tasked with managing our natural resources, which support ecotourism and provide important ecosystem services that mitigate against climate change effects. These organisations are essential for implementing the biodiversity mandate and more funds should be allocated for this purpose.
The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs fully supports the transfers to these entities.
This leads me to the climate change programme. A significant output of the climate change programme will be the successful hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December this year in Durban. The department has also boosted its research efforts to make good-quality contributions to the conference, and this is fully supported.
The climate change branch of the department has developed a National Climate Change Response Policy Green Paper 2010, with relevant government departments and other stakeholders. The Green Paper is currently being worked into a White Paper for adoption by Cabinet, by mid-year. All the activities and the progress made thus far are applauded. Minister, director- general and your team, you have done well so far. I take this opportunity to wish you the best during the upcoming negotiations. Let's deliver on our promises made in Cancun.
Halala! Amaqobokazana angalal'endleni yazini kunyembelekile! [Well done!]
Regarding Water Affairs, the two policy priorities identified within the budget allocations for the financial year are aligned with the transformation of the sector. These priorities include managing scarce water resources whilst ensuring that access to safe drinking water and sanitation is adequately provided to the constituents of South Africa. The task of ensuring the vital resource of water is secure for now, but in the future it will be difficult.
Therefore, the department has developed the Water for Growth and Development Framework. This initiative aims to strengthen institutional capacity, mainstream decision-making in the sector, diversify the sources of water used, strike a balance between supply and demand, address service delivery backlogs, and change water-use behaviour amongst stakeholders now and for the future.
The risks, threats and challenges to water availability and supply have been identified, and the budget allocations for the roll-out of these interventions within the provinces are provided for in the conditional grants.
The framework and the related activities are ambitious, but are urgently required. According to the United Nations, South Africa is ranked as a water-scarce country, getting only about half the world's average rainfall amount. Therefore, the need to conserve and manage our water resources sustainably for economic development is of national concern.
In the 2011 state of the nation address, our honourable President also stressed the fact that water infrastructure is needed to reduce the water supply backlog and increase service delivery. These service delivery requests still exist, especially in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, and in other areas where the issue of access to potable water remains a critical one.
The Blue Drop drinking water and the Green Drop waste water certification scheme is an achievement for the department since water provision is a local authority competency, whilst the department is tasked with ensuring that water quality is of an acceptable standard. In this regard, the department issued 96 - that is 60% Blue Drop and 52% Green Drop - status certifications to municipalities in the country. This is good news for all our communities out there in that they have access to safe drinking water.
Furthermore, leakage through poorly maintained infrastructure not only reduces the quantity of safe and clean drinking water reaching consumers, but also reduces the income of water service authorities, which is needed to deliver such services. The water that leaks still has to be paid for. This is an area that the department has started to take very seriously with its War on Leaks programme.
This intervention is applauded since water can be saved by fixing the leaks. Water infrastructure management and regional implementation and support are the top budgeted spending programmes in the department. The bulk of the department's budget is allocated to these two programmes, which are aligned to the core functions and priorities of the department and receive a combined amount of 82,7% of the budget.
The budget allocation to Programme 3 is in support of the development, rehabilitation, operation and management of bulk raw water infrastructure, which is aligned to the strategic priority of the department to contribute to economic growth by ensuring the supply of water for domestic, energy, irrigation and industrial use.
The need to accelerate access to water-related services was highlighted by the President in his state of the nation address, in which he indicated that R2,6 billion would be spent on water infrastructure, with priority given to the provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape where a large number of people do not have access to safe drinking water.
The regional implementation and support programme accounts for the largest percentage share allocation, that is 56,5% of the total budget for the Department of Water Affairs. The budget allocation for Programme 4 increased from R4,4 billion in 2010-1l to R5,6 billion in 2011-12, which is an increase of 22,6% in real terms. This allocation is needed for our provinces and local authorities. So, Minister, our committee fully supports this allocation.
The International Water Co-operation programme is a new programme introduced in 2011-12 and which is responsible for promoting and managing international relations as they relate to water resources between countries. Programme 6 received a total budget allocation of R26,l million in 2011-12. The International Water Co-operation programme is comprised of three subprogrammes, namely International Relations Management and Support, Africa Co-operation, and Global Co-operation.
The budget prioritisation of the Africa Co-operation subprogramme is strategically aligned to the performance target of implementing six bilateral technical co-operation agreements with African countries by 2013- 14. Over the 2011-12 year, the Africa Co-operation and Global Co-operation subprogrammes will intensify their efforts in sourcing funds.
In conclusion, Minister and comrades, this department addresses major government priorities, providing good quality water and ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment for all South Africans. Therefore, the Budget Votes presented to us this afternoon adequately address these government priorities. The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs fully supports Budget Votes No 30 and 38. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]