... the most valuable mineral resources of any country in the world. This is something we can take pride in. But it just makes it even more shocking that we are currently one of the greatest underperformers in attracting investment into our mining sector. The reasons for this are well-known, but you have chosen to remain silent on all the controversial issues that require strong political leadership.
Instead of putting a destructive nationalisation debate to bed and giving assurances that political patronage will have no bearing on the allocation of mining licences, you instead came up with a state-owned mining company as a panacea for this sector.
Mr President, this will merely exacerbate the problems in this sector and divert government investment away from our badly needed infrastructure building programme.
According to the Department of Public Enterprise's own figures, the state has built up a R1,5 trillion backlog in infrastructure investment over the past 10 years, and this is manifesting itself across all areas of our economy.
Arguably, the most urgent infrastructural needs are in the water sector where over R100 billion is required to fix our failing water and sewage treatment plans. The R2,6 billion you earmarked for this sector in your address is welcome, but it represents a drop in a leaking bucket. It will also be wasted unless we deal with the serious governance problems in this sector.
I witnessed this first-hand when I visited the Madibeng Municipality last year. In this municipality corruption and maladministration has led to the unthinkable scenario where the sewerage plant isn't even able to treat the sewage. Essentially, raw effluent is simply pumped straight into a river from which drinking water is then drawn.
The response from national government has been equally deplorable. It forced the municipality to take on politically-connected consultants at exorbitant prices as opposed to truly dealing with the unfolding water crisis. This is in keeping with the ruling party's stock response to most issues, namely: "Crisis? What crisis?" In fact we have heard this phrase so often lately that the public would be forgiven for thinking that this is the ANC's new election slogan. [Applause.]
It certainly encapsulates the government's response to the crisis of acid mine drainage, with the planning Minister summarily dismissing any concerns despite the fact that 40 million litres of acid mine water are decanting from the West Rand daily.
The infamous Aurora Mine has also been pumping out over 50 million litres of untreated mine water daily - and I have the Wellington boots for you, hon Minister - daily into the surrounding wetland. It is now even prepared to allow the pump station to flood with potentially disastrous effects for the surrounding towns. Despite these actions being criminal, no charges have been brought against these politically-connected directors, who have created an environmental and human rights catastrophe.
Mr President, we might have a hundred years of exploitable mineral wealth, but if we continue to allow mining in this free-for-all fashion without proper environmental controls, we will have no natural wealth left in this country.
This is why the government must urgently implement the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, three years after it was passed by Parliament, so that environmental authorisations can finally rest with the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Finally, Mr President, the ID was extremely disappointed not to hear you refer to South Africa's hosting of Climate Change Conference 2011, at the end of this year. It is in our interest to ensure that a global deal is finally reached on this pressing issue. This is because without it, the natural devastation that was wrought on our country this year, will intensify and nullify any efforts we might take at relieving our impending water crisis.
The ID therefore hopes that you will take all of these issues into account when contemplating the real state of the nation. I thank you. [Applause.]