I also want to clarify something that was raised by the hon Zikalala in respect of water shared with animals. I think the department has recently launched a major water scheme in Maphumulo. They also officially opened another one at Ngcebo to address the very questions that you have just raised.
Given the country's history and the systematic manner in which the majority of our people were denied access to even the most basic of human needs, the drafters of our Constitution wanted to make sure that a democratic government takes steps to meet these needs. The challenge now is to extend access to water to those still without it, especially in rural areas, to ensure that it is affordable for the poor, and to maintain an adequate supply of usable water into the future.
Given the real threat of global warming and climate change, coupled with increases in food prices globally and in South Africa, the ANC is paying attention to the challenge of food security. It plans to expand access to food production schemes in rural and peri-urban areas and to support existing community schemes. Food production requires water of the right quality and the right quantity in the right places.
With respect to each of the basic rights, the Constitution says that the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of these rights. So, how well have we done? [Interjections.]
The provision of water is fundamental to service delivery, and it is in this context that the ANC government regards meeting basic daily water needs as a human right. The human rights aspect of water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use. An adequate quantity of safe water is necessary to prevent death from dehydration. It reduces the risk of water-related diseases and provides for consumption, cooking, personal and domestic hygiene requirements.
The training of personnel so that they acquire adequate knowledge and stay in the public water sector requires the adequate and sustainable investment of public funds in the water sector. Transfers and subsidies allocated to provinces and municipalities in the current Budget to contract adequate and sustainable supplies of water to households as a critical component of service delivery is insufficient.
Within this context, the following challenges are being faced by the department: the transfer of skills, operation and maintenance, ageing infrastructure that results in systematic failures of water supplies, challenges relating to water conservation and water demand management. Demand scenarios show that there will be a shortage of water by 2013.
The exclusion of this department in integrated planning is also one of the challenges. In some housing developments, the department is left out. As a result, we see houses without flushing toilets.
The capacity and skills challenges, especially in the municipalities, also need to be addressed. What is needed, though, is a shift away from short- term solutions. The question now is how sustainable these initiatives undertaken by the department are. How effective are the regulatory mechanisms? How does one monitor, evaluate and formulate realistic solutions?
To address some of these challenges, the use of ground water has to be explored. We are encouraged by the Minister's statement that the department is seriously looking into exploring this hidden treasure. This treasure can be safe and available even where bulk infrastructure is lacking. This is critical as we face uncertainty in our changing climate.
Ground water is less vulnerable to contamination compared with surface sources, as it is protected from pollution. It also requires less in terms of infrastructure, as wind and solar panels can be used to power the pumps. The department must, therefore, recruit young science students to train as hydrologists to study and explore ground water, and also to design boreholes and wells. It is said that Botshelo Water relies mostly on ground water, and it achieved 97% in terms of water quality.
It is also important to note some of the achievements that this department has managed to come up with. The Deputy Minister has already alluded to the fact that they have waged a serious war on leakages. In our communities, we have also witnessed the youth being trained on how to fix a tap. They have managed to change the mindset of our youth, who are no longer those boys and girls of yesterday who used to just open a tap on the street and play with the water. They are now being called Mr or Miss Fix-It. Our mothers have also adopted certain rivers. They are able to establish the sources of pollution and other problems, and are in a position to resolve them. We are also encouraged by the restructuring that took place in the department. The transfer of water service delivery and operations to the Water Services Authority is also to be applauded. The department, as custodian of our resources, only provides policy and guidelines and acts as the water sector regulator.
The establishment of the National Water Resource Strategy, which sets out procedures, guidelines and the overall strategy for managing water resources, is a great achievement. We also commend and applaud the building of national capacity to monitor the state of our water resources so that accurate information is used in decision-making about the use and management of our water resources.
The department has also implemented a drinking water quality management system, which sees municipalities supplying data on the quality of drinking water. This will enable the department to identify possible problems and to work with affected municipalities to resolve them.
There are also other support functions which this department provides for municipalities. It provides support regarding the integrated development plans, IDPs, and water services development plans. It also monitors the operations of water purification treatment works. It supported the implementation of tariff structures and the free basic water policy. It also trains councillors and officials in water services and water demand management. Now, hon Minister ...
... nako ya ka pele e fela a ke re, ke leboga ge o bolet?e ka taba ya gore o i?a meetse kua Jozini. Bjale, go set?e ba le ba kua Moutse mo Loskop Dam e lego kgauswi le bona. Ke tshepa gore ke bolela la mafelelo ka Tekanyet?okabo ye ke bolela ka batho ba Moutse ge ba sa hwet?e meetse a Loskop. Ngwaga wo o tlago ge o etla ka mo Ntlong ye o tle o re bot?e gore o dirile eng ka taba ya batho bale.
A ke go leboge Tona ebile ke tshepa gore ka nnete ke a tseba gore o tla dira seo re go kgopelago sona. Bjale kgoro ye, ka ge ka nnete re bona le nale me?omo e ment?i, dipilione t?e R7, 9 t?eo ba di fiwago di ka se dire selo. Di tloga di sa i?e kgoro ye felo. Ke rata go kwana le modulasetulo wa rena ge a re kgoro ye ga e hloke ka fase ga dipilione t?e R100 go dira me?omo ya yona. Ka gona ... (Translation of Sepedi paragraphs follows.)
[... before my time expires, I'd like to thank you for touching on the issue of water supply at Jozini. Now the people of Moutse, next to Loskop Dam, are left out. I believe that this Budget Vote is the last time I will talk about this issue of people in Moutse not getting water supply from Loskop Dam. Next year you should be giving a report in this House, updating us on the steps taken to address this matter.
Thank you, Minister. We believe that you will act promptly. It is noted that hands are tight in this department. An allocation of R7, 9 billion is not enough for efficient service delivery. It is not enough at all. I agree with our chairperson when she points out that this department needs nothing less than R100 billion for efficient service delivery. Therefore ...]
... I urge the Treasury to seriously look into upping the funds for this department. Therefore, our party, the ANC, and I support this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]