Chairperson, yes, we do agree that there are challenges faced by the department, but that does not warrant us not supporting Budget Vote No 34. The ANC believes that the realignment of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to Water and Environmental Affairs will make the oversight responsibility of the portfolio committee and the work of the department easier.
Indeed, working together with the DA, we will try our best to assist those ailing water boards. The President, in his state of the nation address, indicated that the ANC will never rest until every community has access to clean water, including the rural communities.
Indeed, we, the ANC will never rest as long as people in the Eastern Cape and other provinces travel for more than 10km to fetch water. The ANC will never rest as long as women and children in rural areas die from malaria because of no access to clean water; and the ANC will never rest as long as other sectors of society want to monopolise water. The ANC supports this Budget Vote.
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Vote No 35 - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - put and agreed to.
Vote No 36 - Basic Education - put and agreed to.
Vote No 37 - Economic Development - put and agreed to.
Vote No 38 - Energy - put and agreed to.
Vote No 39 - Environmental Affairs - put and agreed to.
Vote No 40 - Higher Education and Training - put and agreed to.
Vote No 41 - Mineral Resources - put and agreed to.
Vote No 42 - Tourism - put and agreed to.
Vote No 43 - Water Affairs - put and agreed to.
Vote No 44 - Women, Children and People with Disabilities - put and agreed to.
Schedule, as amended, put and agreed to.