Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members of the House, chairperson of the portfolio committee, ladies and gentlemen, water is life! Kindly allow me, hon Chairperson, to premise my address to this august assembly by stating a simple, but profound fact of life: that water is life. Without water, there is no life.
Our world-renowned Constitution, the supreme law of the land, exhorts us to uphold access to water as a right for everyone, as stated in section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution. I may as well add that water is the key to social and economic development and, of course, to the attainment of a better life.
To this end, the ruling party, the ANC, at its Polokwane conference highlighted, amongst other things, water allocation reform and water resource management which "must be integral when municipalities do their planning", as key deliverables for our responsive government. This was also reinforced by the President, Jacob Zuma, in his state of the nation address to the joint sitting of Parliament on 3 June 2009.
Another simple but incontrovertible fact worth mentioning is that our beloved country, South Africa, is a water-scarce country. In the face of the prevalent global economic crisis and the social contract we sealed on 9 May 2009 with the people of this country, and the concomitant rallying call to work together for a better life, a new and sophisticated level of thinking and action pertaining to water is required. Our challenge here is not so much to invent as it is to alter the way we think and act on how we use our water. We don't have the luxury of choice and time, unfortunately - we have to act now, and do so decisively.
Exactly a week ago, we were in this House presenting the environmental policy statement. We return this morning even more determined to deal earnestly with the challenges and opportunities affecting the water sector in this, the Budget Vote of Water Affairs.
Firstly, we have taken a decision to deal decisively with wrongdoers. Henceforth, we are adopting a "zero tolerance" stance on environment and water crimes. This campaign will be bolstered by our commitment to return environmental courts. We are in discussion with the Justice portfolio and other law-enforcement agencies to realise this, and within eight months we will see results.
We are in the process of expanding the mandate of environmental management inspectors to include the water aspect. The emergence of a single enforcement unit arising from the integration of the Blue and Green Scorpions will strengthen our resolve against wrongdoers.
We are going to apply the "polluter pays" principle with renewed vigour to ensure that culprits committing pollution, illegal water use, and other environmental and water crimes don't go unpunished.
We will accelerate the water allocation reform programme. Water is not only central but is also an excellent catalyst for development. It is for this reason that our water allocation programme will be playing a pivotal role in supporting government's priorities in rural development and land reform.
The department will avail water to support the pilot rural development programme announced by the President in Limpopo. We are already in discussion with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries regarding the role of agriculture as a major water user in our economy. Our aim is to rationalise water use and ensure equity of distribution.
Ngolu hlobo, sizakube sinceda nabalimi abasakhulayo, ngokubanika isixa samanzi esifanele umsebenzi abawenzayo wokulima nokufuya njengoko amanzi ebalulekile kwimpumelelo yabo njengoosomashishini. Kunjalonje, siza kuba neengxoxo eziqinileyo nabo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[In this manner, we shall be assisting the emerging farmers by providing them with water resources suitable for agriculture and stock farming, as water is essential to their success as entrepreneurs. Furthermore, we shall be engaging with them in formal discussions.]
In this regard, we will also meet stakeholders such as Agri SA, emerging farmers and others in our attempt to deal with this matter as inclusively as possible.
We are also looking closely at the issue of single-purpose dams, which are located within communities that have no ready access to water. We have completed a study in Taung. We are ready to commission the dam so that it can benefit the communities. We will do this throughout the country where such problems exist.
But I must add that we are looking at diversifying the infrastructure that we will be constructing for water purposes. Where we can, we will avoid damming, as some areas might not need damming.
We will intensify our efforts to maintain acceptable standards in our drinking water quality. My first official function in the portfolio was to hand out certificates to 22 municipalities that qualified for Blue Drop certification. This is a clear indication of the route that the department is taking in ensuring that the water sector is well regulated. And, indeed, credit must go to my predecessor, former Minister Lindiwe Hendricks, for initiating this programme.
Through this programme, and especially the efforts of all involved, we have managed to raise the profile of drinking water quality and to name and shame those who are not complying. Municipal reporting has increased and the sector achieved an average of 93,3% compliance with microbiological limits of national standards, which are coded as "SANS 241".
As a result, most municipalities are tightening their monitoring programmes to ensure that they comply with national norms and standards. Although the focus has been on drinking water quality, we have started assessments on waste-water treatment works to ensure compliance with effluent quality standards. I must say that this is of grave concern to me. We intend to intensify this work to ensure that our water quality standards are not compromised, especially with the hosting of the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. But for me, really, South Africans deserve the best quality of water. We will have visitors, and it is important that we maintain the standards, but I think charity should begin at home, and really, that is what will be guiding us.
Noxa siza kuyenza le migudu silisebe, sikwacela kwisizwe sethu ukuba sisebenzisane nathi ukugada ukungcoliswa kwamanzi ngandlela zonke. Abantu mabayeke ukulahla izinto ezingcolileyo kwimilambo nakwimijelo yamanzi ekufutshane kubo. Okwangoku isesisicelo esi, kodwa ukuba abantu bahlala besithi gqolo ukungcolisa amanzi nokuhlala bewaba amanzi, mabazi ukuba sizisa umthetho ongqingqwa oya kusinceda ukuphelisa le mikhuba. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[Even though we shall be making these efforts as a department, we are also appealing to our nation to work hand in hand with us to guard against water pollution in all respects. People must stop throwing litter into rivers and water canals that are flowing close to them. For now this is a request, but if people continue unabatedly to pollute and to steal water, they must be warned that we are promulgating strict laws which will help us to curb these habits.]
We will respond to the call to increase access and build adequate infrastructure. The President has reiterated the message that communities in rural areas and poor townships deserve an equal chance of access to basic amenities such as water, sanitation, electricity and recreational facilities.
To this end, we are investing R500 million in a programme to intervene in high-risk areas where there are water challenges. This special intervention programme focuses on the following areas. We will be looking at ageing infrastructure that leads to discharge of sewerage into our rivers. We will be looking at water conservation in stressed systems such as the Vaal and Umgeni rivers. We will be looking at areas where there is illegal abstraction, for example the Upper Vaal area. And we will be looking at areas where there is no infrastructure and communities are vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
This investment will address sewerage spillages, target specific treatment facilities and asset management, and provide much-needed technical assistance to municipalities. We have identified nodal areas for focused interventions and these have been chosen based on the extent of the need for refurbishment, the extent of sewerage spillages and the age and dilapidation of infrastructure.
We will continue to invest in infrastructure for social and economic development. In the next five to eight years, the department will spend approximately R30 billion on the continuing construction and establishment of 15 mega water resource infrastructure projects, increasing the capacity of existing water resource infrastructure to provide water to strategic installations such as the energy sector, the industrial sector and the mining sector and for domestic purposes.
Additional infrastructure programmes include an accelerated programme for the construction of the De Hoop Dam, the continued partnership with the government of Lesotho for the implementation of the proposed phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, and the implementation of the project to augment the supply of water to Lephalale for use by Eskom and other petrochemical industries.
Water security and security of supply remain high on our agenda. As already alluded to, we are a water-scarce country and our water resources are finite. We cannot afford an unco-ordinated programme of blue-sky water- thirsty projects. We need to be prudent in the management of this resource, since the primary source is rainfall, which cannot be guaranteed by decree. Having said that, we are working hard to ensure that there is security of supply to provide water for the growth of our economy as well as social development.
It is for this reason that our department has come up with a framework that will ensure that our water resources are managed sustainably to meet future demands. Within the context of this strategy, we are embarking on the following programmes.
We will look at diversification of our water mix, or rather, water resources, ensuring that we explore other sources of supply. For example, we will be looking at the desalination of sea water, especially in coastal areas. We are also looking at strengthening effluent, and the reuse of water.
We will intensify public awareness about the value of water, because we need to instil a culture of responsibility and change of attitude and behaviour with regard to water. We will conserve water by curbing water losses by at least 20% by 2014.
Sihlaba ikhwelo kubantu bakuthi, lokuba baqaphele ukuba ilizwe lethu alinawo amanzi. Iimvula esizifumanayo azisiniki manzi onele yonke imisebenzi esiyenzayo sililizwe. Loo nto ke ithetha ukuba, amanzi esiwafumanayo masiwonge.
Le meko yokunqongophala kwamanzi yenziwa maxongo nangakumbi ziimeko zembalela ezihamba nenkqubo yokuguquka kwezimo zezulu kwilizwekazi liphela, into apha amakhumsha ayibiza ukuba yi-climate change. Siza kubuya sileli sebe sibafundise abantu beli lizwe ukuze babe nolwazi oluphangaleleyo ngale climate change. Okwangoku, umyalezo wam mnye: Sebenzisa amanzi ngononophelo wena mhlali! (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[We appeal to our fellow people to become conscious of the fact that water is scarce in our country. Our rainfall does not provide us with sufficient water needed to perform all water-related tasks as a country. That means we have to use the water we get wisely.
Water scarcity is exacerbated by drought conditions accompanied by weather changes in the continent at large, and this is referred to as climate change. As this department, we will embark on a campaign to educate the people of this country so that they can have a broader knowledge about climate change. For now, I have only one message: use water sparingly!]
We will act hard and decisively against defaulters and punish wrongdoing. We will strengthen our regulatory capacity and assist municipalities.
We realise that none of the above can be achieved without strong partnerships with other departments and with the private sector, but, most importantly, a partnership with the people of South Africa. We also appreciate the negative impact that lack of skills has on service delivery. The department is doing its best, working with the private sector and other countries, in the context of bilateral co-operation, to ensure that we build the required pool of skills to take the South African water sector forward.
Of course to achieve this, you need a motivated workforce and an organisation that is systematically geared up to perform. Internally we have initiated what we call a change journey which aims at rekindling the culture of commitment and service, improvement of our business processes and the creation of a dynamic culture of transparency, respect and excellence for everyone.
At this point, Chair, allow me to express appreciation to the following people: The Deputy Minister for the support that he always gives to me, and guidance of course; the chairperson of the portfolio committee, who is a very energetic individual who will provide much-needed leadership in this portfolio committee; and of course the officials who are always hard at work. I also apologise, because sometimes the tendency is to abuse them. They did not have a weekend - they spent their weekend with me working very hard, and I need to express my appreciation at this podium. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]