Injury time for her, Madam.
Ms C N Z ZIKALALA; Chairperson, ... Please! ... and people will be condemned to live lives of misery.
The amount allocated to this department has increased from R7 billion in the 2008-09 financial year to about R7,9 billion in the 2009-10 financial year. We hope that it will be spent wisely.
The improvement and maintenance of our water infrastructure is of paramount importance and if we are to avoid a water crisis, similar to the energy crisis, then the department must ensure that it is staffed with people who have necessary technical skills and expertise and that proper plans are in place to efficiently utilise our scarce water resources in a suitable manner. This is important for our long-term growth and development.
There have been warnings from various organisations about a looming water crisis. These must be heeded, and interaction with various stakeholders and organizations must occur on a ongoing basis so that identified problems can be addressed and major catastrophes avoided. The pollution of our water sources and catchments areas and poor water quality can, and must, be prevented.
The IFP represents some of the poorest people in South Africa, many of whom live in rural areas. The lack of access to water in some of these areas is not only sad but unacceptable. Whilst water is available at the turn of a tap for us, the many people who live in the rural and forgotten areas such as Jozini or Bushbuckridge struggle every day just to get enough water perform their daily chores and survive.
This greatly hampers their development and makes their struggle to escape the lives of poverty in which they find themselves so much more difficult. There are water sources such as the Inyaka and Jozini dams that are able to supply the local communities with water but, which are not being utilised properly for this purpose. This is a situation which needs to be corrected urgently. The department must ensure that the water resources in these areas are used, first and foremost, to address efficiently the water needs of the local communities. Water must also be made available for the economic needs of these communities.
It is when you go to these areas and see how people suffer to get their water that you realise just how important water actually is and how many people take it for granted. The sight of people carrying water from rivers or queuing in long lines just to get access to one tap is really heartbreaking. This department can transform and improve the lives of these people by ensuring a reliable supply of water. The IFP supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]