Chairperson, it is obvious that the ANC supports the Budget Vote of this important commodity, water, which gives life to the people of South Africa, including the DA.
We acknowledge the challenges raised by the DA, but the DA knows very well that there are mechanisms that have been put in place by the department to address some of these challenges. On the issue of the director-general's suspension ...
... lithanda izindaba leli lungu ... [... this member is inquisitive ...]
... and knows very well that we did get a progress report from the Minister a month ago and we know exactly how far that report is at this moment.
Ukuthanda izindaba nokuthanda ukubukwa ... [That is inquisitiveness and wanting to show off ...]
On the issue of the vacancies in the department, you know, Chair, as well as we do that the challenge we are faced with in that department is that of scarce skills: design engineers, construction engineers, technical engineers, and so forth. The problem that we are faced with is for these vacancies.
The responses that we get ...
... ngenxa yengcindezelo kolwabo uhlangothi ... [... because of the pressure on their side ... ]
... are people that were advantaged to have those courses in previous years. It is white males who apply for these vacancies. I do not know if there is a better word to describe white males. In respect of disadvantaged communities, that is the graduates from our own community, the department took a decision that they are going to invite all these graduates into the department so that there will be shadow engineers within the department ...
... basebenze namaxhegu ahleli phaya angafuni ukuphuma ... [... who would be working with older people who do not want to retire ... ]
... so that they should transfer their skill to these young, previously disadvantaged students. [Time expired.] The ANC supports this Budget Vote.
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).
Schedule put and agreed to.