Old Assembly Chambers: 24th June 2009

Honourable Chairperson,

The work of this department has a direct impact of the quality of life of all South Africans as it has the important task of ensuring that they have access to water. Without water government's economic and social objectives will not be met and people will be confined to living lives of misery.

The amount allocated to this department increases 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 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 the necessary technical skills and expertise and that proper plans are in place to efficiently utilise our scarce water resources in a sustainable 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 organisations must occur on an 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 also 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 to perform their daily chores and survive. This greatly hampers their development and ensures that their struggle to escape the lives of poverty in which they find themselves is made so much more difficult. There are water sources, such as the Inyaka and the Jozini dams, that are able to supply the local communities with water but they 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 efficiently address 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 carting water from rivers or people 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 this budget vote

I thank you.

Contact:
Liezl van der Merwe
083 611 7470.