Water Shortage
IFP Member's Statement by Mr MW Sibuyana MP
|
NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY : 27th May 2008 The shortage of water in Mthatha and Bizana in the Eastern Cape Province is an issue of great concern. After fourteen years in office the department can no longer hide behind the legacy of apartheid and periodical drought. In actual fact, the department lacks foresight in terms of short, medium and long term planning. The worst part of the department's shortcomings is the shortage of qualified water officers. This has been going on for many years, resulting in budgeted funds remaining unspent while our people loiter the streets in search of jobs. The IFP, with its values of Ubuntu, deems it totally unacceptable that a hospital such as Nelson Mandela Academy should run short of water. For fourteen years, the department has done nothing to increase the capacity of Mthatha dam, to conserve floods of water flowing to the sea during summer rains. It is high time that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry runs ahead of issues, rather than acting after the event. It can do so by firing employed officials who fail to fill vacancies in the department. I thank you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
MR MW SIBUYANA MP: 083 662 5381 |