Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 26 May 2017
Summary
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Minutes
FRIDAY, 26 MAY 2017
PROCEEDINGS OF MINI-PLENARY SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
Members of the mini-plenary session met in the Old Assembly Chamber at 10:00.
Mr A F Mahlalela, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Budget Vote no 36 – Water and Sanitation:
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson, hon members of the portfolio committee and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Deputy Minister, Pamela Tshwete, Members of Parliament, the director-general and the entire water family, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honour to present to Parliament and the people of South Africa, the Budget of
the Department of Water and Sanitation for the 2017-18 financial year.
We table this year‘s Budget Vote under the theme: ―The Year of Oliver Reginald Tambo: Unity in Action, Together Moving South Africa Forward‖. South Africans are therefore called upon to unite as espoused in the precepts and imperatives of the NDP, the ANC‘s elections manifesto and the Second National Water Resource Strategy. We want this Budget to reach out to those unserved communities, the rural poor, living in underdeveloped areas, like where the late President Oliver Tambo hails from.
As we have said before, water knows no boundary and water can be a social, security and economic catalyst, both nationally and internationally. As a country, we participate in many global strategic platforms that seek to position the water sector in the centre of the international debate on water and sanitation. To mention a few: We are participants in the High-Level Panel on Water, represented by His Excellency, President Zuma; in the Water Resource Group, WRG; in the African Union Infrastructure in support of Vision 2063; and in the World Economic Forum and the World Economic Forum on Africa.
We are pleased to announce that South Africa, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership, GWP, working together with the African Ministers on water, will host one of the regional consultations on valuing water, job creation and industrialisation.
We live in a country that is the 30th driest in the world. A country where water and sanitation services, were previously used to promote inequality. However, with the dawn of democracy, a people‘s government has found it fit to use water and sanitation as a means of uniting South Africa, alleviating poverty and creating jobs.
Since the coming into office of the 5th administration, the country has been hit by the worst drought in the last 100 years and the severest for the Western Cape, in the last 104 years. This drought has not only affected South Africa, but also the entire world due to global warming and climate change.
As at 22 May 2017, the total capacity of the 215 major dams that are measured on a weekly basis, is at 72,6%. As we previously said, we have not fully recovered and it will take a period of not less than
2 to 3 years to fully recover, and worst for the Western Cape.
Despite the rain that we experienced recently, all provinces are
still under water restrictions, except the Gauteng province. Amid all the challenges and the risks related to the drought, let us thank all South Africans for having partnered and taken direct responsibility for efficient water use. We must commend ourselves as South Africans that despite the severe drought, no major loss of life and the breakout of major water-borne diseases, were experienced, because we all acted responsibly.
Thank you, South Africa. Dankie. Siyabonga. The emergency interventions such as the rehabilitation and drilling of boreholes, carting of water by motorised tankers, erection of emergency static tanks and reservoirs, and the refurbishment of infrastructure has had a significant impact on mitigating the effects of the drought.
Let us commend our municipalities for complying and co-operating with the national conditions that were set under the disaster management. Water storage for the present and the future remains critical for creating certainty for economic and social development of our country. This then call on us to build more infrastructures that will address unemployment, inequality and poverty. To mention, just but a few projects: the Mzimvubu Water Scheme is one of the critical socioeconomic transformation projects of the current administration. It is an intervention in a previously neglected part
of our country where through this development, we aim to create no less than 5 000 employment opportunities in the construction phase and 3 700 post—construction. This will also result in water supply to over 726 000 people within the catchment and in the areas of Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo.
Fellow South Africans, a nation as big and economically advanced as South Africa, is overly dependent on water transferred from Lesotho, particularly for our economic hub, Gauteng. We are now at phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that will augment the Vaal River System through the transfer of the additional volumes of water from Lesotho. The main features of phase two are the Polihadi dam and the expansion of the pipeline to Katse dam. Through sound partnership with Lesotho, we have also intensified our efforts to ensure that water would be available in storage in the new Polihali dam as early as December 2024, and that water would be transferred to Katse dam for delivery to South Africa by September 2025.
Subsequent to the review of the procurement policies, in line with the Treaty Agreement in favour of South Africans and Basotho, there is now a 54% value in favour of advance infrastructure contracts to South African-owned companies as compared to what happened on phase one.
In the immediate construction on phase two, we will focus on access roads, feeder roads, residential areas and other infrastructure areas such as electricity and communication. Furthermore, as part of our augmentation of the Vaal River System, an intervention has been made by government to attend to the three water basins in the Witwatersrand that were contaminated by the historically neglected mine water, known as Acid Mine Drainage, AMD.
Our interventions entailed the pumping of the acid mine water and neutralizing it using high density deluge treatment. Through this intervention, our government has been able to bring 242 million litres combined yield of processed mine water per day, back into the Vaal River system.
In the Northern Cape, we have commenced with the Vaal-Gamagara Water Project, which entails the development of a 432 kilometer pipeline. Phase one Vaal-Gamagara will focus on the 82 kilometer pipeline that will stretch from Roscoe in Kathu to Black Rock.
On completion of phase one, beneficiaries will include the mining sector, livestock farms, solar parks and the communities of Kathu, Olifantshoek and Hotazel, benefiting a populace of 23 500 and it is
expected to be completed by August 2018.
The following are the augmentation schemes to support water security in South Africa: the raising of the Clanwilliam dam wall and irrigation Scheme; the raising of Tzaneen dam wall that will see construction for the raising of the dam wall commencing by July 2017; lower Thukela Regional Bulk Water Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal will be completed in Dec 2017. This scheme will supply additional water to the coastal and inland areas of KwaDukuza and Mandeni local municipalities. Mogalakwena Bulk Water Supply in Limpopo will see
94 000 people as well as mines in the Waterberg area, benefitting from the project. The project aims to deliver water to Mokopane town and villages to the immediate north of Mokopane.
In the Northern Cape, the Namakwa Bulk Water Supply Scheme is set to benefit 11 500 households in the Namakwa region.
In Mpumalanga, the Hoxane Water Treatment Works has seen the completion of phases one and two. Phase three will provide an additional 27 million litres per day of purified water for the benefit of emerging black farmers. The Mokolo Crocodile West Augmentation will contribute to support electricity generation for our country. The Lushushwane Bulk Water Supply in Mpumalanga, phase two is targeted to be completed in October 2017 and will benefit the
communities in Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga.
The department intervened on the basis of a court order, when Mopani District had failed to deliver basic services resulting in the loss of life and the collapse of the health system in Giyani. In line with the court order, interventions were made on basic water and sanitation services. Through the interventions ... Shut up! ... We are now in a position to hand over Nkhensani Hospital Groundwater Augmentation, 16 Priority Villages Groundwater Augmentation, the Giyani and Nsami Wastewater Treatment Works, three pump stations, as well as the Kremetart high and low reservoirs.
The impact on the intervention led to the improvement ... [Interjections.]
Ms A STEYN: On a point of order!
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): What is the point of order?
Ms A STEYN: The Minister just said shut up to one of our members and I think it is unparliamentary. She needs to withdraw that. [Interjections.]
The DA MEMBER: It happened a few seconds ago and I was trying to switch on the microphone.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Order hon members, I want to hear what is the point of order, hon members? I can‘t get it. You are shouting as well ... [Interjections.]
Ms A STEYN: Chair, the Minister is using unparliamentary terms by saying shut up to one of my members while she was busy with the speech. I ask you to ask her to withdraw? [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Order, hon members! Hon Minister, may you please withdraw the ―shut up?‖
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Chair, I withdraw and ...
Isizulu:
... ngicela nithule. [Laughter.]
English:
Ms A STEYN: Chair, the Minister must please withdraw unconditionally
... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): No, there was no condition.
Ms A STEYN: ... not with other terms attached.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): No, there was no condition. She said she withdraws but requests that when she speaks, respect her by keeping quiet. [Interjections.] That‘s what she said. Yes.
Ms A STEYN: Chairperson!
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): That is not a condition.
Ms A STEYN: Chairperson, it is a condition. It is our right to hackle the Minister. She can‘t say we must be quiet and if we don‘t listen she says shut up! No, Chair, I don‘t accept that. She must just withdraw.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Hon member, please take your seat. Hon Minister, proceed! I have ruled on the matter. She did withdraw. That‘s the fact of the matter.
Ms A STEYN: With all due respect ... [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): She did withdraw. What do you want? There was no condition. She withdrew and requested ... [Interjections.]
Ms A STEYN: There was.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): That‘s not a condition. A request is not a condition.
Ms A STEYN: That‘s fine. We will accept it.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): It is not a condition.
Ms A STEYN: It is a condition.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): A request can‘t be a condition.
Ms A STEYN: That‘s fine. We don‘t accept the request.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Alryt. So, if you don‘t accept request, its fine but she did make that request. Hon Minister, proceed.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair, on a point of order! [Interjections.]
Ms A STEYN: Chair, on a point of order!
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair, on a point of order!
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): What is the point of order?
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair, the order is that once the presiding officer has made a ruling, no one must challenge the ruling. Therefore, that hon member is out of order. She is not allowed to do that in Parliament.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Hon members, let‘s respect the ruling. I have ruled. I have requested the Minister to withdraw, which she accordingly did, and further requested ... that is not a condition to be heard. That is what she is requesting. If you do ... you can hackle but that‘s what she is requesting. That is not a condition. Hon Minister, please proceed!
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: The impact on the intervention led to the improvement of bulk water supply, access to water, the prevention of effluent discharge from the wastewater treatment works
operation and maintenance of the schemes and related infrastructure. Water supply is now accessed for the first time by communities within the 55 villages. A close out report on the emergency interventions in Giyani has now been received and a long-term intervention is now under consideration.
One of the fastest growing nodes in the country is the city of Polokwane, in Limpopo. In support of the provincial growth and development strategy of Limpopo, we have since completed a feasibility study for the entire Polokwane city and in this financial year, we will develop the pipeline infrastructure from the Ebenezer dam to Polokwane.
Setswana:
Kwa Porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima re tlile go abelana ka metsi kwa meepong e le metlhano mme metsi ao a tlile go fetela kwa metse setoropong ya kwa Moses Kotane, Rustenburg le Thabazimbi. Seo se tla thusa batho ba kana ka dikete di le makgolo a robedi someamabedithataro (826 000) ba kgone go bona metsi a a phepa e bile a tswa mo dipeiping.
IsiZulu:
EJozini KwaZulu-Natal isikhungo lapho kuhlanzwa amanzi sesisiqedile. Lo mklamo uhambisana nokubakhona kwamalitha amanzi ayizigidigidi ezingama-40 ngosuku okwenzeka esikhungweni sokuhlanzwa kwamanzi lesi esisikhandile kanye nezindawo zokugcina amanzi komasipala futhi kanye nephayiphi elikhulu elizokwazi ukususa amanzi edamini ukuyofinyelela komasipala ikakhulukazi kumasipala waseMkhanyakude.
Ukwengeza kulokho eyokugcina indawo yokugcina amanzi khona eJozini isiyakhandwa sikhuluma manje kanye nezimpopi ezintathu azosiza ukuthi leli phayiphi elikhulu ukwazi ukuthi uhluze amanzi, uhambise amanzi ayofinyelela emindenini empisholo nekhubazekile engazange ithole amanzi kuze kufinyelele manje kulohulumeni wentando yeningi.
English:
We have completed five regional bulk infrastructure projects and have handed over to municipalities. The following are those regional bulk infrastructure projects: Steytlerville in Eastern Cape; the Noupoort and Norvalspont in Northern Cape; Paarl bulk water and Citrusdal Wastewater Treatment Works here in the Western Cape; and the Kalahari East to Mier pipeline phase one in the Northern Cape.
In the Eastern Cape ...
IsiZulu:
... Kumasipala kunomklamo obizwa ngokuthiwa KSD Presidential Intervention lo ozama ukuncedisana nomasipala base-OR Tambo ukuthi sikwazi ukuphucula i-Thornhill Water Treatment, lapho sizokwazi ukuthi sikhulise izinga lokuba khona kwamanzi kusukela kwizigidigidi ezingama-60 ukuyofinyelela ezigidigidini ezingama-80. Siphinde futhi saqhubeka, saqinisekisa ukuthi sizokwakha futhi ikhono kwamanye ama- treatment works khona laphaya eKSD ukuthi sibe namanzi angaphezu kwezigidigidi ezingama-12 azofinyelela ezigidigidini ezingama-24, ukuze sikwazi ukonga amanzi nokugcina amanzi ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemakhaya lapho abantu bebephuza amanzi nezimbongolo.
English:
Through these developments, we will unlock a 6 500 unit housing development in Ngangelizwe. We are also extending bulk pipelines to supply Libode, Ngqeleni and Mqanduli.
In Free State, the projects that have been completed include Brandfort raw water pipeline ...
Sesotho:
... hammoho le peipe ya Rosendal eo eleng kahare ho mmasepala wa Maloti a Phofung. Hodima moo, re se re le motjheng wa ho qetella mosebetsi oo re o etsang Monyakeng Wesselsbron.
Mosebetsi o mong o latelang ke wa hore re kopanye matamo a mararo a leng kahara Maluti a Phofung a neng a ahilwe ho ya ka kgethollo ya mmala hobane hajwale re re metsi ha a na kgethollo.
Re kopanya matamo ana hore letamo le leholo ha le tletse metsi re se ke ra sitwa ke ho nka metsi re a isa malapeng a batho ba bo rona, dipolasing, hammoho le makeisheneng. Mosebetsi oo o se o qadile mme o etsuwa ke Boto ya Sedibeng ba thusana le Maluti a Phofung.
English:
As part of the drought interventions, early last year, there was a potential threat of industry shutting down in Richards Bay as a result of the severity of the drought in that part of South Africa. Working in partnership with the municipality and the private sector, we are proud to indicate before this House, that a desalination plant that yields 10 million litres per day, at a cost of
R300 million was constructed within a period of seven months. The plant operates at 60% energy efficiency. Through these volumes, we have been able to help local government to receive an additional
20 million litres of water from industry and redistribute it back to a populace of 175 000 households.
We are humbled that here, today; we are joined by His Excellency, the Mayor of Umhlathuze, who is one of the beneficiaries of this particular project. Furthermore, we are also joined by the 26-years- old Paradzai Muneka as the project manager and the young Lunga Patso, who is in charge of the construction of this particular plant and he is just over 30 years. The future looks bright. Young people are beginning to occupy the centre stage with regard to water infrastructure and I would wish that the House acknowledges them.
They are up there in the gallery.
Having alluded to the fact that we are one of the driest countries in the world, we are seized with ways and means to mitigate water losses. Among these is the continuous update of the status of non- revenue water and water losses within all our municipalities. The implementation of the War on Leaks Programme that is targeting young people is one of those. The Deputy Minister will acknowledge some of the beneficiaries of the War on Leaks, who are here with us today.
The restoration of the dignity of our people is a commitment by this government. Of the 52 300 buckets in the formal settlements that were to be eradicated, some 26 900 buckets have been eradicated and of the remaining 25 400 buckets, 14 000 is work in progress, with
11 000 remaining to be completed with the use of alternative
technology, working together with the Water Research Commission, WRC, as well as the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. We can now confirm that the following provinces no longer have buckets in the old formal townships, namely; Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Northern Cape. [Interjections.]
As part of expanding the future development ... Don‘t play politics. You are not. Keep quiet. [Interjections.] As part of expanding the future development of Gauteng, we will continue with the implementation of the Sedibeng Regional Sewer Scheme that will unlock the future development in most parts of Gauteng province.
This scheme will add over 200 million litres per day of waste water treatment capacity.
Water security has been skewed towards a reliance on surface water. South Africa is still heavily reliant on surface water and its further development with more than two thirds of the country‘s average annual runoff already stored in our dams. In order for us to realise a seamless approach from source to tap, as well as the disposal of waste, a stand alone water and sanitation MINMEC has been established with the approval of the President and started to function to co-ordinate effective intergovernmental relations.
As part of ensuring that communities are part of decision-making and finding local solutions, 103 water and sanitation forums have been established for the first time in the 27 priority districts municipalities. This initiative seeks to strengthen unity in action in the delivery of water and sanitation services.
In support of co-ordination and streamlining interdepartmental and intergovernmental interventions, the following bulk water supply schemes are going to be attended to through an intervention of the Department of Co-operative Governance, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, MISA, the Department of Water and Sanitation, DBSA and National Treasury. The following are those bulk water schemes: Six in the Eastern Cape; three in the KwaZulu-Natal; seven in Limpopo; two in the Northern Cape; and eight in the North West.
As part of our responsibilities on the Operations and Maintenance Programme, 40 out of the 44 dams were rehabilitated. Urgent intervention to address safety concerns on Mthatha and Darlington dams will be implemented during this financial year.
The Rehabilitation of Canal Systems is a diverse programme that includes engineering design and construction. Women entrepreneurs from the Women‘s Incubation Programme will be at the forefront of
the rehabilitation of these canals, in line with the preferential procurement policies. Today, we are joined by among others, Ms Palesa Mkabane, a female engineer, who is here with us as well as Ms Lindiwe Dladla, who are part of the Women‘s Incubation Programme and the mentees, who are part of the same programme. I dare say, amongst others, we have a veteran of our liberation movement, who has been involved in housing construction sector and has now moved into the space to compete with those who have had the monopoly of constructing infrastructure in the water sector, Dr Thandi Ndlovu.
She is here with us. Watch the space; very soon we will be handing over a dam that she would have partnered with established business to deal with the transformation of the water sector ensuring that women do not only get responsible to fetch water, they must also build the infrastructure, create wealth and create jobs for communities to prosper. Thank you very much.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): May I make a special plea to our guests. You are warmly welcome. We appreciate your presence.
However, as part of this debate, you are not required to participate. Your task is just to listen and nothing else. No gestures, no clapping of hands, etc. We might not have alerted you when we started. We are hoping that going forward; you are going to resist clapping hands and showing gestures. Thank you very much.
Mr M L JOHNSON: Chairperson, comrades, colleagues and fellow South Africans, I rise on this occasion on behalf of my organisation, the organisation of the people of South Africa, the ANC, in support of this Budget Vote 36 allocation to the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Fellow South Africans, South Africa is hard at work. We meet again to debate our fourth budget since the current administration, whose major thrust must always be about changing the lives of the working class and the poor, the vulnerable in society, especially women and children.
This Budget Vote takes place in a year characterised by so many monumental events, the centenary birthday of OR Tambo; the 50th anniversary of the Wankie and Sipolilo campaigns and the centenary of the October Revolution amongst others.
In his own words, President OR Tambo said, and I quote:
The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our society is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of men and women, we cannot rest. We have a vision of South Africa in
which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity.
Let this Budget Vote of 2017-18 be the last when we shall still be lamenting about being 23 years into our democracy, that there is no equality in the use of, and access to water. A significant number of black people have no access to water especially emerging black farmers. Yet our constitutional provision of section 25(4)(b) informs us that property is not confined to land only, as water remains one of those resources that this significant number of south Africans still does not have access to.
Fellow South Africans, allow me to share a plight of an emerging black farmer in Brits, North West Province, Mr Bizana Ngesi. He says, and I quote:
The elephant in the room for farmers and food producers is the issue of water rights. The farms are being sold without water rights by white farmers and this is fatal flaw in the entire land and water reform process.
He goes further and says that he is unable to make ends meet because he has a farm that does not have water rights. This is one example
of many heart-breaking stories that our people are suffering at the hands of few white farmers who continue to hold onto those water rights.
The situation is informed by the continued effects of the 1956 Water Act, through the riparian rights, whose practice has been failing a number of land reform programmes of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform therefore.
I therefore challenge the Department of Water and Sanitation, working together with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to institute an inquiry into water allocation reform across the country. The inquiry must inform us about the number of water rights are still in the hands of white farmers and farms that have been sold without water rights being transferred.
Fellow South Africans, the budgetary allocation for water and sanitation has been on a downward decline. In the past financial year we had a budget of R15,5 billion which in this current financial year stands at R15,1 billion. In summary, the allocation for Budget Vote 36 constitutes 2% of the total share of the 2017 appropriation and it puts Vote 36 at number 13 in comparison with other budget votes.
With all being equal, this implies that service delivery is compromised. However, this situation also provides an opportunity for innovation and creativity in the delivery of water and sanitation services. It is an opportune time for the research institutions, Water Commission among others, to identify and offer water and sanitation technology and governance systems that are cost efficient and fit for purpose.
Minister, the situation calls for your department to practically do more with less, especially with the advent of our technological advancements we are exposed to. Part of doing more with less involves avoiding all unnecessary costs such as fines and interest on late payments, especially to service providers. Without these payments done on time, you are as good as killing them as they don‘t have old money.
We should also ensure that we have competent human capacity in all relevant programmes. We need engineers, scientists, project managers, lawyers, amongst others that are competent enough to ensure that we do the right thing for the first time.
Chairperson, leadership is key when we are working with limited resources. We can have all human capital in right places but without
smart leadership, we are set up to fail. Boards of all entities that are under your department, Minister, must be constituted with competent and well qualified people with different backgrounds such as finance, law, supply chain, human rights and others. This would ensure efficient running of these entities.
The effect of budgetary constraints will be compounded further by climate change and drought. South Africa has witnessed the worst drought in the past two years although majority of these provinces have since recovered with an exception of the Western Cape. As South Africa is a signatory to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC protocols, whose objects are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, programs on adaptation strategies must be fully exploited, especially targeting the rural communities.
Fellow South Africans, climate forecasters tell us that the rainfall is going to be uneven and erratic. We are therefore encouraged to do away with water intensive practices in households, industries, farms, schools and mining. The department must provide the regulatory environment for water efficient practices such as rain water harvesting, dry sanitation, desalination in coast areas, and other water conservation and demand management activities.
It is against this background that the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan we have been raising since 2015 should be put in place as a matter of urgency. The plan would, amongst others, provide a list of disaster vulnerable areas and how they would respond to these water related disasters.
Minister, In order to deliver water services to our people, we need an appropriate legislation that is in line with the Constitution of our country; a legislation that would ensure that there is equity and sustainable development. To this end, this Budget Vote intends to have the amended National Water Bill approved in the medium term. This will be a progressive step towards realising equitable water service delivery. Furthermore, this would address the current administrative and technical failures and challenges identified in the National Development Plan.
These challenges include lack of law enforcement or compliance; delays in issuing water user licenses; poor implementation of the broader water resource policies; delays in investment in water infrastructure; and the erosion of institutional memory in the water sector along with the loss of experienced water engineers and scientists.
Fellow South Africans, having just celebrated Africa Day yesterday, we have more achievements to celebrate as Africans through a number of international strategic partnerships that will be established and to some extent maintained through this Budget Vote all aimed at provision of water security in our African Continent.
These strategic partnerships are very important to South Africa since we heavily rely on trans-boundary waters or shared water courses such as the Limpopo River shared with Botswana, Zimbambwe and Mozambique; Komati River shared with Swaziland and Mozambique; Orange-Senqu River shared with Lesotho and the list goes on. These partnerships would ensure that our water supply is secured and our economic development is sustainable.
Chairperson, in order to deliver water to the people, industries and businesses you need appropriate infrastructure that is in good working condition through maintenance. This infrastructure includes dams, pipelines, power lines and pumps. The plan to establish a water infrastructure agency and the Independent Economic Regulator in the medium term is a step in the right direction that would ensure consolidation of all bulk water infrastructure activities.
The independent Economic Regulator would also provide a platform for proper regulation of water pricing in the country.
It is common knowledge that water is life and sanitation is dignity. As South Africa continues to lose almost R7 billion per year due to water loss, effectively that accounts for 37% of our water resources that is unaccounted for, the artisans or plumbers you have just trained must be seen to be at work in fixing these leaking infrastructure in their respective communities in this current financial year.
Minister, notwithstanding the progressive nature of this budget, there are a number of challenges that should be addressed in order to effectively deliver the mandate of this Budget Vote among others, the insufficient funding for various programmes, especially that of the Learning Academy working together with the Energy and Water SETA can produce more students with additional funding and the entire Budget Vote mandate could effectively be achieved with such additional funding. I therefore, Chairperson, support any initiative that is geared towards improving the funding for this Budget Vote, including attracting the private sector.
Minister, as we support this Budget Vote, we are mindful of the challenges you are faced with. I urge you to attend to the concrete recommendations in budget report that our committee has adopted and
act swiftly all in the interest of improving the lives of our ordinary people and advancement of our economy.
Allow me to conclude once again with President OR Tambo‗s words of wisdom, ―The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of men and women, we cannot rest. We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity.‖
Indeed the ANC continues to live, indeed the ANC is leading. I thank you for your attention.
Ms T E BAKER: We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out our prejudice; For You have already given us eyes
With which to see the good in all people, If we would only use them rightly.
We cannot merely pray to you, O God, to end despair; For You have already given us the power
To clear away slums and to give hope, If we would only use our power justly.
This is an extract from ―An Activists Prayer‖ by the world renowned Rabbi Jack Riemer. These are powerful words indeed. Honourable Chair, members and guests, it is in this spirit that I stand before you today and call on all South Africans to ensure that we hold those on whom we bestow power accountable. You see, it is no coincidence that so many religions use water as a symbol of cleansing and purity. It is undoubtedly one of our most valuable resources, and as we say, ―Water is life, Sanitation is dignity‖.
And yet, South Africa continues to lose more than R7 billion worth of water a year, water literally flowing down the drain because of ageing infrastructure and water theft. This is the reason why the DA Mayor Solly Msimanga has prioritised R13 million to rectify aging water infrastructure in Tshwane. Well done Mayor Msimanga! [Interjections.]
In 2003 the Strategic Framework for Water services was approved by Cabinet with the target for the complete eradication of the bucket system of sanitation set for 2006, and a budget of R1,2 billion was allocated to the Free State alone. Fast forward to 2017, and the target still has not been met. It is ludicrous to think that the Minister now stands before Treasury, begging bowl in hand, looking for another R1,5 billion to eradicate the bucket system.
Can we please stop talking about concluding the long overdue Bucket Eradication Programme, Minister and just do it! I urge you, Minister, to take a take firm stance against the scourge of corruption in our country and no longer allow companies to mine in our protected water catchment areas, like Mabola in Mpumalanga, particularly when names like ‗Gupta‘ appear on the board of directors and ‗Zuma‘ appears on the board of the black economic empowerment, BEE, partner company. Just do the right thing Minister and revoke that water-use license granted to Atha Africa.
I will commend the Minister for one thing she has actually done, and that is ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): What is the point of order?
Mr N E GCWABAZA: Hon House Chairperson, the member has just referred to the President as Zuma ...
Ms T E BAKER: No, didn‘t refer to the President ... [Interjections.]
Mr N E GCWABAZA: If you could please ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): No, no no, she was not referring to the President, she was referring to a Zuma, not the President. Proceed, ma‘m.
Ms T E BAKER: I will commend the Minister for one thing she has actually done, and that is to advertise for the replacement of the Mhlathuze Water Board and its Chairperson, Miss Dudu Myeni.
Unfortunately, this was only after the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled in December 2016 that the Minister had acted unlawfully by extending the contract of the chair and board, which expired in February 2015. It is for this reason that we have written to the Public Protector and asked her to investigate the Minister‘s actions and hold her accountable for the court costs, including the appeal which she lodged, as well as the R1,4 million paid to Miss Myeni during her unlawful occupation of the position as chairperson. [Interjections.]
Another thing you should actually do, Minister, is to hold municipalities accountable for the R3,6 billion owed to the various waterboards, like the Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State which owes Bloem Water a staggering R19O million .This escalating debt severely impacts on the provision of essential water services these boards can deliver. In this case essential water
supply to clinics and hospitals is now being choked. It is unacceptable! Fortunately, there are some municipalities which do govern well, like the DA-run Midvaal Local Municipality which does not owe Rand Water anything. Well done Mayor Baloyi! [Interjections.]
It is generally accepted that in life there are some things which are beyond our control, like the weather. However, we can control our state of preparedness to deal with natural disasters when they do occur. So when the Minister first refused to admit that there was a drought crisis and would not declare a national drought disaster, she robbed the people of South Africa of the financial support and other assistance they could have receive adding to the suffering of millions, leaving hundreds of towns to just dry up.
The drought intervention measures by the department has been so haphazard, the cost of which cannot be accurately counted or accounted for. It is for this reason we have written to the Auditor- General asking for an investigation into this drought expenditure and I am happy to report to the House today that this investigation is also underway.
Fellow South Africans, I understand that the ravages of the apartheid era cannot be reversed overnight. I appreciate the fact that millions more South Africans now have access to water - a right previously denied to them, but as a result of the high unemployment rate in our country, the number of people actively contributing to the national fiscus is limited.
It is therefore essential that we get excellent value for money from every cent spent on service delivery. So when the Department of Water and Sanitation overspends its budget by R18 million and yet only achieves 43% of its targets, we should be very concerned. There appears to be a serious disconnect between the planning and budgeting processes of this department. The portfolio committee spent many hours interrogating the department‘s budget. The more we probed, the bleaker it looked.
The final conclusion is that the finances of the national Department of Water and Sanitation are in a deeper, darker and messier state than anyone of its abandoned pit latrines, and just like the Bucket Eradication Programme, can only be rescued by a competent DA-led government. I thank you. [Interjections.]
Nk M S KHAWULA: Ngisacela ukubuza, lapho kubhalwe ukuthini lapho kuwena Sihlalo, kubhalwe ukuthini? Umangase ungitshele nje manje kubhalweni, ngaphandle ngizobopha wena manje. [Uhleko.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Hon Khawula
Nk M S KHAWULA: Bakhuze ke.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): That is why I am saying. Hon members ...
IsiZulu:
... kanti kwenzakalani ngani? Cha mani, asikhuzekeni.
Nk M S KHAWULA: Ngibonge Sihlalo, ngiyabonga ukuthi ubakhuzile. Ngokuzayo [next time] sekufuneka ube nenduku, uSihlalo njalo kumele aphathe induku. Bakithi ngithi okokuqala, njengomuntu wezifazane, oyinzalo yalana eNingizimu Afrika, angike ngizwakalise okukhulu ukuhlukumezeka. Lento Ngqongqoshe [Minister] nani nonke ngifisa niyixoxe, le yokuhlukunyezwa kwabantu besifazane, ibuhlungu. Ubuthi usavuka ekuseni uzwa ngayo futhi [and] nale yezicubu zomzimba [parts] zabantu besifazane ezithathwayo asazi kwenzekalani. Sicela nilimele lelo daba. Ibuhlungu lento ngoba siyinzalabantu.
Njenge-EFF siyaliphikisa leli voti. Umthetho – heyi anginendaba nalokho – into eyenza ukuthi siliphikise, hayi bakithi sisenkingeni. Uyabona lomnyango lo uza nayo yonke into kuthina enhle kodwa uma uthi uyayibheka lento enhle akukho neyodwa eyenzekayo. Ngifuna nilalele, niyabona kwayena uNgqongqoshe ngibuye ngimdabukele ngoba kunalenkinga ekhona la phansi ukuthi lana thina kumele sidedele izimali ziye emphakathini komasipala kodwa omasipala akukho la ubabona khona bezihlupha ngokuthi bayonikeza abantu phansi. Yingakho besithi thina ngokwethu kungakuhle ukuba ngcono lomthetho uchibiyelwe [amend] baphucwe amandla omasipala ngoba bakhombisa ngokusobala ukuthi nona abanandaba nabantu abaphansi ngamanzi.
Nezimali ezikhishwa la ukunoma zithathwe ziyokwenzela abantu amanzi laphayana namathoyilethi esikhundleni salokho [instead of that] bayazithatha bazifake emaphaketheni benze izinto zabo.
Into engifuna ukuyisho la, laphayana eMpumalanga Koloni [Eastern Cape] e-Xonxa Dam ikhona isemphakathini kodwa abantu bakuleya ndawo amanzi awekho, abawatholi. Edumbe kusigceme-1 [Ward 1] abantu bakhona bayakhala. Enquthu abantu bebekhala ngento eyodwa, abasanendaba nezinto eziningi inqobo [as long] uma bezothola amanzi, awekho amanzi eNquthu kodwa engikwaziyo uma sihleli noNgqongqoshe noma umuzwa ekhuluma ukhuluma ekhombisa ukuthi uzimisele ukubona abantu bewathola amanzi kodwa inkinga womasipala abafuni ukusebenza
kanjalo no-Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, CoGTA, banento efanayo, awukho umsebenzi wabo.
Okunye okufanele ngikusho la kucace yilento yokuthi ngeke phela thina sivume ukuthi phansi silana nje silethwe yibona bese sizojabulela la thina ukuthi sizojabulela ukuthi bahlupheke bashode ngamanzi. Uma kuyiPhasika [Easter] amanzi ayaphela nawo aya emaholidini. Abantu laphaya kusigceme-7 [Ward 7] kwaMaphumulo amanzi Bebekade bengenawo, amanzi aye emaholidini. Sicela uNgqongqoshe aqinisekise [make sure] ukuthi ngempela uyayilwela lento futhi okokugcina Ngqongqoshe engifuna ukusho yilento yokuthi abantu bazi ukuthi uMnyango Wezamanzi Nokuthuthwa Kwendle wuNgqongqoshe uNomvula Monkonyane kodwa manje iyangixaka lento yokuthi sesizothi thina asihlangani nomasipala kufanele bazimele ngoba ekugcineni omasipala siyabazi ukuthi ababasizi abantu ngamanzi.
Kungani sigcizelela into kuyimanje bakha izindlu, lezi zindlu azinawo amathoyilethi, izingane ezikoleni amathoyilethi akhona uma ungena phakathi kuwona anezinyathelo [footstep] phansi. ngifuna ukubuza kuwena ukuthi, ngifuna ukwazi kuwena njengomuntu omnyama ungalokho uthi yini, yini leyo, kodwa wena njengomuntu omnyama kumele uqonde [you must understand] ukuthi ngoba ula uzohlalela abantu abamnyama. Abantu abamnyama yibona abahluphekela amanzi,
awukaze ubone omunye umuntu wolunye uhlanga ethwele umgqomo ehamba efuna amanzi. Ngqongqoshe, hayi bakithi, ngiyacela kodwa ubakhuze labantu bakho, abahloniphi, yingakho iNquthu ithathiwe nje. Ngithi ngiyayibongela i-IFP ngokuthatha i-Nquthu. Nina nje, dololo, noZuma wenu. Hambani noZuma wenu. [Ihlombe.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): Order, hon members.
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU: Hon Chairperson, the Western Cape was recently pronounced a disaster area in response to the current drought crisis in the province. All manner of measures ... [Interjections.]
Ms M S KHAWULA: Chairperson, on a point of order:
IsiZulu:
Ukuxolisa [sorry] yiNkosi yami lena, hawu uyahlonipha heyi. Cha bathi ngikhohliwe ukusho, kusho laba.
USIHLALO WENDLU (Mnu A F Mahlalela): Iphuzu lokukhalima okuphambukayo [point of order] lithini?
Nk M S KHAWULA: Ngqongqoshe, yimina engizoba uNgqongqoshe manje.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr A F Mahlalela): No, no hon Khawula, he-e! [Laughter.] Order members!
IsiZulu:
Uzoba wuNgqongqoshe ngesonto elizayo [next week] mama uKhawula.
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU: Qala phansi lapho isikhathi sami Sihlalo, uyasiphazamisa umama uKhawula.
English:
... are currently being pursued by the province now in order to avoid "Day zero‖ the day upon which the taps run dry. Whilst at this stage there is no need for intervention and assistance by the national department and Treasury, we would lend our voice to the calls that all channels remain open and assistance be immediately available should the province require same. This department remains at operational levels that are still unacceptable. Spending is still a problem and we have seen some highly suspect transactions such as in areas where dams are full, and there is surplus water. Why is it that water tanker vehicles are still being utilised? Why is this necessary when there is perfectly good water infrastructure in place in such areas?
Nationally, water infrastructure requires new development and on— going maintenance. For this to occur in a proficient manner the department must ensure that its vacancy rates for engineers and scientists are filled with the necessary skills as without this water infrastructure development in South Africa will become increasingly problematic and development targets will not be met.
Our dams and rivers are a main contributing source of water and must remain free of pollutants. What is concerning is that local government through some municipalities has not stopped the flow of liquid waste or sewage that is being discharged into this water supply. The provision of scant water supply in our rural areas have led to a team effort by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as the Department of Water and Sanitation who have embarked on a borehole drilling project. What is concerning though is that a number of these boreholes have turned out to be dry. This has wasted both time and money, and left the affected communities without sources of water.
Water plays a key role in our business sectors and especially in food production. In this sense it is a driver of our economy and a key component of the production of the nation‘s food supply. We can scarce afford a shortage of water supply. Alternate sources of
water, such as desalinization plants should be established in all coastal areas, we currently see such plants being built in the Western Cape and in Richards Bay, fortunately in Richards Bay it is working now, and urge other coastal provinces to follow suit. More dams must be built, more water stored. Surplus water must be retained not permitted to simply flow out into our seas. With climate change upon us and a future uncertain in respect of water supply, we must be vigilant; we must be prepared for a worst case scenario. I thank you.
IsiZulu:
I-IFP iyasixhasa lesi sabelomali ngoba sisiza abantu [budget.] [Ihlombe.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson,
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cabinet members, Chairperson and members of the portfolio committee, water sector partners, government officials...
IsiXhosa:
... iindwendwe zethu zonke, molweni...
English:
... the Minister, Mrs Nomvula Mokonyane, has now presented the 2017-
18 budget of the Department of Water and Sanitation to the nation.
We are tabling this budget vote for service delivery to our people in dedication to our hero of many years, comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, for his selfless service in the creation of a new South Africa with peace and freedom for all.
Central to this struggle was the upliftment of all South Africans especially the poor and the vulnerable, which is what we as a department strive to maintain and emulate this hero of our people.
Hon Chairperson, this budget is our endeavour to ensure that the ideals for which OR Tambo were not in vain can never die until South Africans have their own human rights catered for and their dignity restored through access to water and sanitation.
In the past financial years, we have done so much in ensuring sustainable provision of water and decent sanitation facilities including interventions that emanated from unforseen drought disasters to both urban and rural communities. We cannot move our attention nor our eyes from equitable and sustainable water and sanitation services that seek to support socioeconomic growth job
creation and development for the wellbeing of the current and future generations.
Hon Chairperson, our work will be in line with the Integrated Water Quality Management Strategy and located firmly within a sound National Water and Sanitation Master Plan. The issue of water quantity and quality has a huge impact on sustainable economic growth, social development and the protection of environment. As a country, we need to work very hard to ensure continued supply of water in all communities.
In pursuing our efforts in water conservation and demand management, we need to work very closely with industries such as agriculture, food processing, mining industry, energy and the municipal waste water organisation to achieve our goal. These institutions in the world are categorised as bulk water users. They use large amounts of water that can be conserved and treated for safe re-use by other industries like agriculture.
We take from the recent launch of the United Nations World Water Day 2017 Report, that focused on waste water and untapped resource. In reflection to this report, the department is currently aligning our relevant policies and programme to ensure that we benefit from this
untapped resource waste water as part of our condition to the economy and job creation.
Hon Chairperson, just last week, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms P Tshwete addressed a very strategic International Partnership session with Netherlands, to further consult all the water and sanitation stakeholders on the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, as part of our joint co-operation to secure as a collaborative platform towards re-engineering the manner in which the water and sanitation business is done in our country.
This is the first of its kind initiative in our country and it is but one example of the many international collaboration arrangements that are bearing fruits in putting South Africa on the global water trends.
I am proud to emphasize that the many benefits that we continue to ensure for our water sector and the region through global partnerships that include multilateral partnerships and collaborations like high level panel on water where eleven sitting head of states on which our President that we love his Excellency Jacob Gedley‘hlekisa Mhlanganyelwa Zuma participated to influence
the water narrative at the highest level after it was identified as resource central to the development and key to sustainable mankind.
Our participation and contribution to the Global Women and Water Organisations brought interest and multilateral platforms for South Africa to lead the engagements for the United Nations International Year of Water and Women, to highlight the plight of women who still do not have access to water services. Our participation at these platforms in the recent past saw South Africa attracting international and regional partners based in our country.
These partners include Stockholm International Water Institute, Global Water Partnership, to benefit the water sector and the region. Currently, South Africa continues to get the first bite of these benefits due to our leadership proximity and the close partnership created.
With respect to the war on leaks programme, to date, some municipalities are benefiting from the water agents who were produced by this programme. The water agents are assisting with water use advocacy, meter reading and leak identification and reporting. We would like to call upon other municipalities to
accommodate these trainees to ensure that we benefit from this noble programme.
A special word of appreciating to municipalities who have afforded some of the trainee artisans with the pre-requisite on the job training they require before they can qualify. This is also a demonstration of the seriousness within these municipalities to save water. Strategic Water Partnership Network, Rand Water, Eskom and other private companies have also come on board in this partnership towards saving this scarce resource. Out of the 2 717 artisans and water agents who were recruited in Phase one, 1 848 have been placed. The challenge will remain with all of us ensuring that the remaining 869 as well as the 7 000 recruited in Phase two, are given the internship training they require while we reduce the water losses.
This year, the department will have road shows fixing leaks in government owned buildings in partnership with the following departments. Public Works, health, co-operative governance and traditional affairs, CoGTA, and basic education. At the end of this we will be able to report on the amount of water that would have been saved.
In terms of the rain water harvesting programme, 1500 households and co-operatives will be provided with later harvesting tanks for irrigation of backyard gardens as part of improvising food, security in rural communities.
In facilitating empowerment of women youth and people with disabilities, the department will do the following. Ensure that they take interest in water and sanitation sector, mainstreaming the economic empowerment opportunities available, facilitate the creation of jobs through departmental projects and programmes. The women in water empowerment programme will be strengthened through water and sanitation incubators and mentors.
The youth indaba will be held in the course of this year to discuss the youth development strategy and 76 bursaries will be awarded to learners under our school intervention programme. The department will continue to attract skill and retain the high performing employees in the key strategic programmes.
In conclusion, would like to thank all partners in the water family and say the drought conditions witnessed in 2016 brought us very close and strengthened our partnership as we presented a formidable united force in fighting this disaster.
Let me also thank the Minister for her guidance as we navigated through deep waters and difficult tides in the course of doing our work, officials of the department led by Mr Dan Metlana Gorbachev Mashitisho for the hard work and support in our daily... [Interjections.]
Lastly, I would like to thank the portfolio committee for their support in citing contributions in the work of the department.
IsiXhosa:
Andikwazi ukuhlala phantsi ndingathethanga nabantu ekhaya ukuba imbalela yona iseza kuqhubeka. Ndiyacela ke ngoko ukuba siqoqoshe amanzi. Xa sihlamba amazinyo kufunega sisebenzise ikomityi, xa sihlamba imoto sisebenzise i-emere. Enkosi. [Kwaphela ixesha.]
Setswana:
Moh H B KEKANA: Modulasetilo, a ke kokote ka go re, ANC e tshegetsa tekanyetsokabo eno. Go phatlhalatsa metsi a a phepha le dikgwerekgwere go matshwetetshwete a batho ba rona, e sa ntse e le ntlha e e leng tlhobaboroko gape e le mo setlhoeng sa mokgatlho wa ANC. Mokgatlho wa ANC o tla itima boroko go fitlhelela e fitlhelela ditshepiso tsa yona tsa Freedom Charter.
Ngwaga wa 2014 Lekgotla, e bontshitse gore metsi ke makgonatsotlhe o o tla fetsang bohuma le tlala, gape a fane ka ditshono mo bathong ba rona. Maikano a Ditlhopho a ANC a 2014 a dira kgoeletso ya gore kabo ya metsi e diragatswe ka bonakonako. Re lebogela tiro ya lefapha le le eteletsweng pele ke mmarona, Mme Mokonyane, ka go netefatsa gore kabo ya metsi le phatlhalatso ya ona e bonwa ka bontsi. Seno se diragatsa gore bomasepala ba rona ba phatlhalatse metsi a a phepha.
Re lebogela le setsokotsane sa Bokone Bophirima go tswelela ka metseletsele ya go ruta ka tshomarelo ya metsi. Ntate Mashaba fana ka metsi mo bathong ba Soweto, jaaka fa ANC e ne e ba fa!
English:
The 2017-18 budget allocation and the work done by the Department of Water and Sanitation are directed to us making the water and sanitation aspiration, life and dignity of the ANC and the reality in the poor and the vulnerable communities in the North west Province. An amount of R12,2 billion of the department‘s budget of the 2017-18 financial year has been allocated to the Water Infrastructure Department Programme.
This is the largest allocation of 81%, and it illustrated a continued focus on the department and management of water and
sanitation infrastructure in our country. Of the R12,2 billion 9,2 billion will be allocated on the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grants, RBIG, and the Water Services Infrastructure Grants, WSIG. These funds are used to develop new, refurbish, upgrade, water and sanitation infrastructure across the municipalities ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Order, hon Mazambane!
Ms H B KEKANA: We hope that the water resource pollution at the Madibeng Local Municipality – listen! – as a result of the pollution from Brits abattoir and Brits ternary will be addressed, with the introduction of the newly gazette water and sanitation by-laws.
These by-laws will assist in ensuring that our communities are not subjected to contaminated water, as a result of noncompliance industry in Madibeng.
In Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality, the following wasted treatment plans have been prioritised in Boitekong, Marikana, Lethabong and Monnakato areas, with the focus to significantly improve the sanitation conditions in these areas. The ANC welcomes and support the Department of Water and Sanitation plan, the bulk water supply for Moses Kotane in Rustenburg.
This is represented by the commencement of the Pilanesberg Bulk Water Supply Project. This project will possibly contribute to expanding water access to those who need it most. The ANC congratulates the learners from Pitso Letlhogile Secondary School in the North West, who received bursaries to study in water related courses at the universities of their choice. [Applause.]
This investment has a potential to contribute positively to our country water sector in the future. Although drought conditions are still present, which a harsh reality in some regions in our country, it is encouraging to notice the improved dams levels in the North West. The dam levels were recorded as follows as of 15 May 2017:
Molatedi Dam, Groot-Marico River, 61,7%; Marico Bosveld, Groot- Marico River, 100%; Hartbeespoort Dam, 98,8%; Bloemhof Dam, 109,4% and Swaartruggens Dam, 101%. The huge communities and the industries have to unify their use of available water and insure that it is used wisely and fairly. This should be done in order to ensure that we have all access to it.
Despite the challenges and growing water supply demands in the communities within the North West, the Department of Water and Sanitation has made a committed double effort towards meeting the
demands and the acceleration of water provision in the province. Some of these initiatives includes, but are not limited to, the R70 million set aside for the Ratlou Master Plan Project at the Ratlou Local Municipality.
These funds will be used for drilling of new boreholes; refurbishing the existing boreholes and the construction of a 35km pipeline of which 65% has been completed. The department, together with the Municipality of the Sedibeng has undertaken to implement the interventions such as the upgrade bulk water system; upgrade ground water network system and the refurbished water treatment work in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Tswaing and Mafikeng.
The implementation of this project must be closely monitored to ensure that all the communities benefit and receive clean water, which is their constitutional right. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M P GALO: Hon Chair, the establishment of the Department of Water and Sanitation in May 2014, was a master stroke for the governing party. The water regulation regime had been fragmented and it fell within the Ministry of Environmental Affairs which had to oversee a constellation of water and environmental issues concurrently.
Barely, three years after its establishment, the Ministry of Water
and Sanitation is on its highest low. However, the AIC supports this Budget Vote because the Ministry has been able to roll out bulk water infrastructure projects across the country, linking about 89,4% of South African households to pipe water in early 2015, running a successful bucket eradication programme and salvage the country from the drought that nearly ravaged our food security.
Therefore, we cannot lose sight of rampant cronyism, maladministration and corruption embedded in this department.
The targeted annual performance plans of the department will remain a mere pipe dream if the budget to which there are to be implemented is merely pitted to advance personal interests. In its 2016-17 budget, the department was allocated about Rl5,2 billion. This has slightly decreased to a mere R15,1 billion in the 2017-18 allocation. This decrease can be accounted to the following: The 2015-16 Auditor-General‘s report, which indicated that the Ministry had engaged in irregular expenditure, irregularly spending about R1,7 billion; and the construction of the Polihali Dam, which has been delayed due to the Minister‘s alleged interference with the work of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
The AIC proposes that the department should only be occupied with its legislative imperatives which are also outlined in its own
annual performance plans. It should forge the national mining pacts with all the mining houses to apportion the acid drainage mining liabilities; align the fragmented departmental agencies to avoid duplication; affirm the independence of the Lesotho Highlands Commission procurement; and strengthen its relationship with the defaulting municipalities through service level agreements as I conclude. I thank you.
Mr T MAKONDO: Hon Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentleman, let me take this opportunity to greet all South Africans at home who are looking eagerly to this budget debate because to them is not just a debate, but an effort towards realising their dream of freedom by having drinkable water, which is a right which they were denied for many years by the apartheid government, until the ANC guaranteed them that right and such will never happen again. Our message to this budget debate is that water is life and sanitation is dignity.
Happy belated Africa Day; and we are encouraged by the wisdom of our Africa struggle hero, Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana when he said and I quote: I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa is born in me.
Let me again join the lauding voices around the country in condemning the brutal killing of women and children in our country. Therefore, we are saying to those perpetrators that they have no place in our country and they must be dealt with in the manner which it deserves. This year marks the centenary of the President General of the ANC, Oliver Regional Tambo, a man of high stature. If he would be alive today, Oliver Regional Tambo would be 100 years old. Tambo was a visionary leader and a man of his words. In 1967, he has this to say on ANC message to the Principal Secretary of the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid, and I quote:
The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest.
Being a man of his words Tambo promised the people of his country that he will not rest until they are free and, indeed, they are free today. Therefore, this commitment was reaffirmed by African greatest intellectual of our times, President Mvuyelwa Thabo Mbeki, and I quote:
Gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity. Trying times need courage and resilience. Our strength as a people is not tested during the best of times.
In that, we were fully aware as the ANC when we took government in 1994, that delivering services was not going to be easy and would have its own challenges as we dismantle the bondage of colonialism and apartheid, but because we are men and women of our words, nothing will deter us from rolling out infrastructure project and services that will make our people realised their freedom, and for that we will not rest as Tambo has said.
The department is the most important department which is a key in changing the lives of our people for the better. Therefore, if we were to achieve as a country this department would have contributed a big deal and therefore every person who works in this department - how they conduct themselves in their daily work - is paramount and this department would be a judge on our failures and successes as people and as a country. However, the ANC would not dare fail our people. This department has received R15,1 billion rand for the financial year 2017-18 down with above 2%. The department has programmes which are: Programme 1, administration; programme 2, water planning and information; programme 3, water infrastructure
development; and lastly, programme 4, which is water planning and regulation.
Programme 4 constitutes 81,6% of the total budget of the department, so how this programme perform will highlight the success and shortcomings of the department. For this financial year, the department would not embark on new infrastructure roll-out but to continue with current project in various provinces which are: uMshwathi Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme; Greater Mthonjaneni Bulk Water Supply Scheme; Ngcebo Bulk Water Supply Scheme; Spioenkop to Ladysmith Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme; King Sabata Dalindyebo Water Supply; Mogalakwena Bulk Water Supply Scheme
Phase 2, Polokwane Bulk Water Scheme Supply Phase 1, Vaal Gamagara Bulk Water Scheme; and in Giyani Bulk Water Supply Scheme ...
Xitsonga:
... leswaku vanhu va ka hina va kuma mati hinkwavo ku humelerisa ku navela ka vona ku fana na van‘wani vanhu va kumaka mati hiku hetiseka. Projeke leyi, Mutshamaxitulu, hi yin‘wana ya tiprojeke leti nga va emahungwini kutani swi na nkoka leswaku yi fika emakumu leswaku lavoambala tihovhorolo va ta pfumala xo tshwatshwarha hi xona. Siku na siku i mati eGiyani, mati eGiyani, masiku lawa hinkwawo. Himbiswiritano, vanhu va ka hina va swi vona leswaku mfumo
wa ANC wule ku tirheni hi ndlela ya kahle ku va yisela mati, kasi lava va nga riki na wona va swi tiva leswaku ma ta fika.
Phurogireme ya 4, xikongomelo xa yona i ku aka tiprojeke letikulu na letintsongo xikan‘we na ku pfuna timasipala hi mali yo enghenisa mati.
English:
The ANC supports this budget, Chair. [Applause.]
Mr A M SHAIK-EMAM: Hon House Chair, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, our distinguished guests and officials from the department.
Let me, at the very outset say, the NFP supports the budget tabled here today. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, it is our understanding, as the NFP, that indeed water is life. And when I talk about water, it is very significant for me because over 40 years ago, when I was at primary school, I was called to do a debate by my science teacher and the topic was Water Is Life. He‘s late today, may his soul rest in peace.
The question that arises, Chairperson, is that are we doing enough to provide good, quality, water and sanitation to all South Africans, especially those that have been deprived of this basic necessity for hundreds of years as a result of apartheid regime which still manifests in our society today and continues to haunt the poorest of the poor?
Hon Chairperson, yes, a lot has been done but we certainly believe that a lot more needs to be done.
Hon Chair, the NFP is particularly concerned about the latest statistics that 56% municipalities do not have a policy on maintenance of water and infrastructure. A further 45% have no maintenance plan at all and 24% have not budgeted for maintenance, with 28% of projects exceeding its completion date. Added to this hon Chairperson, what is disturbing is that the projects do not talk to the needs of water backlogs in our country.
Hon Chair, in terms of sanitation, we are faced with similar challenges and we call on the Minister and the department to take serious note of these challenges and work together with National Treasury, the Auditor-General, all other relevant departments in being able to address these challenges.
Hon Chairperson, like I‘ve said before that over 40 years ago my school teacher identified how important water is; and yet today we have a crisis in terms of water and one of the reasons for that is, we have not planned for the future and that‘s what it is.
Hon Chairperson, in this very House, what I find very, very disturbing, that despite having a crisis in the Western Cape and especially in the City of Cape Town in terms of water, nobody seems to pay attention to it; especially from the opposition, which includes us all, nobody seems to pay enough attention to the serious challenges that our people feel. Whether it is as a result of these coalition governments or whatever it is, I don‘t know.
Hon Chairperson, you know, not long ago I‘ve heard so much of shouting and screaming, not heckling, shouting and screaming, about we did not plan for electricity; what has happened in the Western Cape when you‘ve never planned for water? You‘ve never planned, you deprived our people.
Let me just add, hon Chairperson, just this week, for over 48 hours, the sewerage was overflowing in Gatesville in the corner of Klipfontein Road, and the department and the municipality did absolutely nothing about it.
The question is, why have they not prepared? It is the DA government that has failed the people of the City of Cape Town. And what is worse, most of the water is used by women, and in this province both the leader and Mayor are controlled by women, they run the municipality but haven‘t taken the interests of women in this province. So, the DA has failed us in terms of providing water supply in the Western Cape.
As the NFP we call on the government to pay specific attention to the needs of the poorest of the poor; because when these waters tankers are going to go out, you‘ll find them going to Bishop‘s Court and Constantia, and not to Mannenberg and in the Cape Flats. That is what is going to happen. The most vulnerable are the poorest of the poor and the DA is spending more time sitting here and grandstanding.
Hon Chairperson, the NFP supports this budget tabled here today.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Hon members, earlier on I mistook hon Basson to be hon Mazambane, I would like to apologise on that one. I will now call on hon Basson. [Applause.]
Mr L J BASSON: Chairperson, here is the real story on water and sanitation. President Zuma led South Africa into junk status and his Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, led water and sanitation and the water trading entity into financial difficulties.
Owing the Reserve Bank contractors and water boards almost
R5 billion. The water trading entity is technically bankrupt and does not have the ability to collect money owed to them.
It is apparent that Minister Nomvula ―Mama Action‖ Mokonyane has taken zero action to get the finances right. Minister, while you have it your number one priority to protect the President, the Department of Water and Sanitation is collapsing under your leadership. Infrastructure projects are delayed for years, whilst others are stopped or simply unfunded. This is a direct result of poor management and political interference.
Chairperson, the downgrading to junk status will have a devastating effect on projects such as Lesotho Highlands Scheme that could cost South Africa billions more in higher borrowing costs in more government security on these loans.
It is shocking to note that the budget for Water Infrastructure Development decreased by R500 million from R12.7 billion in the 2016-17 financial year to R12,2 billion in this financial year. Funding pressures of R2 billion and unpaid contractors of
R1,5 billion will the department with only R8,7 billion for infrastructure development in this year.
This, while South Africans, are struggling without water and with sewerage flowing in our streets, rivers and dams.
Minister, your department is setting up bad contractors for failure by not paying them. What happened to the blue and green draft report for the 2015/16 financial year? Nothing. They were not done Minister.
Water infrastructure is under stress and therefore, water specialists agree that the current situation is even worse than the green draft report of 2014. Which indicated that 84% of sewerage plants are in critical risk, higher risk or medium risk. This implies that 4200 million litres of untreated or inadequately sewerage is illegally discharged into our rivers everyday.
South Africa should not be subjected to this any longer; and whilst the Water Act empowers the Minister to act on behalf of the nation, it also mandates the Minister to protect and preserve the country‘s precious water resources, something she‘s failing at.
Furthermore, it is a constitutional mandate and Minister Mokonyane can and should be criminally charged for allowing the pollution of our river streams and our ground water.
Chairperson, let‘s look at the Minister‘s track record with water and sanitation. Under spending of more than R3 billion in the last three financial years; two directors-general in three years, with additional two acting, what‘s next? Chair, I wonder what would happen to the next director-general?
Lesotho Highland Project delayed by six years. Clanwillian stopped by you Minister, by removing the dam construction unit from site to create a tender that would delay the project with three to four years. This could cost rate-payers R1 billion more. Employee costs of construction units, still staying in Clanwilliam and surrounding towns, is costing rate-payers R2,5 million a month, amounting to R23 million to date; and these employers are not working.
Under the DA government we will see accountable management with no political interference in the day to day running of the department.
Protection of our water resources implementing the DA‘s use or lose principle by facilitating assistance from water-bore still underperforming municipal water infrastructure.
Monitoring pollution of our rivers and water streams by appointing more blue scorpions that will enforce the DA‘s ‗polluter must pay‘ principle.
Crating opportunities for the private sector partnership with government in funding, managing, upgrading, maintaining and creating new infrastructure. This will assist in funding the needed
R800 billion over the next 10 years.
Building additional smaller dams in the catchment area and downstream of existing dams, preventing access water flowing to the sea.
Minister, your water desalination plant in Richard‘s Bay cost a R100 million more than the market price. What happened to this R140 million?
Minister, I urge you to start implementing the DA‘s turnaround strategy plan to prevent the full-scale collapse of South Africa‘s water infrastructure.
Chairperson, prior to the 2016 elections, Minister Mokonyane visited the community of Jericho in Madibeng, having a big party and a big tent, promising water to the community in exchange for votes.
Unfortunately, Chairperson, nothing came of this promise. Everyday the community of Jericho, like this lady, has to walk a dangerous route through bushes to the Sansloot River, to dig for water that the community has to share with cattle.
Minister, this is a disgrace. I thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Thank you hon L J Basson. Hon members, I would now call upon hon H P Chauke. But I would like to make the members aware that I will add the two minutes that were saved from hon Kekana to hon Chauke, giving hon Chauke 13 minutes.
Over to you hon member.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chairperson, I may want to share some of the minutes with the Minister, maybe. Chair, we need to start from the beginning and the beginning takes us back to 1652. The reason that we are to
go back to 1652 is because after they have identified an opportunity they said there is a need to sell water. They then sent the CEO, Chief Executive Officer, of a company called the Dutch East Indian Company to go and explore opportunities of water in the Cape. When they arrived in the Cape, they did not have a licence to get water, they did not have land and they did not even have a piece of cabbage with them. What they did then – because their intention was nothing else but to extract this water and sell it to the passing ships – they did exactly that but that came with a price.
The price that it came with was that those inhabitants who were here in the Cape, the Khoi and the San people were massacred, they killed them. They destroyed everything that belonged to the the San and the Khoi for them to have access to this water. You would not want to hear that because these are the descendants of what we are dealing with today. That is why you are everyday defending the issues of water. Hon Basson, you would know that the challenges we are dealing with in the department currently we have identified them and we are working together with the department to find a solution to this problem, together with Cogta, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, which we have to invite to bring them onboard so that we resolve this problem.
People who are suffering with water in this country are not white people. That is why the picture that you displayed here hon Basson, it goes to Madibeng. You know it very well hon Basson, that together with you we were in Madibeng. You know it very well under the leadership of the chairperson of the committee that we have resolved the problems of Madibeng. You know it very well.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Order!
Mr H P CHAUKE: Therefore, the issues that we would definitely have to address Chairperson, is that who owns water in this country? Who owns water, hon Basson? The Minister does not own water.
The water that is owned in this country it runs across all the streams that are occupied by white farmers. It is only in the areas of the dams that we have created hon Basson that the state can claim that we own so much. Water is owned by white farmers. Look at the entire streams as you fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, look at the Vaal River stream, look at the people that leave within the Orange River and look at the people that leave around the Vaal River. Hon Basson, we need to address these issues because the struggle for land cannot be separated with the struggle for water.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Y N Phosa): Order!
Mr H P CHAUKE: So, we need to package these things together. As we deal with the land issue we must deal with the water issue.
Therefore, this department has a responsibility to advance the revolution in water. It has that responsibility. It is another struggle, it will not be easy but we will have to fight Minister, we have to fight and put resources.
What we need in those resources is discipline, officials of the department both the agencies that are responsible for water to make sure that every little cent of the state is accounted for and it is used appropriately. That is the position that we must take but what we must then do, hon Basson, is to amend that 1956 Act so that it give the state every single drop of water to be controlled by the state. Once you do that, the points that were raised by hon Chair that black farmers who are gaining land trough restitution of land, those lands are dry, hon Basson. There is no water there they depend on white farmers who have a licence in the very same farm but they cannot use that water. These are issues that we must address.
Let‘s come back in the current issues in the Western Cape. Western Cape is dry, the only people who can declare a disaster here is the
Premier and the province but they are not willing to do that. The reason they are not willing to do that is because they know that once they declare a disaster the national government will put resources here. They know it and they do not want to be seen taking money from the national department. Again, the issues of Western Cape are political. You will understand that as much as we still have Mr Jan van Riebeeck‘s statue lying there at Adderley Street and his wife, Maria de la Quellerie‘s statue is still lying there, it tells you of the mentality and that transformation in the Western Cape will not happen. So, what we want to do – which I will encourage the Minister to do – will be to forcefully declare a disaster if needs be for from the national government because if there are people who are suffering, are your ordinary people.
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Order! hon members, don‘t drown the speaker. May I request hon members to conduct themselves that is befitting the dignity of this House.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Bucket eradication, you are talking about bucket eradication. Have you ever used a bucket in your life? Have you ever used a bucket? Basson, have you ever used a bucket in your life?
Where have you ever used a bucket? No, it cannot be. Therefore, when we deal with the legacy of apartheid – which we must talk about it
all the time – we must continue to draw in and revolutionarise the lives of our people. Change the lives of our people, make it better. We must work together, Basson, because you are part of the problems. The problems that we have today are created by yourselves, so there is no way that today you want to wash yourself away that you were not part of these problems.
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon members, order!
Mr H P CHAUKE: Today, hon Basson, you behave as if these things are new. I was born in a two-roomed house in Soweto, Basson. We were 15 of us sleeping in the kitchen. Where were you born, hon Basson? You were born in a beautiful farm with cattle. For your information hon Basson and all hon members that we must agree on, when they arrived in 1652, they did not have cattle, goats and pigs. It was 300 men with only one of them who had a wife. The rest of them where did they get their wives? Uh! Where did they get them? No, hon Basson, they got them here. They made sure that they cut across everywhere they went they pick up every woman that they found. Today we talk of women abuse and all of that. Let‘s reflect the truth about the problems that we go through.
Minister, we support this Budget and we will continue to support the Budget for water. The only issues that I have raised here - issues that we are currently dealing with in the Budget now – is the issue of the debt that need to be attended to and I strongly believe that the resolution that we have taken as a committee that both Treasury and the Auditor-General together with the Minister and the portfolio committee must come together to identify these issues. Black poor contractors who are not being paid must be paid their money, hon Basson. They must be paid but we need to work together and help them. On that note Chairperson, we support this Budget Vote and we are looking forward hon Bassson, to deal with the issues that the department is confronted with.
Mr M S F de FREITAS: We will need you in the changes.
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon Basson, order.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair, let me therefore end by thanking the portfolio committee, the leadership under Comrade Lulu, of the interventions that you are doing. You have done it in Madibeng and we will do it in Kgetleng, Madam Speaker, where I come from. You know the problems there. We have to go to Swartruggens and we have to make sure that
...
Setswana:
... batho ba rona ba nna le metsi ka gonne kwa Swartruggens ga go na metsi. Le fa pula e ka na, letamo la teng le diretse mme ga le nne le metsi a a phepa.
Ga go na mafaratlhatlha. Seo se tshwanetseng go diragala, motl Basson, ke go netefatsa gore bomasepala ba rona ba dirisanammogo le lefapha ka gonne ke bone ba ba nang le maikarabelo a mafaratlhatlha a a tshwanang le metseletsele ya dipeipi eo re tshwanetseng re e bone, ke tiro ya bone Rre Basson, a wa nkutlwa? [Setshego.]
Ka jalo, se re se itumelelang ke gore Tona o buile gore ba tlhomile komiti e e tsenyeletsang bomasepala. Seo se raya gore Tona wa bomasepala le Tona wa rona ba dirisanammogo go netefatsa gore mathata ao re nang le ona a bomasepala ba kgone go a rarabolola bonolo le ka bonako.
Seo se tlhokegang ga jaana ke gore komiti ya rona e ye go dira tiro ya go okomela; re ye go bona gore seo mafapha ka bobedi a dumalaneng ka sona se a diragala.
Xitsonga:
Ha twanana Muchaviseki Basson? Loko u nga ndzi twi, Muchaviseki Basson, sweswi ndzi ta vulavula hi Xitsonga. Mhaka leyi nga kona hi leswaku tanihi komiti, hi fanele ku huma hi famba hi ya languta ntirho lowu endliwaka hi ndzawulo leyi. Hi fambile hi ya eGiyani, Muchaviseki Makondo va ha ku vulavula hi mhaka ya kona eGiyani.
Phurojeke liya yi fanele ku hela leswaku vakokwana, vabuti na vasesi wa hina va ta kota ku kuma mati. N‘wina vanhu va xihlawuhlawu, hi n‘wina mi nga tumbuluxa matikoxikaya, kutani mi veka vanhu ka tindhawu leti pfumalaka mati ti tlhela ti oma.
English:
Look at the former homelands of Bophuthatswana, Gazankulu, vhenda and Ciskei there is no water. You formed these Bantustans so that our people must go and suffer there. Then, we need to agree that in the next restitution, people must be moved next to the rivers now. We don‘t want people to be given dry land. Department of Land Affairs, you can‘t give people dry land, what will they do there?
Move them into the fertile land next to the river where our people must participate, black and white and side by side, hon Basson. You don‘t have to jump, hon Basson, and you don‘t have to leave your seat, hon Basson because you don‘t like the truth. The Bantustans have been a problem to our people. Look at where they are today.
This department must now go to the dry land of Bophuthatswana and put pipes there. Do you know how much it will cost us?
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Order, order!
Mr A R MCLOUGHLIN: Chair, hon Chauke is having a personal conversation with hon Basson. He is supposed to be addressing the House through you.
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Order! hon member, can you please assist this House, on what Rule are you rising?
Mr A R MCLOUGHLIN: It is the Rules of debate, Madam, Rule 93 where the speaker is supposed to address the House through the Chairperson, not direct always conversation at the member on the other side of the House.
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon members, the hon member‘s point of order is sustained because the hon member has to address the House through the Chair.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON: (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon member, I did say that you must round up.
Mr H P CHAUKE: Chair, through you I would like to address hon Basson on behalf of the DA. He represent the DA, therefore I would say it through you Chair, that let the DA know that the ANC is not down, it is organising itself and we will not let this revolution go we will defend it to the last hon Basson, via you Chairperson. Lastly, I want to thank ... [Interjections.]
Mr L J BASSON: Hon Chauke, could you tell us in which faction are you in the ANC?
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon member, the question has no relevance to the debate. Proceed, hon member.
Mr H P CHAUKE: I therefore want to close and thank the department and the Director-General who is new from the box, the CFO, Chief Financial Officer, and the rest of the team. Let us work and deliver what the ANC stands for and be proud of the spirit of Oliver Tambo. Long live Oliver Tambo, long live!
The CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N Phosa): Hon member, your time is up.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson, let me take this opportunity to thank all members who have participated in the debate. We also commit ourselves that we will work together with the portfolio committee in finding sustainable solutions on issues that are related to reticulation, financial control as well as challenges that have to do with the capacity of local government, as we have indicated.
I would also wish to thank members of the portfolio committee who have been quite critical about how we perform, including how our state-owned entities in the water sector have been performing. We are reviewing our own shareholder compact agreements in ensuring that we all are at the same level in dealing with the issues of providing water and sanitation to the people of South Africa.
Thank you, director-general and your team. Most importantly, the people of South Africa do know that when the crisis emerges in this department, we refuse to play politics with water as opposed to the Western Cape where it took the provincial government three months to decide on declaring a disaster on the Western Cape. It is the responsibility ... [Interjections.]
Mr L J BASSON: Chairperson!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon member, are you rising on a point of order?
Mr L J BASSON: I would like to know whether the Minister will take a question.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, will you take a question?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: No from him; I want to give it to him! I am not going to take a question. [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): The hon Minister will not take a question. May we proceed?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: The reason why the Western Cape has been reluctant to declare a disaster – as it is the competency of a provincial government – it is because they had played politics with the draught that this country has been faced with. However, the internal fights between the Mayor of the City of Cape Town and Madam Hellen Zille have also actually compromised the service delivery with regards to interventions in this particular place.
What we must not actually do is to also come and tell lies here in this august House. The presentations that have been made here by hon member Basson are not honourable, which then make us question you being honourable, such as the issues that you are raising about projects that are going to be closed. There is no project that is going to be closed.
We also have multiyear projects because the infrastructure – the built environment – operates on a multiyear approach. The other thing that I want to allude to is that we will make sure that we do not allow separate development in terms of water infrastructure. We will redirect the resources but we will also open up this department so that it can then be inclusive.
You should actually stop trying to be a representative of the construction unit. It is a unit of the Department of Water and Sanitation and it shall not be represented by you. You actually smell of racism in what you are trying to portray on Clanwilliam and the construction unit because all you want ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, could you please take your seat? Hon member, order! Have order so that the speaker can be heard. Hon member, on what rule are you rising?
Ms H S BOSHOFF: Chairperson, I am rising on Rule 92 on the fact that I can call a point of order to a Minister who says that the hon member smells of racism. She is personally attacking the member and she is now ...
Afrikaans:
Sy integriteit word in ag geneem deur te sê dat hy ruik na rassisme. Ek dink dat dit asseblief teruggetrek moet word.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, indeed your assertion has deviated from the rules. I will request the hon Minister just to withdraw the racist remark because you are now personal.
Mr S LUZIPO: On a point of order, Chair!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon member, no point of order will be raised on top of another one. May I please deal with this one and finish, then you will be given time.
Mr S LUZIPO: Okay, we will come back then, Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, may you withdraw so that we can move to the next point of order?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Hon Chairperson, I withdraw but don‘t divide members of the department. [Interjections.] Don‘t divide members of the department.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Order! Hon member, the hon Minister has withdrawn. I will now move on to the next ... [Interjections.]
Ms H S BOSHOFF: Chairperson!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): No, there is no follow up on a point of order. I will now recognise you, hon member, over there.
Mr S LUZIPO: Chair, with due respect: We are all in the House and I thought if that was the case, we heard what was said differently. I thought the statement by the Minister said: The statement made by the member smells of, not that it is racism. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] Now it seems we understood what had been said differently. You have made a ruling, she has withdrawn and we accept it.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon members, I think it is a point of procedure. Once the Presiding Officer, that ruling cannot be challenged. Thank you very much.
Ms H S BOSHOFF: A new point of order, Chair!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Is it another point of order?
Ms H S BOSHOFF: Yes!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): On what rule?
Ms H S BOSHOFF: The same matter, Chair. I just want to say that it is ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): That can‘t be. I have already ruled on the matter. [Interjections.]
Ms H S BOSHOFF: That‘s fine. I just want to ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon member, I have already ruled on the matter. [Interjections.]
Ms H S BOSHOFF: It is the second time that ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): And, I have just reminded the House that my ruling cannot be challenged. It is in the Rules Book.
Ms H S BOSHOFF: That‘s fine; I am going to refer this! [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon member, I am not recognising you. Sit down! [Interjections.]
Ms H S BOSHOFF: I am going to refer this. It is the second time that the Minister withdraws on record ... [Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): I am not recognising you. Take your seat!
Ms H S BOSHOFF: That‘s fine; I will!
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms Y N PHOSA): Hon Minister, may you proceed?
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: I would really urge members of this Parliament not to contribute towards dividing the staff of the
Department of Water and Sanitation and also seeking to influence where responsibilities must be given in a particular unit within the department. Hon Galo, ...
IsiXhosa:
... ndiyayiva intetha yakho malunga neLesotho. Okubalulekileyo bendingavuya ukuba singabanethutyana ndikuchazele kakuhle ukuze ungavi nje kuphela izinto ezibhalwe emaphepheni. Ayikho into eyinyaniso kule nto ekhutshwe emaphepheni. Siyipapashile emaphepheni ukuba isigaba sesibini siyaqalisa kwaye kubizwa nabantu abakwezoshishino ekwakheni ukuba bazibandakanye.
English:
Hon members, this budget seeks to contribute towards eradicating poverty, inequality and unemployment. In honour of President Oliver Tambo, we need to reach out to those far-flung areas such as Nkantolo in Mbizana where the President went to visit.
In conclusion, one of the things I want to reassert is that we are doing this because ...
IsiZulu:
Wonke umuntu eNingizimu Afrika unelungelo lothola amanzi acocekileyo. Nabo ngabantu.
Sesotho:
Le bona ke batho!
English:
We shall do this in the name of President Oliver Tambo, to deal with racialised water allocation and separate developments. Hon members, as I conclude, I wish to say that I might not be loved by many amongst you, so let me leave you with this quote, ―Thousands have lived without love but none has lived without water.‖ Water is life; sanitation is dignity. You hate me; you will regret the intentions of what you are doing. [Time expired.] Dankie! Ngiyabonga! Thank you! [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Mini Plenary rose at 12:03.
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