Hansard: NCOP: Unrevised hansard
House: National Council of Provinces
Date of Meeting: 27 Oct 2022
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022
PROCEEDINGS OF VIRTUAL (OR HYBRID) NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
Watch: Plenary
The Council met at 14:01.
The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): We are going to motions. First of all, we will give notices of motion and we must know that the time is 20 minutes in total for both notices as well as motions without notice. Sometimes we use a lot of time for this but I think today we will try and be a little bit strict.
Members who want to give notices of motion can indicate. I see hon Gillion on the virtual platform you want to give a notice of motion?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL (Mr S J Mohai): Deputy Chairperson may I indicate that there is a motion in the name of the Chief Whip on the order paper. Can we dispose it first?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Chief Whip, are you proposing that we start with that motion?
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL (Mr S J Mohai): Yes, on the order paper.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Okay, that is step 6 on the guide but we will go to that motion. I will now call on the Chief Whip to move the motion as on the order paper.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL (Mr S J Mohai): I move that, in terms of Rule 36(2) and in the interest of enhancing public participation, conducting oversight and providing a
platform for consideration of issues affecting provinces as provided for in section 42(4) and 72(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa as adopted in 1996:
That the Council
(1) resolves to, from 15 to 18 November 2022, conduct public hearings, hold meetings, conduct oversight visits and sit in plenary in the province of the KwaZulu-Natal on 18 November 2022, at 09:00, until the conclusion of business on that day; and
(2) the Council notes that the estimated cost of effecting the change in venue and maintaining it for the specified period as the cost appears on the order paper, we moved that the House accepts this arrangement that will impact on the proceedings of the NCOP between the 15th to the 18th.
Question put: That the Motion be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West; Western Cape.
Motion accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Ms M N GILLION: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council I shall move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council –
Debate measures to accelerate actions for dealing with the unending and escalating high levels of gender-based violence in the country.
Thank you, Deputy Chair.
Ms B T MATHEVULA: ... [Inaudible.] ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Hon
Mathevula, there is a problem with your connectivity. Can you just try again?
Ms B T MATHEVULA: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next siting day of the Council I will move on behalf of the EFF:
That the Council –
Debates overcrowding in public schools which ... [Inaudible.] ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Order, hon
members. Order.
Ms B T MATHEVULA: ... [Inaudible.] ... Hello, House Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Hon
Mathevula, although they say we must have patience with the people in the villages but really we didn’t hear you. Can you start again.
Ms B T MATHEVULA: Can you hear me, Chair. Loadsheding, Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Is it
possible that you can arrange ...
Ms B T MATHEVULA: Chairperson?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Is it
possible that hon Arnolds or ...
Ms B T MATHEVULA: Chairperson?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): We can’t
hear you. I don’t know what language I must speak because you know I don’t know Xitsonga. But can you try again, Brenda?
Mr A ARNOLDS: Deputy Chairperson.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Do you know what is it that she wants.
Mr A ARNOLDS: Yes.
Ms B T MATHEVULA: ... [Inaudible.] ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Makhadzi,
[Aunt.] we will ask hon Arnolds to speak on your behalf. We will ask hon Arnolds. Please, Arnolds.
Mr A ARNOLDS: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next siting day of the Council I will move on behalf of the EFF:
That the Council –
Debates overcrowding in public schools, which increase classroom discipline issues and other respecters such as school violence.
Thank you, Deputy Chair.
Mr K M MMOEIMANG: Deputy Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next siting day of the Council I will move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council –
Debates mechanisms geared at abrupting and ending corruption, maleficence and fraud at the driving licensing testing centres.
Thank you.
Mr M E NCHABELENG: Deputy Chair, I hereby give notice that on the next siting day of the Council I will move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council –
Debates mechanisms to ensure that the National Skills Fund, NSF, account for the resources relocated to it and deal with instances of maladministration and corruption at the NSF after amounts of just under R5 billion were not properly accounted for over two financial years.
Mr M DANGOR: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby give notice that on the next siting day of the Council I will move on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council –
Debates measures to deal with the huddles that prevent the necessary attention and acceleration of the investigation into the Steinhoff matter.
Thank you very much.
SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER QUALITY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms C VISSER: Deputy Chairperson, I hereby move without notice:
That the Council –
(1) notes that South Africa’s water quality is facing severe challenges due to the degradation and pollution of the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewater into the environment without any prior treatment resulting in adverse effects on human health and ecosystems;
(2) further notes that industry is the main cause of water pollution with toxic heavy metals being washed down in flowing rivers to settle in the sludge of dams and reservoirs from where water is reticulated to consumers;
(3) notes that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, 2021 World Water Development Report stated that people who drink municipal water directly are more likely to constantly suffer from diseases due to sewer and toxic heavy metals contamination of potable water; and
(4) further notes that toxic discharge of untouchable industries, not complying with the SA National
Standard, SANS, general legal limit allowed to decant in South Africa Rivers and environment, threatening the lives of all living beings consuming the water, and not considering our responsibility to those that will inherit what we neglected to maintain.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
UNUSED MILITARY BARRACKS
(Draft Resolution)
Mr K MOTSAMAI: Deputy Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council –
(1) notes that unused military barracks should be converted and used as a military schools to upskills military veterans.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
Mr T J BRAUTESETH: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council –
(1) notes with great concern the continuous degradation of infrastructure in the coastal town of Umkomaas in the eThekwini Metro in KwaZulu-Natal;
(2) notes that this town is situated just onshore from the Aliwal Shoal, one of the most renowned recreational dive sites worldwide;
(3) notes that despite this obvious tourist attraction and its potential for economic development and growth, the ANC-led municipality have forgotten this jewel in the KwaZulu-Natal crown and have allowed the town to stagnate and fall apart;
(4) notes that this neglect has resulted in continuous breakdown of water and electricity infrastructure which often lasts for hours and even days without intervention;
(5) notes that street lights in the town are completely non-functional, creating an environment where criminal elements thrive;
(6) notes that public infrastructure, including the police station, town hall, clinic, beach facilities and sports facilities have been completely mismanaged and neglected;
(7) further notes that the mismanagement of solid waste by Durban Solid Waste, DSW, have led to intolerable level of filth and rubbish in the town;
(8) further notes that law enforcement in the town is at an all-time low; the metro police do not enforce by laws in relation to traders and traffic congestion in the central business district, CBD, and the SAPS respond infrequently to cases of burglary and robbery;
(9) further notes that all of the factors listed above have resulted in tourists and visitors avoiding Umkomaas which has resulted in the economic decline of the town;
(10) calls on the relevant municipal departments to stop sitting on their hands, wake up and act to resolve the multiple issues plaguing the residents of Umkomaas; and
(11) further calls on the Department of Tourism to take an active interest in the town and place effective pressure on the municipality to resolve these issues in the interest of revitalising the tourist economy of Umkomaas.
I thank you.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
PERSISTING WATER CRISIS IN KOPANONG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M A P DE BRUYN: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the FF Plus:
That the Council —
(1) notes the persisting water crisis in the Kopanong local municipality, ...
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): You’d
rather come into the House the we can hear you. We don’t hear you when you are in the platform. Yesterday you were so loud and clear. Can you please start again?
Mr M A P DE BRUYN: Am I audible now Chair?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Please
speak slower. Don’t roll. You are rolling. We don’t hear you.
Mr M A P DE BRUYN: Am I audible now Chair? Can you hear me better? [Laughter.]
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Thank you.
Please, you may continue.
PERSISTING WATER CRISIS IN KOPANONG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M A P DE BRUYN: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the FF Plus:
That the Council —
(1) notes the persisting water crisis in the Kopanong local municipality where the largest parts of the municipality have been without water since February this year due to non-payment by the Kopanong local municipality
(2) further notes with concern that this is an extreme violation of the basic human right to have access to clean water by both Bloemwater and the Kopanong local municipality.
(3) therefore, in this regard, it should also be considered that the Water Board is on many occasions acting carelessly and impulsively without considering the impact and wellbeing of paying citizens and that the agreements between the department, Water Board and the municipality be re-evaluated to serve the interest of our citizens.
I so move.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Thank you,
hon De Bruyn. Tuesday you were very clear. It’s just that I don’t know, when you are in the system we don’t hear you so clearly. But thank you. There are no objections to your motion because I think that half of the members didn’t hear you clearly.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
THE DISINTEGRATING STATE OF BARKLY-WEST AND THE GREATER DIKGATLONG AREA
(Draft Resolution)
Ms D C CHRISTIANS: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the DA:
That the Council —
(1) notes that the DA last week protested against the disintegrating state of Barkly-West and the greater
Dikgatlong area, calling for an end to poor service delivery;
(2) also notes that earlier this year, the DA highlighted growing complaints regarding sewage that was flowing into people’s yards and homes. Three months down the line, the situation continues to worsen, despite calls on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, COGHSTA to intervene;
(3) notes with concern that just over two weeks ago, a camp at a nearby resort that accommodated 132 children and adults, had to put up with overflowing sewage despite having paid the municipality to suck the drains. It was later revealed that the two municipal sewerage trucks were actually in Kimberley for repairs, where they have been for a prolonged period of time;
(4) notes that aside from sewerage issues, Dikgatlong faces a growing myriad of problems. Last week, the DA highlighted that the municipality does not have enough purified water and capacity to ensure the sustainable provision to all municipal areas. This means residents of Barkly-West, Windsorton, Delportshoop, Longlands,
Gong-Gong and farming areas, are facing a dry, hot summer.
(5) further notes that craterous potholes mar the town’s main road while gravel roads through residential areas are not bladed. Speed signs are non-existent at the town’s entrances, causing motorists and trucks from manganese mines to race through the town centre;
(6) Lastly, urges that the Northern Cape MEC, Bentley Vass, to address the dire issues facing Dikgatlong municipality as Barkly-West is going south at a rapid rate. The decline of this once beautiful resort town and surrounding areas is facing imminent collapse.
I so move
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
15 YEARS SENTENCE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE HEIDELBERG MAGISTRATE COURT
(Draft Resolution)
Ms S SHAIKH: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council —
(1) welcomes a 15-year direct imprisonment sentence that was handed down in the Heidelberg Magistrate Court to two illegal immigrants for the theft and smelting of PRASA stolen copper cables and assets worth
R2,6 million;
(2) recognises the that theft of rail infrastructure is still a serious concern that needs to be seriously addressed and hope that this conviction will send a strong message to criminals that South Africa will not tolerate the scourge of criminality, theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure that is increasingly affecting our country;
(3) acknowledges the efficiency of the justice system in dealing with this scourge is commendable, and PRASA’s efforts to turn the tide against the theft and vandalism of essential infrastructure is a step in the right direction; and
(4) calls upon law abiding citizens to work with the law enforcement agencies by reporting theft of copper cables and vandalism of essential infrastructure which prevent commuters’ travel ... [Inaudible.] ...
Thank you very much.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY CONFERRED THE THIRD DOCTORATE ON DR ESTHER MAHLANGU
(Draft Resolution)
Ms M DLAMINI: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the EFF:
That the Council –
(1) notes that on 24 October 2022, Dr Esther Mahlangu was conferred the third doctorate from the Tshwane University of Technology;
(2) further notes that this comes after the failure of the NPA to prosecute the men who broke into her home and assaulted her only for the case to be struck off the roll, allowing yet another criminal to roam around the streets;
(3) acknowledges that Dr Esther Mahlangu first gained international attention in 1989 at a French art exposition;
(4) further acknowledges that in 1991, she was commissioned by BMW to create an art car, a BMW 525i, which was the first African Art Car, which was painted with Ndebele motifs;
(5) also notes that the car was exhibited at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C and subsequently in 1994. It was also exhibited at the British Museum, London, in 2017 amongst many other accolades;
(6) recognises the effort from Tshwane University of Technology to always lead in ways to continue acknowledging black excellence and;
(7) wishes Dr Esther Mahlangu well in her continued journey in the arts that puts South Africa on the world map.
I so move.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CLASS OF 2022 GRADE 12 LEARNERS
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N NDONGENI: Deputy Chairperson, I move without notice on behalf of the ANC:
That the Council –
(1) notes that the class of 2022 Grade 12 learners will be writing their 2022 National Senior Certificate examinations on 31 October 2022;
(2) believes that these exams are an important tool in determining the future career prospects of the learners;
(3) notes with confidence that the learners will do well, and surpass the outcome of the 2021 National Senior Certificate; and
(4) calls upon parents and teachers to continue giving the necessary support to the learners so that they can face the exams with confidence and encouragement; and
(5) wishes the class of 2022 Grade 12 learners success in their exams.
Thank you, Deputy Chair.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
HIGH RATE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY IN SOUTH AFRICA
(Draft Resolution)
Mr M S MOLETSANE: Deputy Chair, I move without notice:
That the House -
(1) notes the rise of teenage pregnancies in the Free State Province, where a total of 150 girls aged between 10 to 14 years have given birth in the past five months;
(2) further notes that statistics from the Provincial Health Department shows that, just over 4 700 teens aged between 15 and 19 years gave birth in the past year;
(3) acknowledges that, teenage girls continue to become pregnant at unacceptably high rates in South Africa;
(4) recognises that an increase in teenage pregnancies shows challenges with accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare services for this vulnerable age group; and
(5) therefore call for immediate school-based interventions across all provinces.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
ALLEGED KINGPIN ARRESTED BY HAWKS IN THE THEFT OF FUEL CASE
(Draft Resolution)
Ms A D MALEKA: Deputy Chair, I move without notice:
That the House –
(1) commends the Hawks for arresting the alleged kingpin of a syndicate linked to the theft of fuel, which has caused damage to essential infrastructure on Wednesday, 19 October 2022;
(2) also notes that the 35-year-old suspect was arrested in Pretoria by a multidisciplinary team, following further investigation after the arrest of two suspects, aged between 35 and 41, who were arrested for the theft of fuel and tampering with ... [Inaudible.] Chairperson, can you hear me?
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): We can see
that you are freezing now and then, but we can hear you.
Ms A D MALEKA: ... fuel and tampering with the Transnet national pipeline in Vrede, Free State on Saturday,15 October 2022;
(3) acknowledges that almost 8,5 million litres of fuel, valued at approximately R102 million, has been stolen from national Transnet pipes in the last year;
(4) also acknowledges that there are 49 suspects already arrested in the country, owing to the multi- disciplinary approach; and
(5) applauds the Hawks for a job well done in apprehending the alleged kingpin, who later appeared in court with other suspects.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE (ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS, 21 SEPTEMBER 2022, P 26) PROTOCOL TO THE CONSTITUTIVE ACT
OF THE AFRICAN UNION RELATING TO THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT OF 2014, DATED 21 SEPTEMBER 2022.
Ms S SHAIKH: Hon Chairperson, and greetings to hon members. The Pan-African Parliament was set up to ensure the full participation of African peoples in economic development and integration of the continent. It is intended as a platform for people from all African states, to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.
Currently, the Pan-African Parliament Members as designated by the legislatures of their member state and members of their domestic legislatures. The ultimate aim is for the Parliament to be an institution with full legislative powers, whose members are elected by universal suffrage. Until such time, the Pan-African Parliament has consultative, advisory and budgetary oversight powers within the African Union.
The African Union Assembly during its 2014 summit, adopted the protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament. The new protocol will come into force 30 days after the deposit of instruments of ratification by a simple majority of African Union Member States. Today, 14 member states have adopted the Protocol. In terms of the Protocol, Article 3 indicates that the procedure for election shall be determined by National Parliaments, or other
deliberative bodies until the code is developed before election by election to the Pan-African Parliament by direct universal suffrage.
Article 4(2), the 2014 Protocol also includes provisions for at least two of the five member states members to be women. Article 5(1), members shall be elected by their National Parliament or other deliberative organ from outside its membership, and that election shall be conducted in the same month by all Member States as far as possible.
In terms of Article 8, the 2014 Protocol includes that the Parliament shall be the legislative organ of the African Union, with the African Union Assembly determining the subjects or areas on which the Parliament may propose draft model laws, and for the Parliament to make its own proposals on the subjects or areas on which it may submit or recommend draft model laws to the Assembly for its consideration and approval.
The Pan-African Parliament Rules of Procedure provides for each of the five geographic regions to form a regional caucus composed of its members, and for other types of caucuses to be established to deal with the issues of common interest as the
Pan-African Parliament deems necessary. There are two such caucuses, Women and Youth. Each caucus has a bureau comprising of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and rapporteur.
Once it enters into force, the protocol will give the Pan- African Parliament the power or function to legislate but only proposing model laws. Model laws are not legally binding on any member states, and are meant to act as guiding instruments for which legislation can be drawn in whole or in part.
Therefore, in essence, this protocol does not have self- executing provisions that will become law in the Republic of South Africa, in terms of section 231(4) of the Constitution. In addition, the 2014 Protocol does not have any financial implications on South Africa.
It was noted that the protocol provides the seat of the Pan African Parliament shall be located in the Republic of South Africa, and also that the Pan-African Parliament be convened in the territory of any member state at the invitation by that member state. Currently, the Pan African Parliament sits in in Midrand.
Importantly, that the Bureau of the Pan African Parliament shall be elected on a rotational basis among all the five regions of the African Union. The committee noted that Africa remains central to South Africa’s foreign policy trajectories. Therefore, South Africa’s ratification of the 2014 Protocol would be in line with its commitment to fulfil its international legal obligations, driven by its domestic priorities, such as the National Development Plan. The ratification of the 2014 Protocol would underscore the importance that South Africa attaches to the aspirations of Pan-Africanism and regional integration as a decision by Agenda 2063.
Hon Chairperson, the Select Committee on Security and Justice, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament of 2014, and tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution approves the said protocol. Thank you very much Chair.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be agreed to.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE: RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA, THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON THE IBSA FUND FOR THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND HUNGER, DATED 21 SEPTEMBER 2022.
Ms S SHAIKH: Thank you very much, hon Deputy Chairperson. The India, Brazil and South Africa Fund is an initiative at the level of head of state created in 2004, as a pioneering effort by the three emerging market economies of India, Brazil and South Africa in order to promote South to South co-operation. Capitalisation for the fund is derived from the annual contributions of $1 million made by each of the India, Brazil and South Africa member states.
The fund agreement was signed in Durban in the year 2017 to support the international development agenda in particular, the global south and the least development countries in
addressing poverty and inequality, are among the objectives of the fund. Initiatives supported by the fund ... [Inaudible.]
... of solidarity and substantive manifestations of the South to South co-operation. Additionally, the strategic objective of the agreement also advances trilateral co-operation in conjunction with the India, Brazil and South Africa partners and the United Nations.
South Africa as a signatory to the agreement, finds expression in the National Development Plan, positioning South Africa, letting the world and contributing to a better Africa in a better world. The India, Brazil and South Africa Fund currently has the programming balance of approximately
$2,3 million. This year, the fund is in the process of approving a project in the city and will soon be considering a project in Mozambique.
The India, Brazil and South Africa Fund also receives updates on progress of active projects in African countries such as and among others in Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, Sudan, Uganda and Mali. The fund has supported all 17 Sustainable Development Goals in developing and least developing countries, making a direct contribution to the international development agenda, the United Nation Agenda
2030. South Africa’s contribution to the India, Brazil and South Africa Fund has a significant impact on the influence of the global south which will in turn positively impact on South Africa’s national economic and political interests.
The work of the India, Brazil and South Africa Fund manifest itself in concrete expressions of South to South solidarity previously echoed by iconic leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Patrice Lumumba that African Unity and international solidarity are no longer dreams but expressed in decisions.
South Africa is also leveraging greater political capital and extension of its subdiplomacy through the broad global footprint of the India, Brazil and South Africa Fund.
Hon Chair, the fund is managed by the United Nations office of South to South co-operation in New York and has received global awards for its role in supporting sustainable development, such as receiving the Millennium Development Goal Award. Orientation of the fund is people centered and impact driven, directly impact on the lives of the people who benefit from the scalable and replicable projects, hence, contributing in a practical and tangible manner to the South to South co- operation. The fund is recognised as an innovative model for
addressing developmental challenges and has received international awards in this regard.
In our engagement with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, we were informed that upon an earlier presentation of the India, Brazil and South Africa Fund agreement in 2019 to the Portfolio Committee of International Relations and Co-operation, it was requested that the term Millennium Development Goals contained in the preamble be substituted with Sustainable Development Goals. This amendment, hon Chair, will be made after entry into force, that is post ratification of all three member states. This approach is in accordance with the advice which South Africa received from the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser of the International Law, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and the Department of Justice and Correctional Services.
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation, therefore, requested that the select committee should adopt the seamless approach of ratifying the agreement in its current form, an effective amendment after entering the force, which is in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed in 2017. The committee was of the view that the fund
seeks to get towards fostering and building South to South relationships, improving extreme hunger and poverty and improving South Africa’s economic and political interests which would be to the benefit of South Africa as a whole.
Hon Chair, the Select Committee on Security and Justice, having considered the request for approval by Parliament of the ratification of the agreement between the Republic of India, the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa on the India, Brazil and South Africa Fund for the alleviation of poverty and hunger, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution approves the said ratification. Thank you very much.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be agreed to.
In Favour:
[TAKE IN FROM MINUTES]
Report accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF SECTIONAL TITLES AMENDMENT BILL [B 31B – 2020] (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – SECTION 76) AND REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON LAND REFORM, ENVIRONMENT, MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY THEREON
Ms T C MODISE: Thank you very much, Deputy Chairperson and good afternoon, members. The report of Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy on Sectional Titles Amendment Bill [B 31B – 2020] (National Assembly – section 76} dated 11 October 2022. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development briefed the committee on all nine provincial legislature on 3 May 2022 on Sectional Titles Amendment Bill [B 31B – 2020.]
The Bill was initially referred to the committee on 16 November 2021 as a section 75 Bill, to be later rectified and referred to the committee again on 3 May 2022 as a section 76 Bill. The committee called for written comments on the Bill, while the public hearings were held by the provincial legislature. At the end of these processes, the negotiating mandate meeting was held by the committee, together with the provincial legislature on 30 August 2020.
The Select Committee on Land, Mineral Resources and Energy have deliberated on, and considered the subject of the Sectional Titles Amendment Bill [B 31B – 2020] (National Assembly – section 76} referred to it as, and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism, JTM, as a section 76 Bill. The report that agreed to the Bill [B 31B – 2020] without any amendments. The committee requests the House to consider this report. I thank you, hon Deputy Chair.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be adopted.
[Take in from Minutes.]
Bill accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE: DRAFT AMENDMENTS OF SCHEDULES 1, 2 AND 3 OF THE FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT, DATED 14 OCTOBER 2022.
Mr E Z NJADU: Good afternoon, hon Deputy Chairperson and hon members. Let me take this opportunity to table the report of
the Select Committee on Finance on the Draft Amendments of Schedules 1, 2, and 3 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, dated 14 October 2022. The proposed Amendments to Schedules 1, 2 and 3 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act seek to strengthen the financial system and improve its resilience against abuse by money launderers and terrorist financiers. This is in response to the threat of grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force, FATF.
The Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Act, 2017 sought to address some of the weaknesses identified in the country’s anti-money laundering system following the 2009 FATF Mutual Evaluation Report, MER, findings. As National Treasury clarified, some of the weaknesses identified related to compliance, supervision and sanctions in respect of nonbanking financial institutions. Therefore, the amendments to the Schedules, seek to address the weaknesses identified by including the necessary sectors and business activities in the schedules and streamlining the number of supervisory bodies to enhance the quality of supervision and enforcement identified in the MER.
It was emphasised that the approval of the proposed amendments has become urgent, since the failure to comply with the set
deadline of October 2022 might lead to the grey-listing of the country by the FATF. The consequences for the country are expected to be dire and could include severe and adverse economic consequences for trade and transactions; the risk of losing critical correspondent banking relationships with overseas banks; restriction of banking transactions with South African banks by overseas regulators in the United States of America, USA, United Kingdom, UK, European Union, EU, Japan, China and imposition of penalties and fines for breaching such restrictions.
Deputy Chairperson, with regards to public participation, in
terms of the process followed by the committee, on 23 June 2022, the Committees on Finance in the National Assembly and
NCOP received a joint briefing from the National Treasury and
the FIC on the proposed amendments to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act Schedules. On 25 August 2022, the
Finance Committees held joint virtual public hearings on the Financial Intelligence Centre Act regulations.
The Standing Committee on Finance received a total of 11 submissions, three oral and eight written submissions, from the Mineral Councils SA, MCSA, Agricultural Business Chamber, AGBIZ, AGRISA, Banking Association SA, BASA, FEM Construction
Industry Loan Fund Pty (Ltd), Franklin Templeton Investments, SA Institute of Chartered Accountants, SAICA, Nathan Lindsey Hittler of the Corwil Investments Group and OUTsurance Life Insurance Company, OUTlife. Those are the submissions, Deputy Chairperson.
After the adoption of the report on the draft amendments of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act Schedules by the Select
Committee on Finance and the National Assembly, these Schedules were referred to the Select Committee on Finance. Deputy Chairperson, let me mention the following on Schedule 1 amendments, on the legal practitioners, technical amendment to
take into account new legislation and include attorneys practising for their account; advocates that practise with a
Fidelity Fund Certificate, who can deal directly with the
clients from the public; and legal firms.
On authorised users of an exchange, technical amendment to update the reference to the relevant legislation, following
the replacement of the Securities Services Act with the Financial Markets Act. The scope remains the same. On new proposed Item: Co-operative banks, a proposal to include this category to protect them from exploitation by launderers. On long-term insurance business, a proposal to amend the
legislation, Insurance Act, 2017, to ensure that the risk- based approach is followed.
Deputy Chairperson, on Schedule 2, the amendments to Schedule
2 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act aim to reorganise
the structure of supervisory bodies that are responsible for supervising compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act. This reorganisation is required partly because of
amendments in other legislation and partly because certain supervisory bodies do not actively perform a supervisory function as far as the Financial Intelligence Centre Act is concerned. On Schedule 3, which is the deletion of Items 1 and 2: Motor Vehicle Dealers and Kruger Rand Dealers: A proposal to delete this category and include it as accountable institutions in the scope covering high-value goods dealers in Schedule 1. Currently, these sectors have no compliance or legal obligations to conduct customer due diligence or retain client and transactional records.
To mention few observations, Chairperson, the committee noted that of the total 20 amendments proposed in the three Financial Intelligence Centre Schedules, technical amendments are proposed on six items, five items are to be deleted, five items are newly proposed and four items seek to widen the
scope of their respective categories. Also to mention on recommendations, Deputy Chairperson, the committee is appalled at National Treasury’s tardiness in bringing these very important and urgent proposed amendments to Financial Intelligence Centre Act Schedules before Parliament and
utterly refutes the false allegations by some in the media
that the Finance Committees in Parliament are holding up the process of finalising it.
The committee expresses its severest disapproval of National
Treasury for its failure to bring these regulations sooner to Parliament. Despite the delays in tabling the draft amendments before Parliament, the committee is acutely aware of the urgency of the amendments and the severe implications of the country’s failure to comply with the FATF deadlines, which would lead to the grey-listing of the country and the economic and financial consequences, among others, that would follow.
The committee gave considered attention to these regulations and had several meetings to process them, including through engagement with the National Clothing Retail Federation, NCRF, in committee sittings and ensuring that National Treasury and the FIC met directly with the NCRF and reported back to the Committee on the outcomes.
Lastly, Deputy Chairperson, these amendments seek to strengthen the financial system and improve its resilience against abuse by money launderers and terrorist financiers, and crucially, seek to avoid the possible grey-listing of the country. According to the legal advice received from Parliament and National Treasury, the amendments are constitutionally sound. The committee approves of them. The FF Plus reserved its position for the report to be considered.
Thank you very much, Deputy Chair.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Thank you
very much, hon Njadu. I was listening attentively because I remember that we were actually raising our reservations on this issue that has not been dealt with. So, we are actually satisfied that it is in front of us. I am not supposed to that I was listening, and I know that it was an issue that was raised before. Before we proceed to the voting, let us allow the provinces now to make their Declarations of Vote in terms of Rule 86 if they so wish.
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: Deputy Chairperson, the Western Cape would like to make its declaration.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP (Ms S E Lucas): Yes, I
think you raised it not so long ago, so it’s just befitting that you will make a declaration.
Declarations of vote:
Ms C LABUSCHAGNE: South Africa is currently faced with the grim prospect of being placed on the grey list by the Financial Action Task Force, FATF. Should this happen, the impact on most of us will not be an immediate change, but a gradual filtering through of price increases as international trade becomes more difficult, as the cost of finance becomes greater and the demand for our currency tails off, leaving the market forces of supply and demand to further weaken the exchange rate.
The updated regulations are meant to help ward off this scenario. What a pity that Treasury was so slow out of the blocks in presenting these changes to parliament.
Recommendation 6.1 states “The committee is appalled at National Treasury’s tardiness.” This comment was not made lightly.
What a pity that that Treasury tried to bamboozle the committees of Parliament and force the amendments through a
flawed process at a committee meeting held on 15 June of this year.
Some material questions were raised during the processing of these very technical amendments to the regulations, and some answers gave comfort while others left a sense of unease.
The lack of certainty around how exactly different players need to implement the regulations requires substantial communication.
A great concern is the cost of compliance that will no doubt be passed on to the consumer, and the resultant impact on already stretched household budgets.
The amendments are however in line with sound principles underpinning the prevention of illicit flows of funds, money laundering, the funding of terrorism and general illegal behaviour and should therefore be supported.
Noting the need for urgency to adopt the regulations in order to meet the FATF deadlines, the committee did sufficient oversight to ensure that the regulatory changes are sound, but there must still be a review of the impact of the regulations
to ensure that unintended consequences are monitored and mitigated.
As with all regulations the key to meeting FATF’s objectives and adhering to the sound principles detailed earlier will be in the implementation. All eyes are now on the regulatory bodies to do what Parliament and indeed South Africa demands of them. We support the Report. Thank you.
Mr Y I CARRIM: Thank you Deputy Chairperson, firstly I mean we agree across all political parties Deputy Chairperson that Treasury was tardy. And, I think it’s fine, we bashing them and they deserve it. But ultimately it’s not just Treasury, Deputy Chairperson that brought us where we are. It’s also the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, the Hawks, Finance and
Investment Committee, FIC, it’s a multiplicity of institutions, that have not conformed to the international requirements on money laundering and corruption.
Now, we can always say, oh we are a national sovereign country and they can jump in the league, but we are part of a globalised world. And our financial system despite everything remains the top seven in the world, the top seven in world!
I saw the other day Deputy Chairperson a snippet I didn’t the article ... [Inaudible.] ... but in England is not a great thing, but it is an interesting thing. In England, the banks are now engaging with our South African banks or plan to do so, to understand how you operate fully 24/7 when you are in load shedding. Because the prospects are ... you know that in the United Kingdom, UK, they might have ... at one stage it’s estimated at 30% deficit during the winter. So they are coming to us, ok. So the irony might well be that André de Ruyter might get called to Europe Deputy Chairperson to assist them, amazing load shedding. It’s about the irony about it, but it shows that something is ... we do manage.
For what is worth there was a foreigner who visited me, he is not from the anti-apartheid movement, he is an academic, was struck by how well Electricity Commission, Eskom, you know, know well before hand and so on. And he was saying it was very impressive ... not so bad thing.
So any way it’s not that we gonna advertise that but it’s to say that a Bill is coming very shortly, I think it’s tabled already in National Assembly, NA, which will deal with a multidisciplinary approach. Dealing with the responsibilities of FIC and all the other institutions I mentioned.
But I do want to say one thing, which I think it was emphasized by Mr Njandu and that is, and as we pleading to Treasury and if they are listening or if they hear, presumably somebody from Treasury is here, observing via the platform.
That look we understand that the jargon has to be technical
Deputy Chairperson and some of it is dictated to by fixed
asset turnover ratio, Financial Action Task Force FATF, standard, right. But you know, it can be simplified and if you are using the jargon you can put it the memorandum and explain in simple language. It’s not fair on us Deputy Chairperson. We are ordinary Members of Parliament, MPs like anywhere in the world. We are not technical experts on financial issues, so in short that they could certainly have done.
But at the end of the day we want to thank all the parties, I haven’t heard from my comrade here, from EFF yet, but he was very conciliatory in the meeting. I just think it’s the first Deputy Chairperson since 2019 all parties are agreeing on something.
So ultimately whatever Ms Labuschagne has said, she interested in ensuring that the country is protected and we will assure it Deputy Chairperson, until that Bill comes to us, we will work 25 hours a day, eight days a week to bring it to House,
the second one so that we are done at the end of this term. Thank you indeed.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
DEBATE ON WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK AND SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY TO COMMUNITIES: BUILDING A VIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO COMMUNITIES
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Mr M D Mahlobo):
Your Excellency House Chairperson, Mtimande, hon Ngwenya, to the Chief Whip of the NCOP Comrade Mohai, the Chairperson of our Select Committee Comrade Dodovu, hon members, the MECs that are connected, the leadership of SA Local Government Association, Salga, comrades and friends and fellow South Africans, firstly, I want to convey our sincere thanks that
the incident that happened in the local government in Mpumalanga especially the Enkangala District Municipality where the Municipal Manager, Ms Skhosana and her driver Ms Mtshweni were kidnapped. They have been brought back. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them and their families.
Hon House Chairperson, today it would have been 105 years since one of the finest leaders our country, the continent and our revolutionary movement has ever produced. His Excellency O R Tambo, would have turned a 105-years today. When we debate these matters, we should be inspired by his words, when he said, and I quote:
We have a vision of a South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity. We seek to create a united and a nonracial society. We all belong to South Africa and South Africa belongs to all.
Hon House Chairperson, in the context of building this nation, we need to realise that the objectives that are set out in the Freedom Charter our lodestar, the National Development Plan 2030, and the Economic Reconstruction Recovery Plan for
inclusive and sustainable network industry constitute the bedrock and catalyst and economic rejuvenation and renewal.
Our investment on both economic infrastructure has been reaffirmed yesterday by the Minister on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, as a deliberate and a focus planning, development, implementation and management of water and sanitation, infrastructure, transport and energy.
The SA Institute of Civil Engineers, once launched its report on infrastructure in 2017 and indicated the conditions of public infrastructure in our country. The report indicated that the relative good network industries, but the science have emerged that our solid foundation is being threatened due to inadequate investment and poor management of the current assets and further deterioration with huge financial and reliability implication.
Over the last 28 years of our democracy, the ANC-led government has done well to expand access to all South Africans, especially those who were deliberately excluded by the apartheid and colonial regimes.
Hon members, the population has grown exponentially. There is an increase levels of migration. Our gross domestic product, GDP, has increased. This has placed a considerable strain on the infrastructure. Equally, we must adopt to climate change imperatives, especially droughts and taking advantage of technical advances.
Hon House Chairperson, South Africa’s primary water resources are evenly distributed. We know that most of our water is being shared with our neighbouring state. That is why we are having a very sophisticated bulk transfer operations and schemes that we must always augment for our water scarce areas.
The major economic and social hubs are also located in areas where water does not naturally flow. Population growth and water scarcity has put particular strain during times of drought. It places increased strain on water resources and water supply infrastructure especially in our metros.
In South Africa, access to sufficient water, we all know that is a right according to all South Africans. It is entailed in our Constitution and the other laws. Provision of safe and affordable water remains a priority for this ANC-led
government. However, we must note that it remains precarious, the country remains committed to provide free basic services.
Yesterday the money around equitable share was increased to cater for those so that the poor households can be supported with the 25 litres per capita per day at no cost to that household. In the absence of appropriate water infrastructure, it might compel a number of South Africans, especially women and children to travel long distances to get access water.
One of the major challenges for infrastructure provision as we know has been our ability to plan, our ability to ensure that there is enough investment on infrastructure, but at the very same time, the issues of adequate skills around engineering, contract management and the others that you can name.
The National Water Infrastructure Delivery Inequalities are subject to variable individuals and communities where we have an unimproved and contaminated water sources of drinking; caused by human nature, in the main domestic and industrial agricultural, you can name them.
There are growing concerns around access to water and sanitation in many communities across the country which may be
issues pointing to aging infrastructure and poor maintenance thereof.
Despite the key role of public infrastructure that is playing around economic growth and social upliftment, the condition of water and sanitation infrastructure continue to deteriorate.
Your Excellency House Chairperson, we want to indicate that there are many South Africans that have access to water infrastructure looked at more than 90%. However, when it comes to reliability, it has dropped to about 67%. In other words, the people that used to have water yesterday, today do not have water or have water in an infrequent basis. That is one of the challenge that we have to address. How we have managed the assets in terms of management, in terms of renewal and all these other aspects.
What are we going to do to address water security? We are paying an attention on development, operation and maintenance, refurbishment, while we have meagre resources.
We are also rolling out regional bulk infrastructure in many of our provinces. We are also supporting historically disadvantaged individuals especially emerging farmers around
water allocation reforms for economic benefits and licence provision. We must also implement demand management in terms of water conservation and management because we do not have all these issues that are there. We must improve our capability for execution because a number of projects has taken time and at a high cost to complete them. We must also develop surface water sources by constructing new dams and new systems in terms of transfers. We must exploit ground water sources where possible and implement artificial recharge. We must promote water reuse and recycling including water reclamation - in terms of brown water is being used by many other countries. We too we can do that. We must implement and promote desalination, including multipurpose of water resources for hydropower, aquaculture sports and culture.
What are we doing as a government to ensure that we secure water? Meagre projects like the Lesotho Highlands Scheme, we are proceeding now on Phase 2, uMkhomazi we are proceeding. We are also looking at the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency. We are also strengthening our support to municipalities by making all these water boards to be at the disposal of these municipalities including the reconfiguration of water boards.
We have reintroduced the issues of the Blue and the green Drop to deal with the issues of water quality both waste water and also raw water. We are also strengthening our regulatory capability. We are also increasing the participation of the private finance where in the Northern Cape and today the Minister is in Limpopo in Lephalale water system is going to be taken from De Hoop, until it arrives through Polokwane and Mogalakwena. In the Northern Cape the Vaal Gamagara Scheme working with the mines. There are lot of these other issues.
We must also increase efficiency, fight corruption in the water sector, improve the billing system, transform the irrigation boards and other agencies that I have spoken to.
We have experienced drought especially in Nelson Mandela Bay, Sarah Baartman and we are attending to those particular issues. The issues of Amathole and Buffalo City Municipalities within the Amathole System we are attending to them. The issues of Chris Hani, O R Tambo and Joe Gqabi Districts, those are all in our radar.
The major projects to support these infrastructures to ensure availability and water security. The uMzimvubu Water Project, currently, we are actually concluding and the designs are more
than 80% complete. We have completed the procurement processes where we are now working with Treasury to be able to conclude these issues.
The Coerney Dam is a long-term water supply issue that we are attending in the Nelson Mandela Bay. In Mangaung we are looking at Gariep and that is going to be supporting including Machabeng. Gauteng in terms of the Lesotho Water Project including the Vaal River System at a cost of more than
R32 billion. That is what we are working on with our neighbours Namibia and Lesotho.
In KwaZulu-Natal we are looking at Ethekwini and Hazelmere Dam to ensure the long-term sustainability. Currently we are at 98%. We are also looking at completing at around R800 million. The Tugela-Goedertrou Transfare Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal especially around Richards Bay is at 64%. We are currently having a budget of about R800 million. The uMkhomazi Water Project we are actually concluding the partnership with all those municipalities.
In Limpopo we are looking at the Giyani Water Services Project. We should be able to conclude now. The issues of
supporting Mopani and the teams are already on the ground including the Musina Special Economic Zone, SCZ.
In Mpumalanga the issues of Loskop Dam and the issues of the billing of a dam in Mbombela including mining rehabilitation. I have spoken about the Northern Cape the Vaal Gamagara Water Supply Scheme and the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme that we are also looking. In the North West we are looking at the Molopo Eye in Mafikeng because we need to ensure that there is a sustainability there including the issues of Madibeng.
Here in the Western Cape, we are looking at Cederberg and Clanwilliam Dams. Our work is already in advance. We are starting next year January. We will be completing in 2027.
The Berg River Voevlei Augmentation Scheme that will support the City of Cape Town is actually completing the land acquisition process. We should be starting now and it is estimated at R1 billion.
All these projects that we are naming in terms of the viability and sustainability are not going to be sufficient, therefore that is why we are proceeding with the Bill that is being tabled in the National Assembly around the National
Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, to enable large sums of money to be raised for additional augmentation and the support in them.
When it comes to water services, we know that more than 90% of South Africans have access to water infrastructure, however only 67 to 68% in terms of reliability. The issues of poor service delivery are being experienced because of the issues of vandalism and theft of infrastructure. We have reintroduced the issues of the Blue and the Green Drop as I have mentioned earlier and there is a lot of improvement by municipalities in attending to these issues.
Therefore, our role will continue to be there, to support local government around sanitation infrastructure because major cities, whether it is Tshwane, Johannesburg or Ethekwini they have neglected the investment in terms of the bulks sewerage system who are increasing. The population grew, the connected many households and they never invested in growing the system. Now the sewerage is running into the streets. We want to say we want to stop those spillages. Our people cannot be exposed to live in inhumane conditions.
In Ethekwini we know that the infrastructure was also affected by the issues that had to do with flooding, but even before flooding, the main issues around infrastructure management and investment were neglected. We are working with the government of KwaZulu-Natal to attend to those issues. We have intervened in the Vaal and we will intervene in Kimberly because there is also sewerage running there and many other areas that we think water is not in good condition.
We are also implementing Water Services Improvement Plan. There is a regulatory mechanism working with National Treasury and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, and all the issues that are being dealt with Salga.
With regard to issues of enforcement and compliance - we have ensured that there is an economic regulator to deal with issues of water use, charges and pricing so that the fight that we normally have between us and local government – there is the commission that the Minister has appointed to deal with those issues. However, the principle of the polluter pays, we will continue with it. Those who are polluting the water must stop. If they do not stop, the waste charge system is going to come into effect.
Cabinet has approved a policy that deals with mine water because most of the water that is polluted in Gauteng and all mining communities in the main, they were caused by the mine in terms of the acid mining drainage. We cannot afford where citizens must pay for the bill for those mines and we have to be able to chase them.
The financial position of the sector does not look well. The issues of debts that municipalities are owing has increased to the water boards to about R23 billion. However, equally local government is being owed. We must encourage as hon members’ citizens to pay, including ourselves, we must pay for services. However, those who cannot afford to pay, we must able to ensure that the free basic services of 25 litres they get it. However, when they start to use more they must know that there must be an amount of money that they must pay back to the fiscus.
The issues of delay of projects whether it is at Giyani uMzimvubu, uMkhomazi or Giyani we have brought a lot of capacity and working with the private sector we should be able to conclude those particular issues.
I want to indicate that all these years more than 129 projects we have done since 2008 until 2021, where we have spent nearly a billion rand in supporting municipalities. As we stand right now, there is a lot of money in the outer years that we are actually to be given more than R23 billion to support the municipalities around this infrastructure. When it comes to regional bulk and when it comes to Water Infrastructure Grant, WSIG, we have implemented a lot of projects and in supporting a number of communities. When it comes to WSIG, we have allocated more than R12 billion to support the presentation that we would share, your excellency or for various reasons you would see that in each province, how much money are putting there.
However, what do we need to do? Local government is becoming the weakest link on issues of governance, leadership, skills and accountability. We need to work together rather than pointing fingers to local government because we all live in one locality or the other as the national government, we think we are on course, working together with all the partners. From national, with Treasury, with the association that is Salga and the municipalities themselves, with universities and other research institutions, but communities must play their part.
Every drop of water they waste someone is looking for that particular drop. Every human activity that does not value the issues of water as a precious resource for our own economic development. Pollution is the biggest threat for our own country. We would not run out of water, but we will actually have water that will be expensive to treat because that water will not be fit for use. Therefore, our actions today are very important for the actions for the future. Water is life and sanitation is dignity. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms C VISSER: Hon House Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members and fellow South Africans, good day. The sustainability of human life and development depends on water since water is essential for life and all living ecosystems, there is no life without water. The clock has been ticking for
20 years with government acknowledging the signs of a crumbling collapse of the water and sanitation system. How is it possible that the ANC-led government, knowing about the collapsing water and sanitation crisis, was unable to find a sustainable solution and still do not have a solution, but only excuses? How can government speak about growth and a sustainable future in a developmental state if they cannot find a solution to sustainably provide a basic human need, water?
Government failed to invest in the maintenance and management of ageing infrastructure causing vulnerable people to face the impact of an impending humanitarian disaster. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation confirmed to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation recently that infrastructure is not adequately managed and adequately maintained, and reported that the average water loss across South Africa is 50%. In other words, government allowed the destruction of infrastructure leading to the collapse of every system and did nothing about it.
How can South Africans trust the ability of an ANC-led government to provide water to all South Africans, stop sewer floods submerging properties, filling streams, rivers, and dams and polluting natural resources? This government failed to provide essential sustainable services because they were unable to resolve the issues threatening the lives and livelihoods of all South Africans. They could not care less if businesses close down and jobs are lost.
In 2018, the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan identified a water supply deficit of 17% by 2030, whereas the National Infrastructure Plan, Nip 2050, indicates that seven out of thirteen major water systems could be in deficit by
2040. South Africa is facing a disaster attributed to: inadequately managed and maintained water infrastructure, persistent climate change, driving extreme flooding interspersed with years - long droughts, deteriorating water quality exacerbated by pollution, the ever-consistent corruption, and undocumented water use and unmaintained infrastructure.
It should be noted that at least 9% of South Africans draw their water from polluted rivers and the destruction of river catchments with more than 37-50% of our drinking water lost through leaks and infrastructure failures. The water quality of the country’s water bodies deteriorated due to pollution of the unabated toxic effluent like vanadium and other heavy metal substance from industry decants in rivers daily.
Government woefully failed to act in 20 years and is therefore slowly killing our people.
The SA Human Rights Commission stated that the gushing of raw sewer into streams, rivers and dams is dire and widespread and should be declared a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. Sanitation Authorities needs to be charged and criminally prosecuted for mismanagement and neglect of accountability. According to experts, R1 trillion is needed to
recapitalize the water sector, which owes its collapse to corruption and mismanagement over two decades, with no stone unturned.
South Africa’s water crisis was initiated by ANC-led bad governance because the 14 dams of the Integrated Vaal System are 93% full but thousands in Gauteng are without water turning a storm into a hurricane since government failed to plan for a disaster. Government talks about the developmental state, with plans of meaningful infrastructure with the potential to strengthen the economy and provide sustainable services to communities. Unfortunately, government does not have the will and discipline to be accountable, ensuring sound management and maintenance, and if failing to comply with that no consequence management but with golden handshake. Without that, no infrastructure and no project will ever be sustainable.
In conclusion, the fact that the water crisis in South Africa was caused by ANC-led bad governance, endemic fraud, corruption, and cadre deployment, which is without a doubt present in all levels of its government. Therefore, the word enough comes to mind when following the news. Enough talking, enough crime and criminality. Enough unemployment. Enough
failing infrastructure. Enough fraud, corruption and dishonest corrupt leadership. Enough broken political promises, lies and illegal strikes. Enough negativity and breaking down this country.
Government received a mandate in the preamble of the National Water Act regulating that the water of South Africa belongs to the people of South Africa and the Minister is the custodian of the water to ensure South Africans have access to a basic human need, clean potable water. Sadly, the government failed! So, Minister, respectfully, on behalf of every South African, kindly claim your space and do your job. Thank you, House Chair.
Mr T S C DODOVU: Thank you, Chairperson of the House, hon Ngwenya; the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, hon David Mahlobo; the Chief Whip of the NCOP; permanent and special delegates; representatives of Salga and fellow South Africans, the struggle for freedom in our country with the strategic objectives of building a nonracial, nonsexist democracy has produced many outstanding leaders who led from the front.
This struggle has produced leaders who have left an eternal stamp on their people and made an indelible contribution to bring freedom in our land. One of such leaders is Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo, a doyen of our struggle who was born on this day, 27 October in 1917. Like hon Deputy Minister Mahlobo did, I rise this afternoon on the debate entitled; Water Infrastructure Network for Sustainable Water Supply to Communities, to salute this freedom fighter and the true leader of our people.
Hon Chairperson, Oliver Reginald Tambo is a leader who has made an indelible contribution to South Africa. With his sterling work and commitment to struggle Oliver Reginald Tambo has paid a deposit in our moral banking account so that as his successor and ... [Inaudible.] ... we must address many challenges facing our country including those related to water and sanitation. In order to emulate Oliver Reginald Tambo’s virtues and exemplary leadership, we must do everything within our means to build sustainable water infrastructure through community ownership and participation as part of achieving goal number six of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hon chairperson, as we engage in this debate this afternoon, I rise to express our fervent appreciation to ...
IsiZulu:
Baba Oliver Reginald Tambo ...
English:
... and his commitment to the liberation of his people. Accordingly, in his memory and honor I dedicate this speech to him, for the immense and immeasurable contribution he made in fighting freedom and in galvanising and rejuvenating the unity of our people.
As we battle to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected, managed, used, conserved and controlled accordingly and as we strive to effectively manage the nation’s water resources to meet the needs of the current and future generations, we must do so in full recognition that we owe a special debt of gratitude to Oliver Tambo because he too, like many other leaders of his generation, enriched our lives with the magic of his words. They are ... [Inaudible.] ... of his sight and the magnitude of his vision.
Hon chairperson, South Africa is one of the water scarce countries in the world and water crisis continues to perpetuate in rural areas of our country. Therefore, we need to tackle it as a matter of urgency. Serious water challenges
such as the amount of water available, the unequal distribution and access to clean water, nonrevenue water, skill shortages, aging infrastructure and shifting demand patterns have dire consequences for the country from social, political and economic perspectives.
In addition, hon Chair, drought; water pollution; climate change and corruption are the factors that are exacerbating the water crisis in our country. All of these factors cost towns and cities to run dry and have affected municipal treatment plants resulting in sewer flows into streets, rivers and groundwater. Mining, manufacturing industries, agriculture, crumbling infrastructure and poor wastewater treatment are also the main contributors to this problem. Hon Chair, as such, the community protests in South Africa largely center around the water resource crisis that we are facing.
Hon Chair, according to numerous studies conducted in this regard, the water resource crisis is at a critical point in South Africa and it is predicted that by 2030, the demand for water will outstrip supply. If not tackled with the utmost urgency it deserves, the water resource crisis will not only collapse the country itself but will also escalate the problems of poverty, unemployment and inequalities. The major
problem for the water crisis is lack of infrastructure or the aging of the infrastructure itself. Decades of chronic underfunding of water infrastructure and lack of maintenance thereof is also putting our country at risk of health associated problems.
Chairperson, while everyone agrees that the funding of water infrastructure is important, spending and investment is overlooked because its economic benefits were not emphasised. One of the reasons underlying the investment gap in this regard, especially in water and sanitation is that this services are perceived mainly as social and in some cases as environmental issues rather than an economic one that must be given that attention. Therefore, hon Chair, the economic importance of water and sanitation should provide an additional catalyst for greater investment especially in its infrastructure.
Hon Chair, another reason for the neglect of water and sanitation is that people are generally not willing to pay for water coming into their homes and also they are not willing to ensure the transporting and the treatment thereafter. Once water is flushed down the toilet it disappears and that becomes someone else’s problem. This must be addressed.
Treating wastewater in several times is more expensive than treating the source water in the first place. So, without the willingness to pay on the part of users it falls on the government to foot the bill since the user do not recognise the economic value of wastewater treatment which is perceived in most instances as more of an environmental issue as I indicated.
Hon Chairperson, improving access to water and sanitation has clear benefits. When broader macroeconomic benefits are taken into account the return on investment in water and sanitation can be high. The water use in the past century has increased a lot in South Africa and is rising by about 1% a year owing to the rising populations and the increasing demand, while climate change is also affecting the supply of water as such. One possible source of renewed investment in water, hon Chairperson, is through a better understanding of the links between water issues, the water infrastructure and the climate crisis.
Hon Chairperson, while billions in investments have been poured into reducing greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa in the last decade through clean energy and low carbon technology few resources have been devoted to the water
supply. As the result of the above there is a case, hon Chair, for an interdisciplinary social innovation to solve the water problems in our country. The interdisciplinary approach will surely tackle the real life water resource problems. It will address the complexity of water resource problem by involving a variety of actors from science and practice for the diversity of their perspectives. It will also create knowledge that is solution oriented, socially robust and transferable to both scientific and societal practice.
Hon Chairperson, in resolving the problems of water and water infrastructure, the following solutions should be taken into account: Strengthening and fast-tracking of the mass rollout of water infrastructure networks to reach remote areas; rolling out of civic education programmes on the importance of the user-pay principle to all communities; mobilising community structures to take ownership of community infrastructure; dealing decisively with illegal water connections and ensure harsh penalties for offenders; the need to strengthening community involvement to minimise community disruption to water infrastructure development projects; and lastly, ensuring access to water for smallholder farmers and addressing unequal distribution of water licenses.
This is important, hon Chairperson, in order to ensure that we invest accordingly in water infrastructure in terms of improving people’s lives, generating economic growth and helping to cut carbon emissions within our societies. As I pointed out in the beginning, hon Chair, I used this input in the debate this afternoon to honor Oliver Reginald Tambo. If ever there was anyone who lived, slept and dreamt the liberation of his people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it was Oliver Reginald Tambo.
It is clear that Oliver Reginald Tambo was endowed with great wisdom which he paddled forward for a clear cut and direct road that carried him to lofty heights. His creation and articulations were rich all depicting the African soul, its stripes and yearnings, its sufferings and sorrow and its majesty. It is quite important having said that, that we move forward in terms of addressing those issues that are referred to. It is our contention that the opportunities will be missed if we do not do everything within our power to address those particular issues especially the issues of water infrastructure within our communities. Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]
Mr Z WILLIAMS (Eastern Cape): Thank you, hon House Chairperson. Allow me to pass greetings to you hon House Chair, hon Deputy Minister Mahlobo, hon Chief Whip of the NCOP, hon members of the House, and hon members of SA Local Government Association, Salga. Hon House Chairperson, the debate that is unfolding this afternoon in this House is very relevant in the current political discourse because of the importance of water to communities since water is life. South Africa is a water scarce country, and this has been witnessed in the past few years where drought has become an annual occurrence which has devastating impact against poor communities who cannot afford any alternative measures due to low income in the majority of households in our country. Our challenges are not only based on drought and the effects of climate change, but we continue to experience challenges of access to water due to serious backlogs in provinces like the Eastern Cape with rural areas being on the eye of the storm in this regard.
Those who conceptualised the apartheid spatial framework should be hanging their heads in shame due to the major suffering that our communities endure, especially African and blacks as a result of their policies which were intent on depriving the majority of our people the right to health,
economic participation and access to a lifestyle which is standard for any normal human being. This historical background must encourage us as the ruling party to work harder in order to displace this demonic system and its barbaric spatial segregation and ensure that we build a viable water infrastructure for sustainable and reliable supply to our communities.
The previously disadvantaged communities were made to fetch water more than 100 metres from their homes whilst their counterparts in suburbs had the luxury of water taps within their households. Our people were exposed to toilet facilities that denigrated their dignity because one block of open toilets was meant to be used by our communities without privacy and this was an environment which had to be accepted by African communities. This sanitation system exposed our people to health risks that are still being experienced by our people in townships like Khayelitsha in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Therefore, the life expectancy of the African majority continues to drop due to the demon of racism and apartheid which exposed them to unhealthy sanitation facilities.
In responding to these challenges, the democratic government has invested large sums of funds to create a better life for the people of our country. Our approach to delivering sustainable infrastructure is to extend water services to each household to promote our people’s dignity including health and good livelihoods. We are busy in rural areas constructing ablution facilities because apartheid dumped our people there without any form of infrastructure and only since 1994, we have started to build the much-needed infrastructure. The challenges we are currently facing relate to climate change which reverses all our gains due to disasters that erode the infrastructure we are busy constructing. According to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 6, water and sanitation are essential for sustainable development and underpin poverty reduction, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
However, in recent decades, overexploitation, pollution of water sources, climate change, all have led to severe water stress in many countries including South Africa. The rising greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change and driving a complex mixture of unpredictable changes to the environment while further taxing the resilience of natural and built systems. There is a high probability that the Eastern
Cape will experience higher temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, intense and the extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and storms, rising sea levels and tidal surges which will affect our province and impact on it negatively. Climate change is worsening the situation with increasing disasters such as floods and droughts, 80% of wastewater in the world flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused, and 70% of the world’s natural wetland has been lost, including a significant loss of freshwater species. Urgent action is needed to overcome this global crisis, as it is affecting all countries around the world, socially, economically, and environmentally.
Hon House Chair, with this picture in mind, we need to appreciate that South Africa is a water scarce country facing challenges in the delivery of water and sanitation caused by insufficient water infrastructure network, persistent droughts caused by climatic variations; unequal access to water and sanitation; water leakages, aging infrastructure, deteriorating water quality; and lack of skilled water engineers, scientists and geo-hydrologists, including resource economists. The provision of quality water to all is essential for human health and wellbeing.
The mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation as set out in the National Water Act of 1998, is to ensure that the country’s water resources are protected, managed, used, developed, conserved, and controlled by regulating and supporting the delivery of effective water supply and sanitation. To this end, our municipalities are sites of water distribution and reticulation to all the households.
Cognisant of the above and working together with the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Eastern Cape is poised to build water infrastructure network to supply water to communities in a sustainable way. Each day we register commendable progress and reduce the infrastructure backlogs that continue to affect our people negatively. To respond to the call of building viable water infrastructure and sustainable and reliable water supply to our communities, we are implementing the following projects based on various grants such as the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, Water Supply Infrastructure Grant and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant.
Of the Bulk Infrastructure Grant 19 projects are being implemented at an amount of R787 million. 53 Water Supply Infrastructure Grant projects that are being implemented under
construction at an amount of R528 million. 85 Municipal Infrastructure Grant, MIG, projects for water services are costing an amount of R1,3 billion.
As I conclude, hon House Chair, in respect of drought strategies, our department has established a drought task team which is made up of municipalities and sector departments to co-ordinated an approach to mitigate against droughts. Our department working with a drought task team will promote the development of resilient, adaptation strategies and plans by all sectors to manage water resources during the drought seasons. This plan will be achieved through the implementation of the signed memorandum of understanding, MOU. I thank you, hon House Chair.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Thanks very much, hon member. Hon members, there’s tea outside, but I don’t want you to break the debate. I will allow members to go outside and grab some tea and come back. Thank you. The next speaker is hon Dlamini. Hon Dlamini!
Ms M DLAMINI: Chairperson, the South African Constitution stipulates the right to sufficient water. Yet, despite the abundance of water as a natural resource, access to safe
reliable drinking water, free from agricultural contaminations, human and faecal matter remain an enormous problem in this country. So, today we stand here, once again, to illustrate the continuous inability of the ruling party to put in place measures to address issues of the past, present and the future.
We are often bombarded by ANC ceremonial successes which focus on urban areas, whilst, a continuous neglect of adequate water supply remains in the rural areas, such as Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, where communities are given Jojo tanks to no return of the government, in place of pipelines which would give households direct access to water supply.
The inequalities do not end there, Chairperson. Access to water supply is racialised too, as thousands of black households still rely on unimproved water sources, such as dams, rivers, streams, bottled water and rainwater.
Infrastructure stands as the backbone of any country. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure in recent years stands as a constraint for socioeconomic development. Our current infrastructure is not cognisant of the growing population, to an extent that this has compromised the quality of water
supply, so much so that what is received in our taps does not even meet the standards of the water boards.
The ruling party has failed to develop any technical and administrative capacity at municipal levels that would allow them to plan, implement, build and operate even basic water services. There exists no skills capacity within their ranks.
We constantly have to contend with lack of funding, political instability and corruption, which are creating major challenges for infrastructure development and delivery.
We are left to contend with pharmaceutical companies which threaten the ecosystem by dumping their waste, which poses a threat to the quality of life for our people. We are victims of a lenient law system that sell out our people to the highest capitalist interest.
Quality infrastructure is critical to service various stakeholders in the public and private economic, and all other service industries, to keep economic activity going.
Disruptions strain the quantity, and the quality brought about by inadequate systems bring unwarranted risks to public health, economies and the environment. This, however, has been
caused by negligence to put measures to maintain the existing infrastructure, repair and replace where necessary. Because factions of the ANC dictates which cadre is employed where, they only react once there is a crisis.
Amid all this, there is still no contingency plan that is clear on how government will adapt and meet current and future challenges. We were told that the plan was for the department to priorities a sustainable provision of water services. It was expected to implement three mega, 20 large regional bulk infrastructure projects and 352 small regional bulk and water services infrastructure projects.
Has the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency improved the management of bulk water resources? Is there a plan to introduce new technologies that appreciate water as a scarce resource? It would be of great interest to actually know at which stage of the life cycle of the water supply in Mpumalanga the Thembisile-Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Project is at, so we can assess if the promise of its enhancement in the province matches the delivery?
There have also been suggestions to restructure the Conditional Grant system. However, it is of no use to
restructure financial resources for municipalities that have shown the inability to manage their financial affairs with the same human capital, who have been noncompliant and complicit to their nonexistence or regard for the rule of law with impunity.
Chairperson, water is one of the most important and scarce commodity for our people, which ultimately determines the quality of life which a society will lead. Yet, 28 years since democratic elections in South Africa, our people bear the brunt of the incompetency of this government, as millions of our people are still without this basic service.
Our people want solutions that will remedy the water crisis now, but it is typical of this government to respond in the hereafter, and not the immediate. Yet, the payroll system reflects that there should be a day-to-day orientated solution based system.
Where is the planned energy storage schemes that address the water shedding that is now on the rise? How is the community integrated into this? How is water protected from any further damage from any form of any possible threat, including
pollution and environmental climate change? And, how is the community engaged on these matters?
To date, there have been no impactful investments in water infrastructure to speak of, nor any forms of practical water conservation practices initiated. There have been no realistic plans on how government should take a leading role in the acceleration and improvement of infrastructure development.
There have been no initiatives taken to analyse the role of these consulting companies hired to do the job on behalf of municipalities. If their mandate is to aid municipalities from skills burden, it has not been achieved in the least.
Chairperson, infrastructure decay, lack of maintenance and lack of improvements hamper high quality safe water provisions in South Africa. What is needed is leadership which will perfect infrastructure planning and financing. Such leadership can only come from the EFF. Thank you.
The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: (Mr S J Mohai): Well, we will indicate. I will follow-up, maybe it’s some technical problem that we normally experience under this load shedding that is intense.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Thanks, Chief Whip.
Setswana:
Re tla nna re mo goeletse. Re a feta.
Hon members, we are now going to call hon S Zikalala, KwaZulu- Natal MEC Cooperative Governance.
Mr S ZIKALALA (KwaZulu-Natal): Can you hear me now, Chair?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Yes, I can hear you.
Mr S ZIKALALA (KwaZulu-Natal): Greetings to you, House Chair, the Chief Whip, the Deputy Chair, all presiding officers, hon members, we extend our greetings to all of you this afternoon. We stand here representing the people of KwaZulu-Natal. We want to start from the onset that we are here today to debate and participate in this very important debate on the provision of water with a greater focus on infrastructure development.
As the province, we are quite determined to ensure that water from tap without any delay. Having said that, I want to also be clear upon what others have said, especially the hon member who spoke about Umdoni municipality and Umkomaas, in
particular. We are clear that all municipalities are supported to provide water to the people. The hon member must take time to engage with municipalities in that respect. I join you in this debate and concur with hon members who have spoken, in particular, hon Chief Whip and others who have saluted the contribution of O R Tambo who would have turned 105 years today. In paying farewell to Tambo, our former President Nelson Mandela said:
As you instructed, we will bring peace to our tormented land. As you directed, we will bring freedom to the oppressed and liberation to the oppressor. As you strived, we will restore the dignity of the dehumanised. As you commanded, we will defend the option of a peaceful resolution of our problems. As you prayed, we will respond to the cries of the wretched of the earth. As you love them, we will always stretch our hands out in terms of endorsement to those whose flesh reflected your standing. In all this, we will not fail you.
This is the commitment that Nelson Mandela made to O.R Tambo, and indeed we will not fail him. Hon members, having heard the cries of the people of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa at large, many of whom have been excluded from opportunities and
provisions of services by the colonial apartheid authority. The current provincial administration set out eight priorities. One of those eight priorities was the delivery of basic services, especially water.
KwaZulu-Natal fully appreciates that planning for water security and efficient distribution is a key task of government at all levels. It is against this background that the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal developed and adopted the Water Master Plan which we launched as a blue print to turn the corner around, with regard to water challenges. If this is read closely, it is a comprehensive water plan which is located within the wider framework of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the National Development Plan, and indeed, KwaZulu-Natal provincial growth and developmental strategy. These are key guiding frameworks.
The Water Master Plan recognises human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. It also views water as means by which we can free the poor from indignity and change of deprivation and place them firmly on the road to development. The Master Plan also approaches water as the lifeguard of the backbone of economic development, industrial growth and job creation. It focuses on three key pillars. One, resource planning and bulk
infrastructure. Two, distribution planning. Three, sustainability. With research predicting that South Africa’s water demand will surpass supply by 2030. It is clear that as the provincial government we must act now and be decisive in terms of ensuring provision of water.
The KwaZulu-Natal Master Plan will require - not less than - R150 billon in the next 10 to 15 years. We also note that South Africa remains one of the water scarce countries, and thus, effort should be invested in ensuring water harvesting. We are mobilising Kwazulu-Natal communities to report water leaks and to unite against the destruction of water infrastructure.
Cogta is working closely with municipalities to build technical capacities to ensure proper planning and implementation of water project and maintenance. We have equally instructed all municipalities to reserve at least 8% of their infrastructure budget for maintenance. Our province adopted plans to address water challenges in challenged municipalities, especially in Ugu and uMkhanyakude districts. In Ugu, we have set a plan with timelines that include the refurbishment of critical water infrastructure. An inter- ministerial committee supported by the technical task team
meets regularly as part of the war room and reports to the executive council, but also to the Minister of Water and Sanitation.
The district has been mandated to play their role in crafting their turnaround strategies and are supported by the provision. The Water Master Plan also recognises the role of ensuring that bulk water is supplied. That’s why last year we launched UMshwathi Bulk Water Scheme at a cost of
R500 million, and we salute the work we are doing there with the national department.
At the beginning of the year we were pleased to hear the commitment from the 2022 Budget Vote Speech from Treasury with R830 million to Umgeni Water for the implementation of UMkhomazi Water Scheme. This is what we are delivering for the people of Ugu, including UMkhomazi and all of the South coast. Our Water Master Plan takes cognisant current and future demands for water. The plans identified short term, medium term and long term intervention to ensure that we provide water for consumption, agriculture and other economic activities.
We are also mindful of challenges that are facing our municipalities, including municipal infrastructure deterioration. And, we continue to work with municipalities to ensure that they rehabilitate the infrastructure. We are also mindful of the challenges that are as a result of the apartheid regime, and that talks to the fact that rural areas still lack behind in terms of access to water. However, we want to commend the ANC-led government for strides that have been made to provide water. Access to water has improved significantly since 1994, where there was left and 2% access to water for Africans living in rural areas.
We cannot, as the province of KwaZulu-Natal speak about water without reference to Umgeni Water, which is the province’s largest water supply scheme and serve major dams and centres such as Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Umgeni water supply ... [Interjections.] ... Yes, hon Chair. Okay, let me conclude in a minute. Umgeni provides water to a number of schemes such as Mearns Dam, Albert Falls, Midmar Dam, Inanda Dam, Mooi River and uThukela Dam. We support the plans that have been put by the Minister to ensure integration of all schemes under Umgeni Water. Say it is in our hands to build a reliable and viable water infrastructure for sustainable and reliable water supply to communities. I thank you. [Time expired.]
Mr M KHUMALO (Gauteng): Hon House Chair, am I audible?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Yes. Yes, MEC.
Mr M KHUMALO (Gauteng): My apologies for that, I just had load shedding. Hon House Chair, hon members, the people of South Africa, allow me to pay tribute to one of the greatest leaders of Africa, Comrade President O R Tambo on this important day. It is a known fact that building a viable water infrastructure for sustainable and reliable water to communities is a key driver of inclusive growth and development.
It is therefore appropriate and relevant that we have a debate on this important matter, particularly as we currently experience challenges in the provision of this fundamental service. The Gauteng City-Region faces water shortage risk which are aggravated by rapid population growth, high water losses and degradation of quality of water resources, climate change effect and increasing demand for human settlement development.
Hon House Chair ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): Yes. [Interjections.] Qhuba, [continue] hon member.
Mr M KHUMALO (Gauteng): Yes, my system is messing up. Our province is heavily dependent on imported water that is interprovincial, intergovernmental schemes that augment the Integrated Vaal River System. The Gauteng City-Region average daily water uses is above the world average and that needs to be reduced. Water shortages have been exacerbated by the effect of climate change with experiences of heat waves.
The easy infrastructure and poor maintenance by Emfuleni Municipality resulting in sewer spillage into the Vaal River has negatively impacted on the provision of safe and clean water. To this end, the South African Human Rights Commission in its report of September 2018 issued a directive to remedy the situation. The delay into the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 is currently a challenge of urgency, coupled with consumer behaviour of wastages which calls for both demand side or end supply-side measures. This delay requires that while supply may be limited until then, we need to stress the importance of reducing demand and losses as a province.
The waste water treatment fleet by water services authorities are operating at the end of their design capacity with the fiscus not adequate to replace them at once. Fragmentation of efforts within the province in addressing the issue of water security is posing another challenge toward integrated planning and strong co-ordination structures required at the provincial level.
Municipalities continue to experience water disruption in high lying areas and essential services institutions such as hospitals as a result of consumer attitude in inadequate raw water sourcing. The recent case of City of Johannesburg has once again demonstrated the province’s vulnerability on water security. Similar disruption like the current load shedding will occur if we do not change consumers’ attitude. The democratic state has made strides in enabling access in infrastructure that provide water services to communities.
The Gauteng City-Region Observatory quality of services has reported a decline in cessation level over a period from 2015 to 2021 by citizens. Progress has been made to improve security and ensure sustainable supply. However, sustainable and water management requires an integrated adoptive co- ordinated and participatory approach. Whilst the current urban
water policies are beginning to reflect this understanding, there is a lack of facilitating this into implementation plans. Urban water management remains a complex and fragmented area relying on traditional, technical and lenient management approach.
While there is acknowledgement of the barriers to change, there has been little system review of what constitute the scope of such barriers ... [Interjections.] ... how we should address and advance sustainable urban water management.
Sustainable and reliable supply to communities hinges on several interdependent factors ranging from institutional and
... [Interjections.] ... infrastructure and information.
The province has developed the Gauteng Water Security plan and defines water security being attained when there is and I quote: “a reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health livelihood, ecosystem and production, coupled with acceptable level of water related risks to people, environment and economies.
Water Security plan defines the critical areas that need focus to ensure a water secure Gauteng City Region. This plan was developed through a consultative process that included key
stakeholders in water sector, namely the Department of Water and Sanitation, Rand Water, Magalies Water and municipalities. The plan outline short, medium and long term interventions based on five cardinal programme. Each of the programme detail action to be taken across government, business, household and community and civil servants, media and researchers.
The five cardinal programmes include ... [Inaudible.] ... water demand investment in alternative water resources, improve environment protection in water quality, strengthen institutions and institutional co-operations ... [Inaudible.]. As a province, we have initiated infrastructure development support in all our targeted municipalities in the three metros. This includes supporting municipalities in preparation for project business plan, for securing factionary Infrastructure Fund and the development of capital expenditure framework including support in managing infrastructure lifestyle, including the review development and implementation of infrastructure asset management and sector ... [Inaudible.]
We have put together the multidisciplinary team of experts and
... [Inaudible.] ... to make sure that compilation of water services infrastructure needs is aligned to human settlement development for all local municipalities. This team will
assist with reviewing a compilation of municipal operations and maintenance plans and systems, deal with water distribution losses, water conservation and water demand management strategies and technical business plan for access to funding and assess the technical skills capacity requirements and develop monitoring and development programme.
Infrastructure development is an enabler for sustainable and reliability. Sustained security of supply is achieved but along with other interventions and central to this in our province are the following critical areas. The ageing infrastructure has and still is a contributor to high distribution losses, and infrastructure replacement programmes are key to address the situation. In cultivating a culture of best engineering practices along with social needs in planning design and delivery of infrastructure will go a long way in providing sustainable water supply.
The protection of infrastructure against vandalism and theft requires vigilance for both consumer communities and water services authorities. To uphold security of supply requirement, standard engineering practices should be adhered to maintain adequate storage capacity for a long lifespan for all water and sanitation infrastructure. Given the critical
nature of some of the major regional water and sanitation schemes, including the levels of theft and vandalism, there is a need to consider referring them to the national key points.
All the plans must be accompanied by a clear implementation operational and maintenance plan. Distribution infrastructure provision on its own is not guaranteed to access additions and quality of water service and therefore systems approach to sustain supply needs to include key components of operation and maintenance plan and these are a combination and reactive maintenance based on some infrastructure assets management planning that gives the best value for money and turnaround time for service reinstatement in case of disruption.
Furthermore, a medium to long-term infrastructure refurbishment and replacement plans should be entrenched. We must introduce structural capacity building programmes with an intention to continuously build and retain requisite skills.
Deliberate efforts by water services authority to ring-fence funding for operation and maintenance system, fleet and human resources are key to sustain us.
A critical component of sustainable water supply implementing sustainable water conservation and demand energy programme
that is alive to a status of water resources. For this place to come in fruition, we must bring on board the various for collaborative and effective institutions. These are sustainable urban water management, water services authority and water service providers. There is a need to introduce an integrated platform telemetry system to ... [Interjections.]
... [Inaudible.]
As I conclude, our security plan that we are working together with the key stakeholders has the following features. The strengthening of co-ordination and planning of our facilitation initiative, the effort to strongly consider the treatment of water and acid mine. The water consecutive management through municipal initiative. We will continue working with communities to maintain and develop water infrastructure and drastically reduce water leaks. I thank you, House Chair.
Ms B M BARTLETT: Thank you very much hon chairperson. Hon Chairperson, can I just apologise for not switching on my video, please. Is that okay hon Chair? Can you hear me Chairperson?
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): You may speak hon member.
Sesotho:
O ka bua.
Ms B M BARTLETT: Thank you very much hon Chairperson. Good afternoon Chair and hon members. Chair, since I vent about democracy, it has been a commitment and programme of this democratic government to realise access and to release access to clean drinking water for all South Africans irrespective of the location in the country, whether they are located in remote rural areas or urban areas. Chair, in other words, access to clean drinking water are aligned with our rights as enshrined in our democratic Constitution.
Hon Chairperson, the democratic government has rolled out multiple water infrastructure projects such as the building of dams, water and waste water as well as the circulating and distributing of water for both domestic and industrial use.
Hon Chair, however, the ANC acknowledges that much more must be done to achieve water supply to all communities within South Africa.
We further recognise that there are challenges in our quest for the provision of water infrastructure as the democratic government.
Hon Chairperson, even though there are fiscal constraints on the national budget, billions of rands are allocated to the Department of Water and Sanitation for bulk water infrastructure projects and part of that allocation is transferred to municipalities in a form of conditional grants.
Chairperson, in the last budget vote, Minister Mchunu reported that his department has allocated more than R37 billion for the next three financial years for conditional infrastructure grants for municipal water services.
Chair, the bulk water infrastructure has been allocated
R19 billion while the water services infrastructure grant has been allocated R14 billion. The grant allocation means that more than 300 water infrastructure projects are being implemented across our country’s length and breadth.
Chairperson, the consequences of these massive infrastructure grants include providing consistent water supply for
communities and job creation and procurement spending beneficiation for local, small and medium enterprises.
Chairperson, the recent reports on the spending of the water service infrastructure indicated poor spending on the part of local municipalities due to the lack of technical capacity of municipal personnel. The hon Minister has pledged to support local municipalities that fail to spend allocated grants.
As ANC, we need to focus on strengthening local municipalities’ technical capacity by encouraging them to revise the remuneration structures for critical and scarce skills to attract and retain vital and scarce specialised units to the various technical capabilities.
Hon Chairperson, the Water Research Commission reported in March 2022 that at least 36,8% of the total water supply in South Africa is lost before it reaches municipal customers. The amount of water that we are losing due to aging and broken infrastructure is too high for a country such as ours.
Hon Chairperson, the programme of those challenges was a well- intentioned programme to eradicate water loss in the country but at the same time transfer and empower young people with
critical skills that are in need in the country particular as it relates to water management and conservation at household level.
Hon Chair, as the ANC, we wish to submit to this August House that both the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs must ensure that local municipalities employ these young people, they must skill them within the water section of the departments. Through the War on Leaks Programme, the Department of Water and Sanitation managed to train at least
7 000 young people out of the planned 15 000.
Hon Chair, we would like to suggest and encourage local municipalities to collaborate with technical colleges and universities for the transfer of skills such as plumbers and engineers in the medium to long term.
In the medium term, municipalities must make use of the funding made available through the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority, SETA to not place existing staff with the water section of the municipalities but draw in young people who are in the process of acquiring technical skills. The budget for both in-service training and
internships would not come from municipalities through the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority, LGSETA, funding.
Hon chair, there would be nothing wrong if local municipalities follow the national Department of Health’s example where the latter after having trained doctors, give them contracts to work for the state for a certain agreed period looking for greener pastures. This will alleviate the challenges faced by municipalities.
For instance, the Makana Municipality community has been experiencing water outages recently due to broken pipes. They had to wait for engineers from other cities to intervene.
Hon Chair, therefore a long term solution is for the municipality to identify and offer young people bursaries to study water related engineering and thereafter sign contacts to work for the municipality for a certain number of years. This should be a continuous process and funding can be sourced from various government departments.
Hon Chair, the current state of the water infrastructure in many of our local municipalities is a cause for concern. The
National Treasury regulations stipulate that municipalities in the annual budget must allocate between 8% to 10% of the operational budget for operations, maintenance, repairs and of the property and plant of the municipality.
However, many municipalities are not budgeting for operations, maintenance, repairs and water infrastructure. Without compromising the independence of each sphere, we wish to suggest that local government is capacitated with the National Treasury regulations so that in the coming municipal budget cycle, the approved budgets have allocations towards operations, maintenance and repairs.
We call upon the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to work together to ensure that existing water infrastructure is repaired and maintained successfully to enable constant water supply to the communities.
We further wish to call upon the need to fast track the processing of the Intergovernmental Monitoring, Support and Intervention Bill. We should enable the national Department of Water and Sanitation to directly intervene when local
municipalities are failing in their responsibilities as it relates to water provisioning.
Hon Chair, the existing legislation allows for intergovernmental relations between the three spheres of government however we still see silo mentality where there is no proper coordination, planning and no budget for projects that if they can be implemented jointly, we will achieve the desired outcomes.
Our President Cyril Ramaphosa launched this District Development Model, DDM, to improve coordination, planning and budgeting for government initiated projects. Ours in the August House is to ensure that we encourage the implementation of water infrastructure projects through the DDM.
The DDM has the potential to ensure the implementation of the infrastructure projects within a specific time frame. This is possible because through the DDM, all the relevant stakeholders would have contributed to the coordination, planning, budgeting and implementation of the projects.
For example, local municipalities lack the technical capacity and personnel that the national and provincial departments
have while the National Treasury can provide the financial expertise for the financial management of the allocated grants.
Hon Chair, we call upon the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as the department responsible for implementing the District Development Model to ensure that all spheres of government comply with the implementation when funds are allocated for large scale water infrastructure projects. There is no reason why a community should not have consistent water supply every day of their lives because all of us need water.
Hon chair, the 2021/22 annual report of the Department of Water and Sanitation and its entities describes a department that shows signs of improvement in terms of its audit outcomes. These improved audit outcomes must translate into expanded access and constant water supply to our communities.
Hon Chair, especially to those remote rural areas that our government has not reached. Thank you very much hon Chair.
Mr R B MAKAMU (Limpopo): Thank you, hon House Chair. The Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, House
Chairpersons, Chief Whip of the NCOP, hon members, portfolio committee, select committee and other parliamentary committees, my colleagues, members of the executive council, MECs, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, hon Mahlobo, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. The dire water situation in our province of Limpopo is a matter of a public knowledge. With the Minister of Water and Sanitation and his Deputies coming in and out of our province on a regular basis including today to mitigate the situation while working on the permanent solutions. This debate in the NCOP is therefore a timely intervention to escalate the water situation from its provincial subtotals to the national level where all spheres of government converge to engage on key issues of the day.
My input as the Limpopo provincial bias depicting our situation mitigation in the short, medium and long term nature, our partners in the province and nationally, I mean here the Lepelle Northern Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, our water service authorities in the province and office of the premier are the foursquare behind the efforts towards sustainable supply of water to our communities. I start with the status quo available resources and challenges and interventions taken district by district in a context of the ... [Inaudible.] ... of the District Development Model and
the Limpopo Development Plan. The access of water and sanitation in the province has declined by almost 9,4% between 2015 and 2021. The decline is mainly caused by aging infrastructure. The province is 6,5% below our provincial Limpopo Development Plan. There is an increase of 4,5% increase in the sanitation between the 2015 and 2021. The province, of course, is still lacking behind to the target of the Limpopo Development Plan.
Of course, the status of water reticulation and infrastructure and water provision as the theme of this today’s debate I will start with the situation at the Vhembe District Municipality which is both the Water Service Authority and the water service provider in that area. The district depends on both surface and groundwater. The district receives its surface water from about 10 dams. Of all the 10 dams it’s only one dam which is Middle Letaba which is found in the Mopani District Municipality. The 39 water supply schemes in the Vhembe District Municipality has challenges in the water supply schemes are experienced due to limited funding of the Vhembe District Municipality. There are challenges with the construction of some of the newer schemes where constructors struggle to complete their projects. Almost all the 39 water
supply schemes except 11 have operation and maintenance challenges thus hampering sustainable provision of water.
The district has partnered with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, to explore natural spring of source of augment their existing water schemes. There are 21 water treatment works, the total treatment capacity of all the work equates to approximately 165 mega litres per day. All the above water treatment works are in the working condition. In the Capricorn District, the district municipality in Polokwane Municipality are water service authorities while the other three local municipalities within the district are serving as water service providers. All waste water treatment work in the district are overloaded and due to upgrade the municipality is in the process of compiling a business plan which will assist in raising the funding. The district has done feasibility study on the water provision to all the areas to the value of R2,5 billion. A project implementation will be done based on the available budget.
About 2,4% of the households source water from an unidentified sources, 27% from other sources such as boreholes while 70% receive water from regional and local water schemes. The
Capricorn District Municipality, CDM, storage dams within the hundreds of the CDM are the Glen Alpine Dam, Rhenosterkop and Flag Boshielo Dam. The municipality of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality receives water from the Olifants water treatment works and boreholes. The CDM has provided water tankers as an interim measure to areas which experience water supply shortages.
In the Mopani District Municipality which is also serving as Water Service Authority and all its local municipality have water service provider status. The Mopani District Municipality, MDM, lies and benefits from following catchment areas that are Groot Letaba from Greater Tzaneen Municipality, GTM, Olifants River Catchment from Maruleng Municipality, Ba- Phalaborwa and Klein Letaba from the Greater Giyani Municipality. The Mopani District is characterised by low rainfall, especially in a low lying areas of the district that is more on Greater Giyani and Ba-Phalaborwa. This results in limited water resources culminating in severe water for shortages and regular drought conditions. There are main surface water resource for Mopani District Municipality are Letaba Catchment and its tributaries that is Groot Letaba and Klein Letaba Rivers and the Lepelle Northern of the Olifants River. There are about 20 small and large dams in the district
with nine being used as a primary consumption. That is meant for a domestic industrial, but you know Limpopo is an agricultural area where this other agricultural schemes are getting water from.
In the Sekhukhune District the municipality is both the Water Service Authority and the service provider. There are 764 villages which the district supply with water from 45 water schemes. The municipality is currently providing full water services in the main towns of Burgersfort, Marble Hall, Groblersdal, Steelpoort and Ohrigstad. Most villages are being provided with groundwater as alternative source and water tankers are necessary. Most villages in the Flag Boshielo Water Scheme are receiving water services in the improved manner than the other villages in the other districts. In the 2017-18 financial year, a number of villages began to receive basic water provided by the main pipe from De Hoop Dam as the Deputy Minister spoke about it in his opening.
In the Waterberg District, this is a district where a water services is with the local municipality where 53 500 households which constitute 25% households with water pipes inside the dwelling and 1 800 which is almost more than 50% of the population has pipe water inside the yard and almost 83%
have no formal pipe water. The Thabazimbi is the highest number of the households with pipe water inside the dwelling. That is almost 14 500 households who share almost or constitute 27% for the district account. All the five locals are water service authorities like I said. In the Mogalakwena Municipality urban areas are supplied with Doorndraai Dam where rural areas are supplied with the groundwater. In the Lephalale Local Municipality urban areas are supplied with Mokolo Dam while the rural areas are supplied with the groundwater. In the Modimolle-Mookgophong most households have yard connections while informal settlement receive water through communal taps and tankers.
The Bela-Bela Municipality serves almost 21 000 households comprising of Bela-Bela town and township: Vingerkraal, Tsakane, Pienaarsrivier, Masakhane, Radium and Rapotokwane. All these have got challenges which already the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs together with the Water and Sanitation have got the proposed interventions. The main challenge being the delay in the replacing of aging infrastructure. The Water Services Authority, WSA, will have to utilise the portion of their meek to grant to refurbish the aging infrastructure. The inadequate budget provision for the operation and maintenance enforcement for the operation and
maintenance funding threshold. The Deputy Minister has been engagement with both provincial government to see where we can seek resources that will augment what the water service authorities ... [Interjections.]
As I conclude, hon House Chairperson, the provincial instruction for all water service are developing their water service development plan within the set period of only projects informed by updated in the eligible condition grant would be getting funding, as I thank you, hon House Chairperson.
CLLR N NUM (Salga): Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, hon Chief Whip of the NCOP, hon House Chairpersons, hon permanent delegates, hon special delegates and all protocol observe, debate on water supply to communities are always terminal for two primary reasons, among many. Access to water is a basic human right and our Constitution compels us as government to take reasonable legislative and other measures within our available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of this particular right. I think we can all agree that the progressive realisation of the right listed in section 27 for the poor and
the marginalised particular can be a true measure of our progress as a country.
I am therefore ascertaining that sustainable and reliable water supply to communities’ matters as it is a measure of our progress as a country and as a people. If we accept that this topic matters as it is the measure of our progress as a country a key word, I would like to hinge my input around is the word reasonable. The use of the word reasonable is useful as it is context sensitive while not exonerating government from the realisation of a basic human right. To debate on sustainable and reliable water supply to communities it is useful to understand what is basic water supply.
The 2018 Department of Human Rights, the Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide Section J Water Supply defines basic water supply as the provision of a basic water supply facility, the sustainable operation of the facility available for at least 365 days per year and not interrupted for more than 48 consecutive hours per incident and the communication of good water use, hygiene and related practices. I think this definition gives us a good starting point to debate building a viable water infrastructure for sustainable and reliable water supply to communities.
We all know that the supply of drinking water to communities is the mandates of local government as assigned in schedule 4 (b)of the Constitution. We should also agree that municipal viability is the prerequisite for the sustainable and reliable supply of water to communities in particular but also the services in schedule 4(b) and 5(b).
The next question to ask is, where are we in terms of municipal viability? Where are we in terms of supply of sustainable and reliable water to communities? What are we doing about both of these questions? To be clear the we in the above is all of us, the three spheres of government, communities, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and other social partners.
If we ever believe that government alone can provide sustainable and reliable water supply status quo should force us to re-evaluate the incorrect outlook. At the outset we want to argue that government must lead by example in redefine the word we to get all the hands on deck. This must not just be leap service but government must use all its available instruments to broaden participation and collaboration. This is a remarkable for us to achieve.
For conscientiousness and precision, I would like to limit my input into the three areas. Where are we in terms of municipal viability? Municipal viability is the multi-dimensional consideration and the many but not ultimately ineffective diverse support and intervention programme is a testament to this. One dimension is viability. One dimension that is critical is viability is finances.
Allow me, Chair, to only highlight one element within the multi-dimensional areas that we are talking about. Financial viability is key. It is fundamental and it out to be observed. This is the reasonable and as service delivery is impossible without resources alongside optimal utilisation and accountabilities of these resources. And water is by definition a siding service expected to be revenue generating. This is not to say resources is everything but becomes key element is given the backlogs of development that is evident in our communities.
From the latest National Treasury state of local government and financial management report we know that: Firstly, 175 of the 257 municipalities are financially distressed. This is an alarming 68% of all municipalities. More than 50% of municipalities have low cash coverage indicating that cash and
short term investment are insufficient to cover at least month of fixed operating commitment. This include, four of the eight metros, three semi metros, 17 secondary cities, 130 IA local municipalities and 26 districts have inadequate cash and investment available to pay current reliabilities. This is nearly three quarters 75% of all that municipalities. Fifthly, municipalities are also unable to invest in infrastructure. A total of 116 that constitute 45%, hon Chair, municipalities have spent less than 10% of their total expenditure on capital infrastructure. To understand what these numbers translate to let us configure the crisis of increasing municipal water debt.
The Water Trading Entity is owed R8,7 billion by municipalities. Water boards are owed R14,6 billion by municipalities. The water debt is not because municipalities simply chose not to pay.
From the National Treasury report, we can see that municipalities simply cannot pay especially historic debts due to competing and hard decision ought to be taken daily due to resources that out way the need for service. If we accept that the service delivery organisation cannot move without
resources it should be clear that dealing with municipal viability should be a top priority.
As the SA Local Government Association, Salga, we maintain that need to review local government equitable share calculation and allocation to give local government more. We have tried many other issues in the book but we have not explored the fundamentals of ensuring that financial viability becomes one of them. Other actions are likely to contribute to the trampling of human rights as evidence by our inability to provide water to some of the communities in our country.
Where are we in terms of the suppliers of the sustainable and reliable water? There are many ways to this answer, hon Chair, but this answer will leave one feeling that is much more to do if we were to provide sustainable and reliable water. Firstly, the 2018 National Water and Sanitation Master Plan indicate to us the following: South Africa will be facing a projected water deficit of 70% by 2030. Only 64% of households have access to reliable and sustainable water supply.
Municipalities are losing about R9,9 billion each year through non-revenue water. An amount of R36 billion and more is needed annually for the next 10 years to achieve water security.
The 2020-22 Water Research Commission study on water use perception in South Africa tells us that 65% of unban South Africans have a reliable water supply. Only 35% of rural South Africans have a reliable water supply and often met with challenges. From the various Statistics South Africa survey, we know that 11% of South African population do not have access to drinking water. But this average can be misleading, hon Chair and members, as rural areas have much higher backlogs. Evidence of this is that Limpopo and the Eastern Cape provide the backlog levels of around 25% each. What are we doing about it? In 2019 to 2024 a Medium Term Strategic Framework, we have set the following relevant targets: 100% of targets ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms W Ngwenya): As you conclude, hon member.
CLLR N NUM (Salga): As I conclude, hon Chair, what we are saying is, building a viable infrastructure for sustainable water supply to communities is a must do. That we must do. The local government being at the centre that development as a prerequisite. We should create an enabling environment and strengthening our collaboration methodologies so that the private sector comes into being. Resourcing and ensuring that
we capacitate and train our councillors is a critical element in us ensuring that the optimal utilisation of all the resources is brought about ensuring that communities benefits.
Community mobilisation to continue to empower them so that we spare and we safe every drop is very important. My humble plea therefore, hon Chair, is that we do these three or four things and build from there. May it be that when the future generation asks us what did we do, we would have implement development to show and speak of not just great plans that rather materialise. I sincerely appreciate, hon Chairperson.
Mr S K MASHILO (Mpumalanga): Hon House Chairperson, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, hon Mahlobo, my colleagues, MECs and all hon members present, good afternoon. It is an honour to be taking part in this debate on the water infrastructure network for sustainable water supply to communities, under the theme: “Building a viable water infrastructure for sustainable and reliable water supply to communities”. This debate takes place today, 27 October, the day our stalwarts, O R Tambo was born. The statement he made in Angola in 1977 guides us even to this date. He said:
Comrades, you might think that it is very difficult to wage a liberation struggle. Wait until you are in power. I might be dead by then. At that stage, you will realise that it is actually more difficult to keep the power than to wage a liberation war. People will be expecting a lot of services from you. You will have to satisfy the various demands of the masses of our people. In the process, be prepared to learn from other people’s revolutions. Learn from the enemy also. The enemy is not necessarily doing everything wrongly. You may take his right tactics and use them to your advantage. At the same time, avoid repeating the enemy’s mistakes.
Indeed, people are expecting sustainable services from us. As a government, we really need to satisfy the demands of the masses of our people, as said by OR Tambo there. The past regime succeeded in building dams and reservoirs but only to cater for the minority area. This is because they never envisaged a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, including the population growth that we have today. As we speak today, the population of Mpumalanga is growing rapidly to an extent that it is huge. To this day, we have realized that the water infrastructure had to be re-engineered to satisfy the needs of our communities.
As per the theme of the debate, viable water infrastructure can be built from sustainable sources, especially dams with high capacity. Above all, water is a strategic resource critical for social and economic development and there is growing concern about the potential impact of water related risks. It is for this reason that as Mpumalanga we needed to look at our main sources of water. Due to the rural nature of our province, we have areas that receive water from the boreholes, and those that abstract water from some of the dams that we have. There are 23 major dams within these Water Management Areas that service both domestic, agricultural, and industrial requirements.
Mpumalanga occurs within three Water Management Areas, WMA namely, Olifants WMA, Inkomati WMA, Usuthu and Vaal WMA.
The bulk, that is, 65% of water resources available in Mpumalanga comes from surface water resources. Water transfers into the province provide 19% of total water availability.
Ground water contributes 6% of available water, and return flows from mining, industrial, irrigation and urban sectors contribute only 10%.
The 6% contributed by the ground water is too little to cater for the borehole needs of our communities who resides far from the river catchment areas. I must indicate that be that as it may, these boreholes are connected to an infrastructure and during winter, they do not produce water as expected. To this end 192 school boreholes and 92 community boreholes have been provided as we speak and are functioning so well.
Further, the population growth in our Province has necessitated that we review the capacity of the big dams and the implementation of infrastructure projects on them.
As we speak, in the Nkangala District Municipality, there is the Loskop Bulk Water Project which is situated in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. Currently, there is a Loskop Bulk Water Project that goes to Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. Thembisile Hani Local Municipality does not have a dam but depends to all the external which entails the implementation of water supply augmentation to meet the medium to long term bulk water needs of Thembisile Hani Local Municipality.
The scheme entails construction of abstraction point at Loskop dam, which is going to be ML 20 million treatment module, which will travel a distance of almost 50km bulk pipeline,
four pump stations and storage reservoir. Indeed, we must thank the Department of Water and Sanitation in that regard. Already, the Nkangala District Municipality was appointed by Department of Water and Sanitation as an Implementation Agent, and a contractor has now been appointed and the work is going very well.
In Ehlanzeni District Municipality, even though we have dams, those servicing the Mbombela area have a low capacity and cannot satisfy the needs of the increasing population.
Mbombela remains the strategic town in the province and as the Capital city. It is for this reason that, as the precondition towards implementation of the Crocodile East Water Resource Development Project of the Mbombela Dam, the Department of Water and Sanitation, has concluded, in March 2021, the Mbombela Water Reconciliation Strategy.
The sites identified for the new Mbombela Dam are Boschjeskop on the Nels River, Mountain view Dam Kaapriver and Strathmore Off-channel Dam at the confluence or convergence of Crocodile and Kaap river and Montrose. We believe as a province that building a dam of this nature in Mbombela, we shall be able to do that. It is very strange Chair that the apartheid did not
even consider building a dam which is quite sustainable in Mbombela Local Municipality.
Environmental Impact assessment will be rolled out on a 36- month programme starting from this financial year until 2025 and we expect a construction of the dam in 2025. The envisaged Mbombela Dam will benefit the domestic, agriculture and industrial beneficiaries of the entire Mbombela area of jurisdiction. The district with high capacity dams thus far is the Gert Sibande District. The water infrastructure projects here include the Balfour Water Treatment Plant Project which entails an upgrade of the water treatment plant from 6,5 megalitres per day to 19,5 megalitres per day in order to keep up with local water demand.
The project is implemented through services of the Gert Sibande District Municipality as Implementing Agent, and it is meant to benefit 19 755 households. Empuluzi Bulk Water Project is meant to address bulk water supply challenges in Empuluzi. It entails an upgrade from 2,5 megalitres to 10 megalitres per day, and will benefit 18 702 households. There is also Eerstehoek Bulk Water Project which is meant to improve the capacity of the Eerstehoek Bulk Water Treatment Plant from 13 megalitres per day to 21 megalitres per day,
meant to provide water services to a population of 70 010 people.
As we provide water infrastructure, we seek to have capacity to abstract water as per the needs of our communities. It is for this reason that we have made a call for the urgent review of water licences to the Minister of Water and Sanitation. As we speak, Emalahleni Local Municipality does have a dam which they abstract very less water and the population is more. If we can get that matter resolved, indeed we are closer to solve our problems.
As I conclude, in the spirit of the District Development Model, DDM, we need to work hand in hand with private sector, that is, agriculture and mining, so that their water licences also benefit the communities. President Nelson Mandela once said:
I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.
Thank you very much hon House Chairperson and hon members for allowing us to debate as the Mpumalanga province.
IsiXhosa:
Siyabulela.
Mr T J BRAUTESETH: Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, fellow South Africans, just like the famous line, “water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink”, from the poem of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, water is all around us but it is often not clean or safe to drink or simply is not in our taps.
On a local level, Durban’s water crisis has spiralled out of control. The eThekwini Municipality needs to spend more than R20 billion within the next 10 years to ensure that its water and wastewater systems can support its increasing population, but it simply does not have the money to do so.
There is palpable anger and resentment among residents at the quality of water and the frequent water outages in Durban.
While this was exacerbated by the devastating April floods, the DA and the city’s internal reports have long sounded the alarm about poor infrastructure maintenance and the devastating impacts thereof.
Several residents in the Birchwood area had fallen sick after drinking tap water that is suspected to have been contaminated with effluent. One resident in the area even died of diarrhoea. While the metro punts itself as a favoured tourist destination, its beaches have had to be closed and swimming banned numerous times over the past two years because of high
E. coli levels, the result of sewage spills into the rivers and sea. Incidents of recreational swimmers and surfers falling sick after sea bathing are not uncommon.
Recently two rugby teams that were going to participate in the United Rugby Championship had to call their games off because the entire team came down with gastroenteritis. Added to this is the ANC-led city’s apparent fear of employees in its waste units, who frequently strike or embark on go-slows, leaving suburbs and the CBD a festering mess until their demands are met. Some of this uncollected waste flows into the rivers and the sea.
Even the CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the newly elected provincial premier that the province’s only metro was a hard sell to investors due to the high levels of pollution, saying it was, “really embarrassing”. Ethekwini consists of 60% rural and informal settlements. Rural areas
are metered for water but collections are difficult. Laying infrastructure there is also immensely costly, with one pipe to one house easily stretching over many kilometres. Plans are afoot to build a new dam in the form of the uMkhomazi Dam.
Until this dam is commissioned, it will not be possible to meet the full requirements of demand for water in eThekwini. The project is already late which means that there will be a persistent shortage of water.
To make matters worse, the bulk water infrastructure in eThekwini has already exceeded its design life and will cost about R8,2 billion to replace and replacing sewerage infrastructure of the same vintage would cost about
R4,5 billion. If the infrastructure is to be kept in good condition, at least 2% of the value of the infrastructure needs to be replaced each year. This means that about
R2 billion per year should be spent and if this takes place, it would take eThekwini 50 years to replace the infrastructure.
The reality is that eThekwini has only allocated R500 million per year to this infrastructure. So if you are spending
R500 million where you should be spending R2 billion, you already lose before you start. In addition, the city currently
loses 56% of its water, which is known as non-revenue water, a complete loss. The bad news keeps coming. When areas of the city, particularly rate-paying suburbs became susceptible to either intermittent services or no services at all, it affects the budget. Before the floods in April, the water and sanitation sales in Tongaat were R10,7 billion. Whether there is no water or sanitation available, that income is simply lost and has been lost for six months. That is close to
R70 billion literally down the drain.
And then we have the theft, residents desperate to survive, have embarked on the now famous ‘Faka Amanzi [Add Water] Operation’, or ‘Operation Self-Connection’. Communities are forced to connect to the water systems themselves. The bottom line is that this happened under an ANC-led municipality. The incompetent management of the city by cadres more concerned with self-enrichment has come home to roost.
Compare that to the DA’s City of Cape Town, which also had a severe water shortage problem a few years back. The difference between the two is that Cape Town’s leadership embarked on an aggressive campaign to stave off Day Zero. They worked with communities, preserved infrastructure and did not engage in crazy, corrupt schemes intended to turn a crisis into a
fundraising opportunity. That is the DA model of governance. That is the DA difference. You can taste it. Perfect!
IsiZulu:
Woza 2024! Woza! Siyabangena!
English:
I thank you. [Interjections.]
Mr N M HADEBE: House Chairperson, water is not a luxury. It is not a resource we can do without or even afford to compromise on. Water gives an effect on human and economic development.
However, we have witnessed this resource to part of a broken down system in the hands of the government which is mandated to manage, use, develop, conserve and control a supposed effective water supply. Instead, it has left many of our communities with leaky to none of it coming out of their taps.
Our communities have been left wanting and needy in the midst of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s failure to carry out their duties successfully. South Africa's lack of a reliable and sustainable water supply system echoes a very urgent cry for the connection between the environment and our communities to be restored, a call that the government has to
heed immediately. We still have about 19% of rural communities without access to water and many more without a reliable water supply. That is a very high number and an injustice to the highest degree.
Providing sustainable and reliable water to all South African communities has become an aspirational goal that hinges on the brink of our people's rights and one that the government has gambled with for far too long. The South African government has, in more than one way, shown that it does not concern itself with replenishing the water supply infrastructure of the country. Incidents such as the KwaZulu-Natal floods have laid bare just how aged water and sanitation infrastructure in the country is, and more so how neglected it has been for years without any attempts to address the problems.
We have seen a decline in access to water and sanitation in provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, and if we are to build a sustainable water supply then water is at the very least the first goal that the government should be trying to achieve. The government's failure to plan accordingly to ensure access to water for many communities and the implementation for the upkeep thereof is a clear indication that the securing of a sustainable water supply is
at the very bottom of their list. It has been disheartening to see the word under expenditure being associated with the department considering how much work needs to be done to realise the right of water to all South Africans and build a reliable water supply network.
More investment needs to be dedicated to fixing and renewing our water infrastructure which will ensure reliability and sustainability. We also need better management and better use of the budget for consistency and a fully operational water infrastructure system. The implementation regarding the maintenance of infrastructure and operational networks has to be taken seriously and rigorously enforced in order to build a reliable water infrastructure network that will benefit our communities long after we are gone.
The IFP again shines the light on the government's negligence when it comes to taking care of all public services and infrastructure. Water infrastructure has been an issue that we have been highlighting for quite some time and the current water cuts in provinces like Gauteng proves the total disregard that this government has had for suggestions to actively implement and maintain sustainable measures which would counter these setbacks. Having legislation in place
means absolutely nothing if it is not implemented effectively for the benefit of the people and that is something the government has to grasp. I thank you, House Chairperson.
Mr D R RYDER: Good afternoon Chair and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, there must be a water shortage, because some of the speeches today have been very droog [dry]. Let me start by quoting from the Minister’s foreword in the 2021-22 Annual Report of the Department of Water and Sanitation, and I quote:
Where some of the infrastructure may not be old, the dismal and inadequate maintenance, particularly municipal infrastructure, is an Achilles heel. At the same level, there is slow delivery of new infrastructure development. The outcome thereof is the slowing down of access to water for many of our people.
So, we agree on the failure of the department on its core mandate to date. Honestly, not really surprising, noting that Nomvula Mokonyane was at the helm of this department, while actively pursuing the state capture agenda. It was she who saw the end of the Blue Drop reports, because they told such a sad story. You should perhaps ask the later Minister Sisulu whose idea it was to bring them back.
Fellow South Africans, there is a water supply crisis already underway in South Africa, and it is man-made. In many instances, we have the water. The Integrated Vaal River system is currently at 91% capacity and that is at the start of the rainy season. So, why does Gauteng have a water shortage?
The Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng, hon Msimanga, who is here as a special delegate today, has been on the case for months now in Gauteng, and when he raised concerns at the end of March this year, he received a dismissive response from Rand Water, prompting a headline, which reads, Rand Water hits back at Msimanga.
They say a week is a long time in politics. Now, seven months later, Rand Water is struggling to keep up supply and the hon member’s predictions have indeed come to fruition. We are not happy about it, but Rand Water has been pointing fingers in every direction, blaming municipalities and Eskom and water users themselves.
Hon Msimanga’s site inspections on Rand Water infrastructure show a lack of maintenance. Poor management and no planning have begun to show, as Gauteng bursts at the seams with people flocking to find scarce work opportunities. In the face of
increasing demand, delivery capacity has gone backwards. Not enough infrastructural spending on new capacity as well as on maintaining existing assets, has meant that water losses are increasing and purified water, amongst the best quality in the world, is wasted at great expense. The same situation is replicated around the country, and with other water boards and water service authorities.
Yes, hon Bartlett, municipalities are a big part of the problem. A lack of skills and a lack of planning are to blame, but also a lack of political will. It is not sexy to dig up an old pipe and put in a new pipe. There are no ribbons to cut, so it does not get done. Nonrevenue water averaged around 36% in 2012, already a high figure for a water-scarce country, as numerous people have told us today. Today, we are closer to 50% in terms of nonrevenue water.
Let us get back to Rand Water, who supplies 17 municipalities in Gauteng, the Free State, the North West province and Mpumalanga. These municipalities serviced over 14 million residents in 2011 last census. By the 2016 household survey, that number had grown by 10% to 15,6 million people. It is expected to now be close to 17 million people.
Rand Water received a water use licence in 2009 to abstract 1,3 million mega litres a year. They are currently drawing more than 1,7 million. The licence has not been reviewed since 2009 in spite of the 20% population growth that the municipalities that they serve have experienced. That is a national department failure.
Never forget when talking about water, that the same department is responsible for sanitation, and therefore, responsible for the dumping of mega litres of raw sewage into our drinking water in Emfuleni, Sol Plaatjies, in KwaZulu- Natal and all over South Africa.
If one looks at the 4,6 billion litres that Rand Water delivers to the municipalities, servicing 17 million people, and considers that almost half of that is lost to leaks, wastage or theft, that leaves daily consumption at around
162 litres per day per person. That is well below the world average of 185 litres per day. Consumers are not the problem.
Contrast all of this with the small DA-run municipality called Midvaal, who took a strategic decision several years ago, under the guidance of a then city engineer, Steph Coetzee, and an MEC who shall remain nameless today, to reduce reliance on
Rand Water. Reservoirs that had been mothballed were refurbished, and two new reservoirs and a water tower were built, in time, and in budget. This gives our residents a two to three-day cushioning against the failures of Rand Water and Eskom. That’s the DA difference.
As I conclude, the message is clear. If we want sustainable water supply, we need a capable state. The current system of cadre deployment has not worked for South Africans, and yet Cyril Ramaphosa and his party remain adamant that they will not change their policy. So, if South Africans want to change their future, they need to change their government.
Mr E M MTHETHWA: House Chair, Deputy Chairperson of the House, the Minister in the ... the Deputy Minister Mahlobo, and other Members of Executive Council, MECs, in the platform ...
IsiZulu:
...hhayi, senibingelelwe kakhulu lishonile nelanga.
English:
Hon Chair, I also want to follow those that have acknowledged that we are gathering today in this House on the 27th of October, which is important to all of us, which marks the
105 years, as other speakers have alluded, since the birth of the longest serving President of our glorious liberation movement, the ANC.
Chair, the late O R, Oliver Tambo, President, his generation marshalled all the democratic forces internally and internationally for the victory of the freedom-loving people and managed to persuade the international community to declare apartheid as a crime against humanities.
Besides being a revolutionarist, President O R Tambo graduated with the Bachelor of Science from Fort Hare University in 1941.
As a scientist by training, I think President O R would encourage those of us who have been given the responsibility to lead the nation that we must always try to be innovative in resolving challenges of our times.
Hon Chair, Mangwenya, we must take the work of the Water Research Commission and other research institutions funded by our national budget seriously.
The Water Research Commission has undertaken various research and produced equipment that can address some of those challenges we are facing as a country today in relation to providing water infrastructure that will enable remote communities to have constant water supply.
However, Chair, the red tape delays the approval of and use of this innovative and new technologies. The red tape relates in issues regarding pertaining of the new equipment and its mass production by the industries.
Partainage of this new technology and equipment tends to take more extended period that the one that has been stipulated by the companies and intellectual property commission because the processes are not only considered at nationally but internationally as well.
We must, as a country, find a way to cut this red tape and fast-track the partanic processes to be able to utilize this new innovative technology that our research institutions have produced.
We must take a lesson from other countries that have managed to cut the paternity tape such as India, where they have
waived the approval of international or multinational institutions.
Hon chair, we are well aware that the government is not in the business of making money but providing services to the citizens. It does not stop the government throughout its state entities from driving industrialization.
Some of these products of the Water Research Commission have yet to be produced for market utilization on the basis that the industry seems not to profit in those products.
Therefore, Chair, it becomes the responsibility of the government to create a conducive environment for establishing a new industrial respond to the country’s social challenges.
Hon Chair, in the recent past we have seen unprecedented levels of copper theft and vandalizing of government infrastructure. The destruction and the theft of government properties in the form of copper material or equipment have a negative impact on the provision of water to our communities.
Water, electricity and rail infrastructure are some of the government’s properties that have been affected by theft and vandalizing.
The consequences of this theft and vandalizing are dire for our communities, hospitals and the provision of other basic services which require the government.
Reports in the media, Chair, as well as the law enforcement investigations and arrests painted a picture of this incident of copper theft and vandalizing of government infrastructure as not isolated incidents but the work of the syndicates that work hand-in-hand with some players within the scrapyard material industry.
We must avoid generalization that the scrap material industry is colluding with criminal elements. But certain elements within the industry are tarnishing the industry as many of those involved in the industry are conducting their business genuinely and within the confide of the South African legal system.
We are calling upon those in the scrap metal business to expose their colleagues who are colluding with the criminal
syndicates to assist, not only the government, but South Africans in general who are affected by the theft and vandalizing of government property.
There are growing sells for beginning of scrap material and as the ANC we support the intervention of strengthening regulations regarding this matter.
Hon Chair, as the ANC we submit that the current challenge of vandalizing and copper theft create an opportunity for our government to look for alternative equipment for the building of water infrastructure.
Hon Chair, we must, in no uncertain terms, commend the work done by the Water Research Commission, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, and other research entities under our democratic government.
The Water Research Commission has received a clean audit for its annual performance report and financial statement for the previous three years, Chair. This is an institution that has the capacity to properly manage and utilize the allocated budget to undertake its work.
However, Chair, this is a trend in a developing country like ours. The problem of investing or allocating less funding to such institutions, even though they have the potential to address some of these challenges we are facing as a country.
Most developed countries’ development is formed by their investment in funding in research and innovative development. And they still allocate funds to research institutions to respond to current challenges as ours.
Who are we as a country to neglect such an investment in research and innovation?
Again, Chair, such a background, we are calling upon our democratic government to prioritise investing in research and development by increasing their annual allocation to reach the level of investment of the developed countries, but we must be on a trajectory on raising funding.
Hon Chair, towards my conclusion, our call for increase to funding for researchers and innovative takes into account our national government budgetary constrain. And we believe that the democratic government should form or establish
public/private initiatives to research and innovation to address water infrastructure challenges.
The private sector, Chair, stand to benefit the most from the research output of the various government’s research institutions including Water Research Commission, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the others through their capacity for mass production of a new equipment for the market and government consumption as well.
As the ANC, Chair, it would be necessary for the democratic government to undertake public/private initiatives because there is a mutual benefit. On the one hand the government would be able to address the water infrastructure challenges when the private sector begins to take up for mass production of a new technology for water infrastructure on the other hand.
The private sector, Chair, will benefit from massive public expenditure on infrastructure, which is a cornerstone of the government’s economic recovery and reconstruction programme.
Chair, we need to ensure that all human settlements developments have water provision.
Hon Chair, we live in uncertain time influenced by natural processes such as climate change, we have seen it in KwaZulu- Natal. We have already experienced this effect of climate change and global warming by the recent floods and the draught in the country.
These natural occurrences, Chair, have a significant impact on the water infrastructure and the provision of constant water supply to our communities.
Therefore, we are calling upon the research institutions to produce research output and technologies that can withstand and be resilient to climate change.
We have discussed the benefits of the 4th Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence. We must refrain from talking about this new technology, the government must lead the change in adopting and implementing this technology in addressing the water infrastructure.
We must draw form the experience of the recent floods which disrupted the water supply. Though we cannot avoid the impact of the natural disaster, we must have a mitigation
intervention that enable us to restore the water supply prompt fully.
Without a water supply, Chair, many social and economic activities take place to restore normality.
Therefore, Chair, in closing, the design and planning of water infrastructure should factor in the risk of the natural disasters.
The ANC government has increased access to water in the remote areas, challenges as the population grows and the people migrate from one location to another. These skewed distribution of water resources, which can be inadequate in balancing the supply and demand of water, is an ongoing process in what the department is addressing.
The issue of blaming everything to the ANC, you blame the draught, you blame the rain, you blame the sun and forgot about one factor, that we are dealing with all this backlog that has been there.
I’m happy that today other people are now saying the issue of water is water for all. I don’t know when they started to know
about this. If they had known about this previously, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Therefore, Chair, the ANC is doing its best in ensuring that everybody gets this access to water while we knew that it was only privilege for the few, that’s why the infrastructure is battling today to ensure that everybody gets the clean water.
Thanks to the ANC to ensure that it’s work in progress in trying to ensure that everybody got water as a right of living. I thank you, Chairperson.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Mr M D Mahlobo):
Thank you very much hon, Chair, and members for all your constructive engagements. Just remember one thing when we engage as leaders of this country, history does not have blank pages. There is a history here where the colonial and apartheid regime made a policy choice, to exclude the majority of the South Africans from access to water and the economic benefits to water. They also ensured that the infrastructure when it was built, it was brought to Gauteng. That’s why you are speaking about the Vaal system where the people of
KwaZulu-Natal and the people of Free State must look on the infrastructure that they have an access to. It is a fact that
the ANC had to expand access to services to millions of South Africans that were excluded so that their socioeconomic rights can be realised.
It is a fact that as we sit today more than 90% of South Africans have access to water and 88% of South Africans have access to sanitation. Their dignity has been restored - right for women not to walk long distances to look for water - a girl child that is denied the right to go to education -all those rights have been restored. But we are the ANC, we are the first to admit that more work still needs to be done. We agree that there are challenges of infrastructure around population growth, migration, GDP growth, climate change, the issues of power cuts, the pollution and the treatment costs, and the issues of skills and we are addressing those issues.
If you look at the ANC, it has invested a lot of money around this question -our own conditional grant of regional bulk infrastructure. We have given more than 70 billion over the last few years when the infrastructure was there. More than
129 projects were done. As we speak over the MTEF, we are putting R23,78 billion on this grant alone to invest in water and sanitation infrastructure. On USIP, since it was done in the last six years, more than 639 projects have been
concluded. More than R12 billion have been spent and going forward more than R14 billion is actually being put aside.
We are improving capacity in the sector. The department, the positions have been filled and is filled by engineers. Highly skilled engineers, capable knowing their job but more importantly, we are also having national water resource infrastructure agency that is coming in. Water Boards are no longer dealing with bulk. They are intervening directly to municipalities because water and sanitation services must be given. We have established water partnership office with DBSA. A very important intervention that we are doing. We are working with a private sector, especially on a number of projects in terms of the infrastructure and the budget facility. I have mentioned all of them. Private sector is on board, there is a compact. The issues of Water Research Commission, the CMAs, the MISA, those are all the issues that are dealing with the question of capacity.
One of the issues that we must never do. Water knows no boundaries and it has no ideology. All municipalities in South Africa are struggling, whether they are run by the DA, whether by the ANC or by the IFP even the Johannesburg Metro. Don’t
talk about Cape Town. Cape Town, we are actually having two nations in one city.
IsiZulu:
Isono sabanye abantu ukuthi bamnyama.
English:
That is their sin, they are black. They are actually behaving that they are less than human. In Tshwane since you took hon Solly Msimango away, the situation has deteriorated. Those who are there are worse. The sewerage is running right now as I speak in Johannesburg. People of Hammanskraal don’t have water. Don’t actually throw a stone into a glass house. Hon Visser, just note the water that you think is coming from Cape Town is coming from Tshwane. Just go to Equestria, you will see where the bottling is done. This problem is for all of us. Let’s resolve as a collective.
I want to thank all the MECs. The masterplan in KZN we will support it and we are implementing with government. The issues that are happening in Mpumalanga, I could hear, my brother Comrade Mashilo there, he will get his dam -it’s a priority.
Loskop is happening, Mopani and Giyane people are going to receive water. We are on the ground, hardworking but there are
challenges whether in Polokwane or whether in Gqeberha. We are committed to work together.
What would be my conclusion on this matter? Let’s find time as leaders not to politicise water. Water is about human rights, it’s about life. Sanitation is about our dignity. If you are truly patriots, let’s take cue from the words of Nelson Mandela when he said, “It is in your hands to make a better world for all who live in it.”
To be a greatest leader, one must never give up. We must try to bring people together and be selfless. Leadership is about working for others to achieve a common goal that benefits everybody. We must be able not to actually fight as patriots. We have a capacity as South Africans to come together for a common good. Even if you want to inherit this government, what kind of a government you want to inherit when you want to actually take away from what we have built in. We are actually side by side with our communities. We are making a difference. Our municipalities need all of us to come to the party. Local government needs to be supported. The communities there need to be supported. Most of us who are parliamentarians, we live in houses where there is tap water. We live in facilities where there is sewerage sanitation system. There are those
people of us who are on the ground on a daily basis, every single drop that we bring to them you can see a smile on their face. It ensured that their dignity is restored. It ensured that there is food security. They are starting to participate in all aspects of life.
As the ANC, we believe that we should be able to meet our targets. There is a commitment from this administration that in as much as we might miss the SDG goal number 6, but working with private sector as they’ve come to the party, working with NGOs and communities even in rural communities’ water would be there. Even if we can give then on a temporal basis using ground water despite the challenges of climate change we shall be able to use the advances in technology. Let water reign lets ensure that there is water in every household. We want to say once again, chair on behalf of our Ministry we are very grateful and we are hopeful that these Members of Parliament would see you on the ground addressing issues of people rather than using what you are debating on the basis on the theoretical without evidence base. People can see
IsiZulu:
Siyaqhuba siyaphambili.
English:
The movement of the people, the ANC remain the choice for many south Africans and it’s a home for all. I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERON (Ms W Ngwenya): Hon members, that concludes the debate. I wish to thank the Deputy Minister, MECs, Salga representative, all permanent and special delegates for availing themselves for the debate. Thank you very much, hon Mncube, hon Msimango.
IsiZulu:
Phambili nge-Gauteng.
English:
Northen Cape, we like to thank you because you see our House is big. So when you come at least we will reserve chairs for you.
Business of the day concluded.
The Council rose at 18:02.