Hansard: NA: Mini-Plenary (Debate on Vote 41 )
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 16 May 2023
Summary
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TUESDAY, 16 MAY 2023
VOTE NO 41 – WATER AND SANITATION
PROCEEDINGS OF HYBRID MINIPLENARY – COMMITTEE ROOM M46
Watch: Mini-Plenary (Debate on Vote 41 )
Members of the mini-plenary session met at Committee Room M46 at 10:00.
House Chairperson Mr M L D Ntombela took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Budget Vote No 41 – Water and Sanitation:
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: House Chair, my greetings to the Deputy Ministers Mahlobo and Tshabalala, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, hon members, director- general and senior officials, thank you very much. It is a great honour to present our Budget Speech to this National Assembly today, just months shy of our assumption of office since 2021.
We have been hard at work engaging all relevant stakeholders in the water sector whilst fast-tracking projects that will ultimately ensure the realisation of the constitutional rights to water and a safe environment to all as enshrined in our Constitution. While we do all this, we analyse the outcomes of our interactions with the public and stakeholders and various opinions. Our primary focus as a department is on ensuring sustainability of the water sector in the Republic.
On our water resource landscape, South Africa is a water scarce country. Our average annual rainfall is about half the average of the world. We also have a very high evaporation rate. Consequently, the potential of South Africa to further develop its surface water resources is limited, in fact, we are already harnessing approximately 75% of our exploitable surface water resources. Untreated water supply availability is currently roughly in balance with existing demands on a national level, but there are localised deficits and surpluses. For example, in Gqeberha there is a deficit.
Our raw water availability in South Africa could, however, rapidly deteriorate as demand escalates due to both economic and population growth. In addition, there are factors which could result in a contraction of supply, such as increasing physical losses in municipal distribution systems, degradation of wetlands and the impact of climate change which the Deputy Ministers will, of course, deal with it later.
National water resource infrastructure projects, we need to build additional surface water storage capacity in good time to capture the remaining 25% of our available surface water resources. In our Budget Speech last year, I indicated that the department would be focusing on accelerating the implementation of a range of major projects in the country and I will indicate briefly on such. It is often more cost- effective to increase the capacity of existing infrastructure rather than to build from scratch. The department has several projects to raise the height of dam walls to increase the storage capacity of such dams.
To start with Hazelmere Dam which is an R800 million project which is funded by government. At least those who say that the government does not do anything, this is directly funded by the government fiscus in KwaZulu-Natal. I am happy to announce that it has been completed. The project to raise the wall of the Clanwilliam Dam to improve water supply for agriculture and to provide for water allocations to resource poor farmers on the West Coast of this province, the Western Cape, is finally getting underway. Several tenders for construction and for work materials are being processed and it is a R4 billion project. Work will start very soon and will be completed by 2028. This is funded by the government.
Another project funded from the fiscus is the raising of the Tzaneen Dam wall, which is a R555 million dam project for the Greater Letaba River Catchment in Limpopo is now being implemented after removing all those obstacles that were there. The implementing agent there is the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, just to make sure that we are on track and on time it will be completed next year in December.
Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project will augment water supply to Gauteng by 490 million m3 and some areas of the Free State, Northern Cape and North West. This project is underway now.
The project will increase water security particularly in the Integrated Vaal River System for the Gauteng economy in the main and other uses. The main contracts for the Polihali Dam, the Polihali to Katse Transfer Tunnel and the Senqu Bridge were awarded last year financial year and the estimated cost of these will be R39 billion. It will be implemented by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, TCTA, by raising money from the market and it is due for completion in 2028. The President has been invited to Lesotho, he will be leading our delegation next week which will mark the official launch of Phase 2.
The delayed Mzimvubu project is now back on track, following a range of problems that has now been removed and we have reconfigured the implementation plan for that. We have just seen the initial component of the project to R8 billion.
Working with the National Treasury, the Ntabelanga Dam would be constructed starting towards the end of this year.
Similarly, the R23 billion Mkhomazi project is now back on track after it stalled because of several problems including concerns raised by the affected municipality in terms of receiving bad service. This project will increase water security in the Mngeni Water Supply System which supplies eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala District
Municipalities and Msunduzi Local Municipality. The funding issue was resolved in collaboration with the President’s Infrastructure Fund. It will be implemented by the TCTA and Mngeni Water. This project will definitely start sometime next year.
On the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency, Chairperson, the total value of the major water resource infrastructure projects that are being implemented most of which I have just alluded to, is a collective of R130 billion. This is in a way of response to concerns raised by different South Africans at different quarters that we are not investing enough to Water and Sanitation infrastructure. So,
R130 billion already is committed just at a macro level and not counting municipal investments on infrastructure.
However, there are other range of projects that are underway pipeline like the Ghariep pipeline to augment the water supply to Mangaung, the Lower Coerney Balancing Dam to augment the Algoa Water supply system which supplies Gqeberha, amongst other towns in the Eastern Cape; development of the Beit Bridge Musina Integrated Water Supply System in Limpopo; and development of the Klipfontein, uMfolozi – Usuthu, Kwesibomvu,
Jana, Milietuin and Stephen Dlamini Dams in KwaZulu-Natal. All plans are underway and will be implemented soon. We therefore need to raise even larger sums of money required to invest in national water resource infrastructure. We also need to invest in the rehabilitation and maintenance of our existing water resource infrastructure assets. We are very much aware of that. This is the reason why we are in the process of establishing the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency by transforming the TCTA into the Agency. During the last financial year, we processed the Bill and is under discussion at the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, and we will soon go to Cabinet.
On water partnership, in addition to private sector funding for national water resource infrastructure, the Water Boards also raise money in the market for the development of the bulk distribution infrastructure for which they are responsible. We have partnerships with the private sector that have already worked out, with the mining sector, other departments such as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the National Treasury and the Department of Public Works via the budget facility infrastructure. We are working all well with those sister departments.
The component of the water value chain for which we need to mobilise much greater levels of private sector investment is municipal water services. In this regard, we have established a water partnerships office in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA and the SA Local Government Association, Salga. Consultations are at an advanced stage. We are already implementing some of these projects in this regard. Now, on sustainability of the water sector and water services, Chairperson, in our Budget Speech last year, we indicated that we accepted responsibility for arrest and reverse the decline in municipal Water and Sanitation services. This decline is evidenced by among others, the results of our Green and Blue Drop reports. Many municipalities are in a downward spiral of poor and declining water services, reduced payment rate, increasing debt and low investment. To address this downward spiral, we need to ensure that water services are provided by professionally managed, capable, efficient and financially viable institutions. This is very important because it will mark a shift in the way we are doing things.
The key cause of the decline is poor governance and ineffective management in municipalities. Weak billing and revenue collection at municipal level is resulting in escalating debts across the water value chain. In February this year, municipalities owed the Water Boards R16,7 billion and municipalities and the Water Boards in turn, owed the Department of Water and Sanitation R17,4 billion. We are worried about this. If it escalates and is allowed to spiral the way it does, there will be no water supply in both bulk and water services. So, we have to do something.
Following here are the measures that we are taking to arrest this kind of situation and possibility. We have agreed with National Treasury and the Water Boards on several measures to be taken to address the escalating debts, and we are in the process of consulting about these measures with Salga and we are about to finish. They include the following: The National Treasury withholding equitable share allocations from municipalities; the Department and the Water Boards standardising and strengthening their credit control measures and debt recovery processes; the consistent enforcement of water restrictions on nonpaying municipalities, including legal processes to attach municipal bank accounts, where necessary; and the installation of bulk prepaid meters by Water Boards in municipalities. We are about to conclude these. These are the measures we are intending to do so that we enforce them.
The second set of measures is to improve pricing. We have an independent economic regulator who is assisting us to reconfigure the whole of pricing the water regime and in line with the Water Service Act for setting retail tariffs by municipalities. This financial year, we will be issuing the revised water strategy and we will also be working on the introduction of a multiyear tariff regime instead of every year. We consider this as a necessary improvement at this stage.
Thirdly, are amendments to the Water Services Act, one of the underlying causes of the decline in municipal water services, both in terms of the reliability of service delivery and in terms of financial sustainability, is the non-implementation of certain key requirements of the Water Services Act by municipalities. The Act distinguishes between Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers and requires municipalities to separately manage and account for both roles. It further requires water services authorities to ensure that water services providers provide access to
efficient and sustainable water services to everyone. Almost all water services authorities have not done this. They have become both water serve authority and water service provider without distinguishing and accounting in terms of the law.
We are interpreting the law otherwise and we hope that we will reach a consensus on that. This is under consideration in terms of amendments and consulting. However, the Minister of Water and Sanitation is also supposed to consult with the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to deal with the aspect of mining water. We are doing this. We are looking at amending the law in terms of the responsibilities and functions of water services authorities and the functions of water service providers in that order.
We are also strengthening regulation in this regard. We are strengthening our role as the regulator of the water sector in several other ways. We will be expanding our no-drop assessment reports to other sectors in addition to municipalities. We are improving licensing processes by introducing among others the Electronic Water Use Licence Application, e-WULA, digital water use licensing system,
business process re-engineering, strengthening of our provincial offices and training of our licensing staff.
These measures have enabled us to deal with the backlog of water use licenses during the 2022-2023 financial year and this has improved that we are now at 70% in terms of issuing license applications within 90 days in line with the President’s call to do it within that period. We have improved substantially on this matter. In addition to this, we are aware of the Constitutional Court recently and in relation to water rights. We will review the law on the matter so that the department’s intention is clearly identifiable. We intend doing this because the Constitutional Court does not have a problem in principle with our intention but it is not stated in the law. We will get this as synergised.
What are we doing to support the municipal Water and Sanitation services over what we have spoken about already? The department has a constitutional obligation to support municipalities and we are doing that. We manage two grants, the Water Services Infrastructure Grant, WSIG, and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, RBIG. This financial year, RBIG will rise to R10,1 billion to municipalities to implement the
regional bulk infrastructure and R4,6 billion for water services infrastructure. There will be 130 different projects across the country for RBIG and there will be 400 projects for WSIG. We have developed instruments to monitor this better and to make sure that money is used for the purpose far better than we have done in the past.
Over the past year, we have criss-crossed the country, and what we have observed correlates with the results of our Blue and Green Drop assessments – many municipalities are failing to manage water services and the situation is deteriorating. We have been meeting with mayors and councillors, municipal managers, technical staff and local stakeholders to collaborate in improvements in this regard. The projects we alluded to was to improve infrastructure that are funded by RBIG and WSIG. We also mobilised our water boards and sometimes at our own resources. For example, in the Eastern Cape, the Amatola Water Board assisted Nelson Mandela Bay to complete Phase 3 at the cost of R534 million Nooitgedacht water transfer, which is now running that project adding 70 megaliters per day in Nelson Mandela Bay. We were using RBIG funding. The same water board will also be assisting the Makana Withregard to the R393 million James Kleynhans Water
Treatment Works at 89% complete. The Umgeni Water is assisting the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, R450 million. The Greater Mbizana Regional Bulk Water Scheme from Ludeke Dam.
Amatole is also assisting Ngqamakhwe Regional Water Supply Scheme at a cost of R506 million to supply water to Butterworth, Ngqamakhwe and Centane areas ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): ... hon Minister, thank you very much. Your time is up.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Thank you.
Mr M R MASHEGO: House Chairperson, good morning, everybody, Minister, Deputy Ministers, the Director General, DG, and all others. We want to move for the acceptance of the budget vote. The Budget Vote 41, 2023 budget on its predecessors. It lays a foundation for building water infrastructure to source the future for the next generation.
Indeed, this is a budget that is premise on the need for the people. It thus seeks to change the lives of our people to the better. It will improve access to water and sanitation services by household which is currently at 90%. This budget
will improve much needed water infrastructure to deliver water to the people, industries, and business.
These infrastructures include dams, pipelines, powerlines and pumps. During Sona 2023 and the economic reconstruction and recovery plan called for a necessary development of bulk infrastructure, establishment of appropriate institutions.
The strategic water infrastructure and institutions will accelerate water services delivery to under deserved households. In this regard the plan to establish water infrastructure agency at the independent economic regulator in the medium term is step in the right direction.
We ... [Inaudible.] ... to ensure the consolidation of bulk water infrastructure activities. The independent economic regulator will also provide a platform for proper regulation of water pricing regime that will address the current municipal water debt to the water boards. This is the reason we as the committee and the ANC support this budget vote.
We note the dismay and the devastation that the extreme weather and failure of climate action has caused in the
eastern coast of the country, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, KZN, in the Eastern Cape and in the Northwest Provinces. The floods demolished houses, roads and other important infrastructure and many lives have been lost.
We have witnessed devastating drought in the recent past and the drought continues to affect some part of Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape. This in line with the climate change focused by the SA Weather Service that predicts persistent dry conditions in the western interior and the weather conditions in the eastern part of the country.
South Africa is a water scarce country as we know, we do not have enough water resources and climate change is worsening the situation.
We must commend of course the Minister for stabilising the governance, management of the department by having appointed a DG on a full-time basis. You will remember that when we came here, there was no DG the whole structure was not just effective, he has stabilised that particular structure.
Having commended the DG and his structure and the appointment of the Chief Financial Officer, CFO, Mr Mwatse, that the extensive experience of the public finance among many other things is the attribute that the office is bringing.
Nothwistanding the great strides made by the Minister, the deterioration and the vandalism of water, waste infrastructure, poor work enterprising regime, escalating municipal water debt to water boards, delays in issuing water use licences, poor implementation of broader water resource polices to address equitable allocation and the protection of the resources and the delays in the investment in water infrastructure continues to threaten the stability of the water sector governance.
However, the mid-term strategic framework 2019/ 2014 responds to the challenges as it provides priorities of government in line with the Vision 2030.
The National Development Plan, NDP, Priority Four of the economic infrastructure calls for the expansion of water ... [Inaudible.] ... infrastructure, among others to support economic growth and social development goals.
It is also worth noting that the economic reconstruction and recovery plan as a direct response to COVID-19. Water is a resource, and the sector is set to play a pivotal role in the reconstruction recovery of the economy.
I am glad to announce that these plans are adequately addressed in the tabled Budget Vote 41 and the Annual Performance Plan, APP, albeit budget shortages thereof. The overall budget allocation for Vote 41 increases from
R18,5 billion in 2022-23 to R22,3 billion for 2023-24 this a significant increase of R2,7 billion in real terms. That is when installation is taken into account. This is line with the departmental focus on infrastructure funding and development.
The regulatory institutional reform during this year under review. This implies that service delivery will be better. In order to deliver water service to our people we need to appropriate legislation that is in line with Constitution. The legislation that will guide the process of water service delivery. The legislation that will ensure that there is equity and sustainable development. To this end, the Budget Vote 41 intends to have the amended National Water Bill
approved in the medium term. This will be progressive step towards realising equitable water service delivery.
The amendment of the legislation will also enable the portfolio committee to strengthen the participation of the role of Parliament in the appointment of the board members to water boards and other entities. Setting of water tariffs and water allocations processes among others.
This budget will provide much needed infrastructure to deliver water to the people, the industries, and the business, the infrastructure industries, dams, pipelines, powerlines, and pumps.
More than R14 billion of the budget will be transferred to municipalities for various bulk water infrastructure projects that would be carried out by the ... [Inaudible.] ... municipalities ... [Inaudible.] ... the Minister have spoken about the R10,4 billion in terms of ... [Inaudible.] ...
R4,6 billion in terms of ... [Inaudible.] ...and that’s what we are talking about.
In this regard, 50 large regional bulk infrastructure projects will be under construction to various stages during the year under review. While 500 job opportunities will be created through the implementation of regional bulk infrastructure projects. This projects among others remain a priority for the Budget 41, the rising of Clanwilliam Dam, the Giyani Bulk Water Services, the Umzimvubu Dam and uMkhomazi Water Project. These are targets are also in line with the Sona 22 with respect to utilisation of the district development model.
Allow me to also commend the Minister for having ... [Inaudible.] ... the Vaal intervention into Sebokeng. Our people have been exposed to sewage spillages on daily basis. It is comforting to see this project in the APP, that will be funded through the Water Service Infrastructure Grant. This intervention will secure and safeguard the infrastructure repair bulk network, to eliminate current spillages. Repair critical pumps stations, refurbishing the wastewater treatment works in an attempt to comply with the discharge licence condition.
The progress of this project and others across the country have been hampered by vandalism and theft. We witnessed in the
Free State and Limpopo Provinces, where water and wastewater infrastructure are completely ... [Inaudible.] ... off, of anything that looks valuable.
We therefore urge the security cluster to assist the Minister to safeguard this project. His plans to eradicate all bucket toilets in the formal areas during the term, are also commendable, as this will bring dignity to our people in the Free State and the Northern Cape, we have already visited Free State we’ve seen what is happening we are to visit the Northern Cape in August.
The continuation of the implementation of Africa Global Interrelation Programme for water security is well celebrated. This strategic partnership is very important to our Republic since we are heavily relying on transboundary water and water scarce countries such as Limpopo shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Nkomazi River shared with Eswatini, Mozambique. Orange ... [Inaudible.] ... shared with Lesotho, Botswana, and Namibia. And Maputo, Usuthu, Pongola River shared with Eswatini and Mozambique.
This partnership will ensure that our water supply is secured, and our economic development is sustainable. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a practical product of this particular regional partnership. The Minister has already spoken that the President has been invited there, we are happy about that.
Hon House Chair, we note that this budget is tabled at the time when the economy is not growing very fast. Nevertheless, there is number of challenges that should be addressed, in order to effectively deliver the mandate of the budget, despite budgetary constraints.
This slow pace of the establishment of the independent economic regulator water allocation reform, amendment of both National Water and Water Service Act, implementation of mega infrastructure projects and the decreasing budget allocation for infrastructure. This is a course for concern, and we therefore urge the department to find ways to fast tract the implementation of this particular targets.
The portfolio committee noted the shortages of funds for mega infrastructure development as this estimated cost of the mega
infrastructure project is in excess of R100 billion. This means that it will take decade to fully achieve the country's infrastructure needs. The department and the government in general should consider tapping the private-public partnership in fast tracking the infrastructure roll out programme.
There are many recommendations that we have made when we adopted this particular budget, as a committee because we did. I cannot recite all of them, but they are all in the budget report. I therefore reaffirm and support the adoption of this Budget Vote as table in this particular recommendation and ... [Inaudible.] ... that the committee will hold the department
...
Mr L J BASSON: Chairperson, over a third of South Africa’s
drinking water is lost before it can be used. This is due to infrastructure failure, leaking pipes, mismanagement and
corruption at municipal level.
Afrikaans:
Waterinfrastruktuur speel ’n baie belangrike rol om ekonomiese groei en sosiale ontwikkeling te bewerkstellig. Die wanbestuur van waterinfrastruktuur en die onvermoë om dit effektief te
onderhou kan lei tot beperkte water beskikbaar vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling en vir menslike gebruik.
English:
South Africa has made considerable progress in providing water services, including piped water and sanitation. However, certain structural weaknesses persist. A proportion of the population either have no water, or due to uneven access to water they remain vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
The infrastructure funding gap is a cause for concern. Currently, there is less than 1% of the budget to fund the mega infrastructure projects that are outlined in the annual performance plan, APP. At this rate of allocation, it will take decades to complete these projects. The only solution for the department is to take hands with the private sector to develop and run mega water infrastructure projects.
Corruption extends from taps in rural villages to the supply of South Africa’s economic heartland. Village taps have run dry so that councillors and their friends can get contracts to truck water. Contractors on the Lesotho phase 2 project providing water to Gauteng have been delayed by years, in part
because Nomvula Mokonyane tried to change procurement policies to benefit her friends. In the Western Cape, the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam, which would create thousands of new
farming jobs, has been delayed for similar reasons. Companies have paid bribes to get contracts. Some companies claim
payment for work badly done or not done at all, often colluding with officials who oversee their work. Others have
monopolised specialist areas of work to grossly overcharge for
their services. These problems are aggravated by a failure to appoint competent people to do the jobs required and officials
being pressurised by politicians and their seniors to do the wrong thing.
Ending corruption will not solve all of the country’s water problems, but an effective campaign to wash corruption out of the water sector could create the environment in which larger water projects could be tackled. It could ensure that water security for all once again becomes the primary goal of the water sector. And, in doing this, the water sector could provide guidance and inspiration to the rest of the nation.
Wastewater infrastructure is under stress and dysfunctional. Therefore, water specialists agree that 84% of wastewater
plants are at critical risk, high risk or medium risk, with only 16% of wastewater plants at low risk. This implies that
4 200 million litres of untreated or inadequately treated sewage is illegally discharged into 82% of South Africa’s rivers and streams every single day. This is a disgrace and this is threatening the integrity of our water resources. The ANC-run Giyani Water Treatment Works is a good example of this.
Afrikaans:
Die Hartbeespoortdam word beskou as die mees besoedelde dam in die wêreld met duisende visse wat vrek as gevolg van die massiewe invloei van onbehandelde riool. Rivier af, moet Madibeng dit behandel vir drinkwater en boere moet gewasse besproei uit dieselfde dam. Dit is die gemors wat ons vandag mee sit na 29 jaar van ANC regering.
English:
In 2024, a DA government will focus on the following turnaround strategies to change the critical situation within the water sector:
Firstly, protection of our water resources, implementing the DA’s use it or lose it principle by transferring underperforming municipal water infrastructure to water boards;
Secondly, monitoring pollution of our rivers and streams by appointing more Blue Scorpions that will enforce the DA’s polluter must pay principle;
Thirdly, a rapid response unit to assist municipalities that have financial constraints or without technical skills to maintain infrastructure to deliver quality water, with legislation in place to claim these costs against the municipalities equitable share; and
Finally, creating opportunities for private-sector partnerships with government in funding, managing, upgrading, maintaining and creating new infrastructure. This will assist in funding the needed R800 billion over the next 10 years. In conclusion, Minister ...
Afrikaans:
... die DA se boodskap aan u is baie duidelik. Wanneer Suid- Afrika se waterinfrastruktuur in duie stort, sal dit
60 miljoen mense raak, ryk of arm, swart of wit. Hul lewens sal beïnvloed word en dit sal ongelooflike druk op die land se ekonomie plaas en terselfde tyd voedselsekerheid onder geweldige druk plaas.
English:
Now Minister, just a reminder. Water is life. I thank you.
Mrs M R MOHLALA: The past 10 years have been a very dynamic and challenging time. We stand here today, like many other years, inspired by the courage and determination of the ... [Inaudible.] ... of the poorest of the poor, the undermined and the rejected who are excluded from economic emancipation by white South Africa.
On 29 July 2023, the EFF will be having the mother of all anniversary celebrations in the First National Bank, FNB, stadium as we mark 10 years of unbroken struggle. We invite all our people to come in their numbers and further call on all good South Africans to protect and advance the revolution by supporting the fundraising campaign by SMS by donating R10,
R20 or R30, as we don’t want to be supported by white capital. We want the support of our people. [Interjections.]
Minister, the people of South Africa want answers. They are saying that they are giving you billions every year to give them water. All they see is the construction of big dams but there is no water. The water doesn’t arrive in their homes. This is what is happening in Nandoni and De Hoop dams in Limpopo.
This raises serious concerns about the ANC government’s approach and its effectiveness in delivering essential services. This contradiction arises from one of the branches of the government handling the construction of water infrastructure, while many municipalities lack the necessary distribution networks or they are in disrepair.
This raises further questions and concerns by the citizens of this country. It is a sad reality that in many municipalities delayed attempts by the local government to construct reticulation networks leave valuable assets such as water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants open to vandalism and theft.
The people of uMkhanyakude in KwaZulu-Natal and the people of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape are amongst the millions of South Africans who are denied water by the corrupt ANC that prioritises the privatisation of water in an effort to protect their white bosses who continue to milk our money by selling our water to us.
The department itself has acknowledged its failure to fulfil its constitutional duty of providing water and sanitation to all citizens in the country, which can be considered nothing less than a criminal act and a human rights violation.
According to the revised Strategic Plan 2020-2021 and 2024- 2025, several challenges pose a threat to upholding the constitutional obligation. This includes insufficient construction and upkeep of water and sanitation infrastructure in homes and communities; inadequate monitoring of the completion and quality of service-delivery projects assigned to external contractors that have already been paid; insufficient maintenance of water treatment and wastewater treatment infrastructure; the degradation of water-related ecosystems; water scarcity due to climate change; and inadequate investment in water and sanitation.
Minister, for far too long the water and wastewater infrastructure has suffered under the ineffective leadership of the current government led by looters. Our responsibility is to relentlessly push this government to fulfil its obligation and fix this vital system without further delay.
Our recent oversight visit to the Free State and Limpopo provinces unveiled the true extent of this government’s longstanding failure in servicing our people. In towns like Ficksburg, citizens are forced to navigate through sewerage overflow in the streets, while contaminated water continues to plague our nation due to this crumbling infrastructure. The current poor state of water and sanitation infrastructure in the municipalities of Nketoana and Setsoto, in the Free State in Ficksburg, Clocolan, Senekal, Petrus Steyn, Reitz and Arlington reveals the lack of commitment on the side of the government in failing to honour the life of activist Andries Tatane who was brutally shot for fighting for the demands of the people. There has been no significant improvement in the situation for the community. The government has not fulfilled its promise to provide water to the people and also to eliminate the bucket system in informal settlements, with over
12 000 bucket toilet systems in that province.
Furthermore, our visit to Limpopo exposed another failure which is the Giyani project. Shockingly, the Minister of Water and Sanitation shamelessly declared to the public that the people of Giyani finally had access to clean water, when in reality not a single reticulation project has been completed.
Minister, it is time to face the harsh reality and acknowledge that the ANC-led government has utterly failed to address the immense challenges faced by communities in provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and others.
In the Eastern Cape, the dire state of water and sanitation provision reflects the lack of infrastructure and overwhelmed water supply systems, resulting in widespread shortages and contamination.
In Limpopo, over 400 000 households lack basic water supply, while in KwaZulu-Natal more than 600 households are also experiencing the problem. In Mpumalanga, 300 households suffer from the lack of basic water and sanitation.
Another area of contention is how this government handles flood disaster management in South Africa, which was marked by
profound systematic failures. The District Development Model, hailed as the saviour of our water and sanitation challenges, has proven to be an empty promise.
Minister, it is disheartening to witness the abandonment and delay of essential projects. This government’s negligence is unforgivable and we demand immediate action to rectify these failures. Our citizens deserve better. Our responsibility is to fight for their rights and wellbeing. We cannot stand idly by while our people suffer. We demand immediate responsibility, immediate action now and a commitment to rectify this failure. Minister ...
Sepedi:
... mmuio wa lena ke wa digatamarokgwana. Ga o kgone go ioma ka ntle le go tlaletiwa maiata. EFF e ka se homole, efela e tla tiwela pele le go lwela batho kamoka Afrika Borwa ka bophara gore ba humane tokologo ye ya ekonomi.
English:
We reject this budget report and we condemn the incompetence of this ANC government. Thank you so much.
Mr N SINGH: House Chairperson, I wonder if I can do some fundraising for the IFP because I am the treasurer general of my party. But I think we are here to deal with much more important issues, involving a matter that affects every citizen in our country. As the hon member on my left said, water is life. Without water we are nothing. So, I think water is an important commodity that all of us in our country require. Having said that, I think that we need to acknowledge that millions of people – more than in 1994 – have access to clean basic water, and that’s a positive step. However, and it’s a fact, much more can be done because there are still millions who do not have access to water. We hear about this. We read about this. We see strikes and people protesting all over because they don’t have water. So Minister, you have your work cut out for you in terms of leading this department as a political head, and ensuring that your officials and your entities that you have under you deliver.
Now, let me just also make a disclaimer that I do not serve in this committee, my member is unwell. But I am discussing IFP issues. But I will be discussing the issues that impacts on the IFP and its constituency. One other issue that we discussed some time ago, hon Minister, you would recall in
another platform, was poor maintenance of infrastructure. The water losses in our country are too ghastly to imagine, and more than 40% of our water is lost due to poor infrastructure. Whilst it is important to have bulk infrastructure, the projects that you mentioned that run into hundreds of millions, if not billions, there is probably a need to top slice for maintenance of infrastructure. If we don’t top slice and put our money away for maintenance, then all these bulk projects are going to knots in 10- or 15-years’ time.
Having said that hon Minister, I live in ward 99 in Kumasi in KwaZulu-Natal, and there is a major project underway there that’s being handled by Umgeni, which is going to help hundreds of thousands of people on the South Coast and in eThekwini area. But the level of corruption – the mafia style tactics that operates in that area - I have not seen that in my 30-35 years of political life. I attended a meeting hon Minister, where I never saw firearms like that before, and you know I was an MEC, and we used to go around and get protected. Where you get business people coming in with - I don’t know what you call them, R5 or AK47 or whatever - coming into a meeting and each one being guarded by these people, why?
Because corruption and because each one is competing for the work in the area.
So much so hon Minister, that an ANC councillor was allegedly killed as an assassinated because of some involvement in this project. So, what I am saying hon Minister is that, whereas these projects should bring hope to thousands of people, its bringing despair when these kind of things happen. I would really like you and your department to get closer to your entities. Like Umgeni Water and anybody else assigned this responsibility to find out from them exactly what is happening. That project stalled for months because of infighting by business people.
In the last minute that I have got hon Minister, I want to raise the issue of loadshedding, and loadshedding is not your direct responsibility. But the impact that it is having on the supply of water to thousand of residents across the country is really bad. Because many of the water pumps stations operate through electricity. And, when there is no electricity, then you don’t get water being pumped through your holding areas.
Now I don’t know what kind of interaction you have with those Minister of Electricity, because it is very important to find
out where are the key points of water delivery from water pumps to reservoirs. And perhaps, we need to have ... not jojo tanks, but bigger catchment areas, where water can be placed in them by these tankers and be held in reserve for communities.
Communities are really struggling because of electricity which impacts on water. So, I trust Minister that you will meet with your colleagues and come up with a comprehensive way and do an assessment of where, in which areas, water supply is being impacted to communities. That is my time, and I had other issues, but I will leave it at that. But we will support this budget because we need communities to have water, and this is why ... [Inaudible.] [Time expired.]
Afrikaans:
Mnr P MEY: Voorsitter, mense vra vir my baie keer oor load shedding [beurtkrag]. Dan sê ek, moenie bekommerd wees nie. In Suid-Afrika kan ons dit vinnig herstel. Die grootste krisis wat ons in hierdie land bedreig is ‘n tekort aan water en hongersnood.
Suid-Afrika is een van die 30 droogste lande in die wêreld. Nou, akademici het 25 of 26 jaar gelede al voorspel dat Suid- Afrika op ‘n waterskaarste afstuur. Ek wil vir u sê dat hulle 100% korrek was maar die politici het geen aandag daaraan gegee nie. Waarom het ons vandag ‘n watertekort? In die eerste instansie reën dit te min in Suid-Afrika. In die tweede instansie word daar nie genoeg geld in die bou van damme belê nie.
Ek wil vir u net sê dat ons ‘n bietjie terug in die geskiedenis moet kyk oor hoeveel damme destyds gebou is en nou. Maar dan, van ons grootste probleme is die onderspandering van begrotings. Dit sien ons wanneer dit by onderhoud kom. Die munisipaliteite doen nie genoeg onderhoud nie. Baie kere sê hulle dat hulle nie geld het nie maar ek sê vir hulle die politieke wil ontbreek eenvoudig. ’n Kollega van my het vir my vanoggend gesê dat die Minister op ‘n vraag van hom in Mangaung beantwoord het. ’n Totaal van 46% van die water gaan verlore en in die res van Suid-Afrika werk ons omtrent op 40%.
Dan sit ons met die bevolkingsaanwas in Suid-Afrika. Enige land waar jou bevolkingsaanwas ho?r as jou ekonomiese groei
is, stuur op ‘n ramp af. Ek wil nie eers praat oor die invloei van mense uit Afrika nie.
Munisipaliteite betaal nie hul rekeninge nie. Hoekom nie? Baie keer betaal die inwoners nie hul rekeninge nie as hulle nie instaat is om te betaal nie. Wat is die oplossing?
In 2019 het ek in ‘n toespraak in die Parlement gesê dat een van die belangrikste kort-en langtermyn oplossings vir Suid- Afrika is watertenks. U weet, ons sit met ‘n krisis in die Nelson Mandelabaai Metro; ‘n krisis. Hierdie naweek was God so goed. Ons het 100 millimeter reën onderkant die damme gekry.
Almal wat watertenks het, het geglimlag. Hoekom kan die regering dit nie verpligtend maak nie? Geen bouplan in Suid- Afrika moet goedgekeur word alvorens daar nie voorsiening vir water gemaak word nie.
Ek het met argitekte gepraat. Maak die hoeveelheid tenks ... liter water wat jy moet opgaar moet afhang van die grootte van jou dak. Dan sal ons in Suid-Afrika baie, baie minder water gebruik. Iemand het vir my uit Johannesburg gebel — ’n waterkenner. Hy sê dat ‘n plek soos Johannesburg, waar dit
elke tweede of derde dag reën, behoort nie eers van die Vaaldam se water te gebruik nie.
‘n Ander een is Working for Water. Ek is baie in kontak met hierdie mense. Die Black Wattle, veral in die Nelson Mandelabaai Metro en die Kougarivier ... Hulle het nie die geld om dit te ontbos nie. Ons moet baie meer daaromtrent doen. Waterherwinning is net so belangrik. U weet, as ons net na ‘n plek soos Namibië kyk oor hoe ver hulle gevorder is. Ons in Suid-Afrika het nog niks gedoen wat dit aanbetref nie.
Met betrekking tot die bou van damme, voor 1994 is by die
500 damme gebou. Ja, die kleinste dorpie het ‘n damwal gehad waar water opgegaar is. Na 1994 was daar slegs een dam, die De Hoopdam, gebou. Hoe is dit moontlik? Ons kan mos nie anders verwag as ‘n tekort aan water in Suid-Afrika nie?
Dan die belangrikste. Die Minister het daarna verwys. Dit is die Nooitgedacht waterprojek in Port Elizabeth. Die Nooitgedacht waterprojek ... die watersuiwerings ... Die VF Plus het dit verlede jaar besoek en ek sê nou vir u vandag, fase 3 is vertraag met amper twee of drie jaar. Maar die slegste van alles is, en ek doen vandag ’n beroep op die
Minister om vinnig op te tree, begin met fase 4, want ons het water. Die Oranjerivier en die Gariepdam loop oor. Die Vanderkloofdam en al daardie damme loop oor. Waar gaan die water heen? Dit gaan see toe en die rede daarvoor is dat ons niks doen om dit op te gaar nie.
‘n Ander belangrike ding is die volgende. Herlei water na droë dele van Suid-Afrika. Die ou regering het beplan dat water sou kom — Graaff-Reinet, Beervleidam, af deur die Karoo gedeeltes, Steytlerville, al daardie plekke. Duisende werksgeleenthede kan geskep word maar die belangrikste van alles is, agb Minister, ek is bly u noem dat daar beplanning vir die bou van damme is. Ons kan dit nie uitstel nie.
Loadshedding [beurtkrag] is niks. ‘n Watertekort beteken dood. Dankie.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Mr M D Mahlobo):
Thank you very much, Your Excellency Mpangazitha, Minister Macingwane, Deputy Minister Shabalala, our Chair of our committee Comrade Mashego and all hon members, our director- general and fellow South Africans. Your Excellences and comrades, the global security continues to deteriorate due to
Ukraine –Russia conflict exacerbated by the global response that is pushing the world to think world war ... [Inaudible.]
... The on-going conflict war has impacted negatively on global supply chain, food security and energy security and many citizens across the globe while exposing the inequalities that are existing amongst nations.
Chairperson, when we debate here, let us not tell lies claim easy victories and not mask our difficulties. All these hon members who are serving in our committee have agreed that this Ministry is leading the sector in the right direction. We know that all municipalities in our country its water services authorities are struggling, whether they are run by the DA, the IFP or the ANC they have challenges. In Cape Town and elsewhere where DA rules sewerage is running in the street and the sins of our people is because they are black.
This Minister, Minister Mchunu, has been on the ground with all of us intervening in these areas. You know that in Mkhanyakude we were there. We are handling the issues to support that district so that all those projects are there. In Giyani, we were all there and we were very excited. We are actually intervening whether be it Emfuleni, we are
intervening here in Cape Town. Many of our projects are moving. Tell no lies and do not claim easy victories. We must never politicize the issue of water because our people need to be assisted. Water is a precious resource. We must know that there are still many people in the world who do not have water. We are agreed that water is unequally distributed over space and time and our country under the leadership of the ANC we have expanded access to more than 90% of people. But we have also expanded access to sanitation to more than 84%.
However, we are the first to admit that more still needs to be done.
Our water is wasted and polluted and sustainably managed and then this has a big impact on socioeconomic development, human security and the environment. Climate change is one of those particular issues we must address. One of the things we can assure South Africans, the state of the water resource infrastructure as addressed by the SA Institute of Civil Engineers, we have done well in terms of water resource infrastructure. Even if you look at the grading now we are at a stage where you can say it is reasonably managed, but our biggest concern is mostly around issues of wastewater management.
Therefore, spending on repair and maintenance and rehabilitation and supply system remains inadequate, and due to increased theft and vandalism and service delivery protests, funding has been diverted. We must be in a position to reassure South Africans that this government has ensured that the main system which is the dams. They are actually maintained and operated properly because they are an essential component to ensure sound and sustainable water resources. We know that as a country, we have more than 500 dams that in the past were used for irrigation and mining. Our Ministry has changed that. All those single dams in Jozini and elsewhere have been converted into multipurpose dam so that our people next to those dams can be able to benefit. We have conducted a conditional assessment. Our own engineers, as part of the world commission on dams are addressing those particular issues. I can tell you that there is a dam rehabilitation programme that we are running in the department to ensure that there is no dam failure and we are also attending to the issues around tailing dams that you saw in Jagersfontein. We have directed all the mines that the tailing dams must be in conditions that they are able to use. More importantly, we have actually completed 43 dams during this administration since 1994. We have completed their rehabilitation.
The people of Mpumalanga of Injaka dam are benefiting because of that, the Berg in the Western Cape, Nandoni, you can name all of them in all these particular provinces and the Minister
... [Interjections.] ...
IsiZulu:
... Mpangazitha akusezwakali babanga umsindo kakhulu labantu. [Ubuwelewele.]
English:
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon members, please reduce your noise remember the venue does not allow us.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Mr M D Mahlobo):
They are shouting from both sides and the venue is too small.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Okay, go ahead, hon member.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Mr M D Mahlobo):
I can assure you that there are also 22 major water infrastructure projects that Macingwane have spoken to. Those who are living around the dams, please note that we are
transforming them for tourism, but also for other activities. The request for proposal has been issued out, but we will deal with other issues that are energy related, and we are working with the tourism council.
One of the biggest problems we have, as country, is that our precious water resource has not been used by some institutions and individuals as efficiently as possible. Therefore, we need to increase our opportunity to use water efficiently in all our sectors so that we can actually experience issues of growth. We know that the consumption by South Africans is above the normal standard that we have seen in the world, 273 litres per person per day as compared to the average of 173 and the water losses that have been spoken to. We are dealing with that matter. We have put R1 billion aside for projects around the country to assist even the irrigation sector, to deal with the entire convergence system in the sand river government water scheme, Qamata irrigation scheme, Nzhelele irrigation scheme because we know that every drop of water that we waste, someone is looking for that particular drop.
We are also promoting issues of water mix so that we know that there is no abundance of water and we don’t spend too much
money, new infrastructure when there is an existing water resources. Regarding our methodologies and capacity, we will deal with issues of water resources management. Regarding quality, social awareness and education rehabilitation. The distribution system around pressure management, metering, replacement of infrastructure, consumer demand management which is social awareness and education and deals with the issues of the return flow management so that we can do reuse, recycling so that those issue of pollution must be dealt with. We are proceeding with the issues of transformation in water management in institutions and the irrigation scheme.
As I am about to conclude, let us indicate that this Ministry will never rest on its laurels as long as there are certain municipalities and communities that do not have water. In terms of section 154 we are going to be able to intervene to support. Where it is necessary, we will be able to intervene with section 63, like we are doing elsewhere and we have agreed with all provinces that we must be able to help them.
Therefore, as South Africans have to agree that we are faced by challenges globally and domestically. Many of our people might have lost hope, but through this Ministry, through the
dark tunnel we agree there is light and the good feedback we are given by yourselves as members of the portfolio committee but also the areas of improvement and we are improving. Let us remain vigilant of the dangers that are faced by our revolutionary advancement we should not be rigid when we deal with this. We must never be ... inflexible or inactive to change in the water sector. We are changing the water sector and the landscape. We shall deliver water to those South Africans who do not have access to water, because under the sun access to water is their right, as it is a right enshrined in the Constitution. To have decent sanitation and no sewerage running into people’s homes it is our quest, we will do it and we actually invite you to become partners in the journey for change. I implore you that let us work together toward the prosperity of our nation and for the benefit of our future generation. Let us stop politicking and quibbling. We must be able to use water efficiently and protect our environment. We will be in a position working with those communities like Minister where we have intervened, especially in KwaZulu-Natal in the Eastern Cape because those situations around climate change are still impacting on us, but we are very confident.
We are going to be making a change. God bless Africa her sons and daughters. I thank you. [Applause.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon members, may I remind you that as members we all have a right to heckle but don’t do it in such a way that it disturbs the debate.
Otherwise, I will have to make a ruling that one or two Members in this House will have to elope to the other side so that the noise between them is lessened. May be if I am allowed I will do that.
Ms M M MATUBA: Hon House Chairperson, greeting to the Minister and the Deputy Ministers, hon member and our guests. Hon House Chairperson ... [Inaudible.] ... Water Conference, water is the life blood of society. We need water for a thriving economy that can run farms, businesses and factories. We need water for sustainable development to produce food and deliver low carbon growth. We need clean water for healthy children and adults to realise the potential as productive members of the society.
The ANC fully support this budget informed by the fact that water is the source of life. Access to basic water results in economic benefits, lower health costs, more productivity and fewer premature deaths. Our support to this budget is further informed by the fact that we want to ease women from the yoke
of servitude which comes with shortage of water. It is only when sufficient water resources are dedicated in providing water in all corners of our country where women rest from fetching water with heavy gallons and far from places. The provision of clean water to communities is therefore, a catalyst for gender equality where women do not do unpaid work or fetching water for the families. We are of a conviction that, there is a link between access to basic water and the fight for water and gender equality.
On House Chairperson, this is not the time to nibble around the edges and this is not the time to stand back and watch, while those who seeks to co-govern with us grandstand for votes. This is the time to confront reality and put our people first.
The ANC fully support this budget. We do so because we are a caring government. That is fully aware that water is the source of life and that access to basic water results in economic benefits that lowers health cause.
It is only the historically disadvantaged and the displaced that understands the challenges brought about by the
oppressive regime, which did not recognise the majority in this country as deserving of any rights including the rights to clean drinkable water.
This budget will dismantle water apartheid in many townships and rural areas. The majority of our people were displaced far from productive and economic activities.
Hon House Chairperson, in line with Chapter 27(1) and (b) of the Constitution, the people of South Africa deserve clean water in line with the right to have access to water. This budget exactly aims to do that. To fulfil the expectation and the right of the people to clean water, despite their sexuality, gender, class or race.
This hon members include those who still vote for those who oppressed the majority in this country. We provide this source of life to everyone including those who even oppose us during the debate. They use the very resource of life that we are providing to all South Africans, including themselves.
Hon House Chairperson, we have been engaging in debates around how we must keep our country and communities clean? We
continue to experience climate change and rain scarcity. So, we have a responsibility to mitigate the effects of climate change, including through scientific methods. We all agree that we cannot build clean communities, without water and sanitation. It is a general phenomenon that water and sanitation are the backbone of all industries and sectors, the backbone of all government work and the centrepiece for healthier and productive communities.
Hon House Chairperson, we must also use this opportunity to call upon our people to use water sparingly and wisely.
The research conducted by the Institute for Security Studies found that the use of water by South Africans is far above the global average. According to this research, the current water use by South Africans is about 234 litres of water per person daily, above the global average of 173 litres. This means, we are 61 litres per person daily above the global average.
We continue through various platforms including our outreach programme to spread the water conservation message. We are the current Chair of the much talked about Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics, and we will be taking in this
journey as the department to benchmark on how other countries are treating their waste water with new technologies that prevent contamination of rivers, seas and environment.
There is a great interest and shift towards the use of ground water. More and more countries are encouraging their citizens and farmers to use ground water. This is the future, hon members. This shift will give our people fresh water for consumption and agricultural use.
We certainly look into how we expand on these as a country. The budget will also help us to accelerate our work towards achieving the National Development Plan, NDP, 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, number six, established by the United Nations Assembly in 2015 which speaks of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The NDP 2030 and the SDG expand further on how drinking water should be affordable and safe, provide access to sanitation and hygiene and improving waste and water treatment and save reuse among the six outcome targets.
Hon House Chairperson, in conclusion, I wish to commend our Minister and the department for the sterling work that they
have done in engaging with communities, making them understand what the challenges, but most importantly timely response to the frustrations of our people.
Hon House Chairperson, our people will always remember those who were with them during the difficult times. They will remember those who stood side-by-side with them when they were displaced and treated through a Constitution that was declared a crime against humanity. Our people will never forget the bloodshed upon which this government was built. Our people will always remember that the sons and daughters of those who killed our brothers and sisters are still here with us. We all know that they were opposed to a democratic government, but today, they are beneficiaries, the privileges they fought against. We will remind them in 1924 rather 2024. Thank you very much, hon House Chairperson. [Applause.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon member, order! Hon members, hon member, the powers vested to preside are now fully vested with me. [Laughter.]
We take this opportunity to call the hon member from Cope.
The hon Deputy Minister Tshabalala! Hon Deputy Minister, you have 10 minutes.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION (Ms J Tshabalala):
I thought my Deputy Minister left a minute. House Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister Senzo Mchunu, Deputy Minister hon Mahlobo, hon members of the House, viewers at home, portfolio committee good morning.
The month of May is very significant to our democratic dispensation as it was on the 10th of May when our country’s first democratically elected President Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the fulfilment of the provision of the Freedom Charter that the democratic society and it contains the wishes of aspirations of our people with the declaration that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people.
The wishes and spirations are stipulated in the provision of the democratic Constitution and notably the Bill of Rights and I would like to make the reference of section 24 and 27 which provides that as individuals have the fundamental right to
access sufficient water, living in an environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing.
Hon Chairperson, the previous undemocratic government of apartheid did not care about this fundamental right, or any other rights provided and enshrined in the Constitution and to the detriment of the majority of black South Africans only creates to provide access of water and sanitation to the formally white areas. So, I want to urge the DA to go and resolve the sewer issue in Khayelitsha and Nyanga.
Since 1994, our democratic state took the responsibility to progressively realise the right to water and sanitation, and enacted national legislation and policies to ensure the implementation of the guaranteed rights of access to water and sanitation.
Whilst promoting equality and fostering the wellbeing of South Africans, we need to transform water use allocation and the important legislation of National Water Act which establishes the comprehensive framework for sustainable water management, equitable allocation, pollution and water pollution control.
It promotes access to clean water; it protects our ecosystems and fosters efficient water use. The National Water Act is our guide in building a future where water scarcity is overcome especially in the light of climate change and its negative impact on our water resources.
Whilst taking action to ensure that water use comply with the National Water Act, registering or obtaining necessary authorisation while enforcing penalties on water services by users and this will include the capacitation of local municipalities in the provision of reliable water services as well as ensuring enforcement of regulations compliance and enforcement in line with the Municipality Systems Act, National Water Act and National Services Act.
We were also aggressively implementing the water licensing which will improve water use control, allow for more efficient allocation and freeing up water users. We are also looking in the amendments of Water Services Act that will also assist us to better regulate water services and enforce compliance with the norms and standards.
In this financial year, we will also be submitting the proposed amendment Bill to the National Water Act which will further facilitate the transformation of water use, allocation for studying sustainable inclusive water management and improving the consistency of regulatory actions.
From April 2022 to date, the department has issued 280 notices and directives under the sections 19,20,53 and 118 of the Water User Act. The actions have aimed at compelling polluters to take remedial action and curb pollution of water resources.
The department has also pursued criminal action against polluters by instituting charges against 12 water users found to have caused pollution of water resources and finalised the handover of six case dockets to the NPA, National Prosecuting Authority, to take a decision to prosecute.
Now when we speak about crime and say there is not much that is being done around corruption, I hope that you are listening hon member from the EFF.
We have the constitutional obligation to support and regulate municipalities and we manage the regional bulk infrastructure
and water services infrastructure grants allocating
R10,1 billion and R4,6 billion to respectively fund over 130 projects and 400 across the country through the office of Minister Macingwane Mchunu.
The department has been actively engaging with municipalities to address the deteriorating water and sanitation situation, agreeing on improved plans and the mobilising of waterboards for assistance.
Hon members, major projects are underway in various provinces. Since I have been in this department, I can tell you that this hon Minister has been taking us to the ground including in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. KwaZulu Natal aimed at improving infrastructure and addressing the shortages while the Minister’s interventions are very crucial, the underlying issues of poor governance and weak management need to be addressed within the municipalities.
As indicated, the proposed amendment to the Water Services Act is being developed to tackle this root causes and to prevent future deterioration once our ongoing project are completed.
Hon members, when it comes to hydro power, we have taken significant steps to ensure fair and equitable opportunities in water use for electricity generation by issuing request for application from the Independent Power Producers, IPPs.
We aim to grant water use licenses for hydro power generation in a transparent and unbiased manner allowing all potential investors an equal chance to contribute to our energy needs. So, we are addressing the issue for energy shortage. So, you must just follow.
Additionally, we lover the costs and maintain vital infrastructure during load shedding. We sort expression of interest from Independent Power Producers to establish renewable electricity generation capacity and establish long term of take agreements.
These actions will not only benefit our department but will also ensure uninterrupted water supply to Eskom during severe periods of load shedding. Let us work together to harness the power of water and renewable energy fostering sustainable development and securing our energy for the future.
Load shedding has a direct negative impact on both electricity and water provision, disrupting the reliable supply of both essential services. Catchment agencies, I heard you speak about it. The National Water Act establishes these management agencies to involve stakeholders in water use resource management at the catchment level.
These agencies ensure sustainable and equitable use of conservation and control for water resources for the benefit of all citizens. As we said, water should not be politicised. Water should not know any creed nor colour nor political affiliation. Water is life, everybody must be given water.
This Minister has been emphasizing and ensuring that we work with everybody.
Hon Singh, I heard you and I can assure you with uMkhanyakude, uMhlabuyalingana, we have been in KwaZulu Natal; we have been in Zululand every single week. We came back on Thursday.
The issue of communities, and business forums, you hon members must assist when the department does this implementation. You must form social compact with contact with government because the government led by that director-general, very capable for
that matter. We want to ensure that there is water, but you must assist us with all these things that we are taking about and the gangsterism that we are experiencing. We also want the fusion centre to assist us to strengthen.
Let me conclude hon members, I want to say in his Sona 2023, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa said that the Department of Water and Sanitation is leading infrastructure development to ensure reliable water supply with projects such as Lesotho Highlands Umzimbuvu Water Projects and that these initiatives aim to enhance water security for regions such as the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and Northern Cape.
Additionally, he spoke to the increased capacity of the Clanwilliam Dam, HazelMere Dam and Tzaneen Dam to improve water supply to the West Coast, eThekwini and the eastern part of Limpopo as well as streamlining water use license applications. In doing so, we ensure that we leave no one behind.
Tshiven?a:
Ndo livhuwa. Aa!
Ms M R MOHLALA: Chairperson can you allow me on a point of order?
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): What is the point of order?
Ms M R MOHLALA: Chairperson, I am happy with the Deputy Minister that was just speaking here because we can now see that they are following suit. They are following what the EFF is doing. They know that when you come to work, you wear overalls and boots.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): What is your point of order? Okay, that is not a point of order.
Ms M R MOHLALA: We can see that they are coming one by one.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon Chair, you listened to the commitments made by the Minister of Water affairs as well as the Deputy Ministers. I think the nation is very proud of the hope that they are giving. The chairman of this committee indicated that all Ministers before them since 2012 should appear and be charged with neglect for not carrying out their mandate. So,
I’m very happy that the Minister and Deputy Ministers that we now have, have come up with concrete proposals. President Mandela did the same thing when we got our new democracy.
Water was top of his priority ... and he said that in one year’s time there would be no pit toilets. However, we know what the situation is there.
The Ugu District on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal is plagued by water challenges from the supply of bulk water to the actual reticulation process. While the uMkhomazi dam will assist with bulk supply, we believe that, like national has intervened in eThekwini, national must intervene in the Ugu District to ensure that water resources and bulk supply is managed correctly, so that residents can benefit. I hope the Minister and Deputy Ministers will give special attention to the Ugu District because it is going to be part of a smart city. We can’t have a smart city and one of the important districts has no water.
We acknowledge the tremendous progress made with regard to the injection of capital projects and the support of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, DBSA, to ensure public- private partnerships. We hope that this department will carry
out its mandate, which will give a lot of hope to South Africa, to have water.
However, the biggest mistake that the ANC and other political parties made was that they didn’t draw up a proper clause in the Constitution. They said that residents had the right of access to water. It should be that you have the right to water. Access means you must wait 20 years, like the people have been waiting for 20 years since President Mandela said there would be no pit toilets.
Lastly, the Umzimkhulu dam ... 20 years ... Our first resistance fighters came from there but the last to get water are the people around the Umzimkhulu dam. A million of them have been waiting for water for 20 years and I believe that Treasury is going to have a go at it now, and we know that Treasury has no money. So, they will have to wait another
30 years.
Sanitation is a problem, especially in Masiphumelele, where the DA rules. The African child lives in sewerage, dies in sewerage and eats there in sewerage. The national department must make sure that the African child does not live in
sewerage like they do in Masiphumelele under the control of the DA ... when the hon Patricia de Lille was the mayor. Thank you very much, hon Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Thank you, hon Hendricks. Hon members, and you hon Hendricks, I am informed that there was an understanding and an agreement amongst yourselves that those who are going to debate will be here physically in the House. As I was transitioning into this Chair, it was also brought to my attention that you have not advanced reasons for your absence here today. So, based on your own agreement, I hope that you know what is the next step to take. Hon Shaik Emam? Is he not here? Hon Myburgh ... seven minutes.
Mr N G MYBURGH: Hon Chair, Minister, Deputy Ministers and members of the House present here today, I have to say that I am struck and appalled by the level of hatred, vitriol and even racism spewed from this platform this morning, both by speakers from the ANC and from their youth wing across the aisle. Maybe it’s because of this focus on revenging the past and spewing hatred about fellow South Africans about what might have happened and indeed did happen in the past, instead
of focussing on addressing the future. Maybe that is why we are sitting with the infrastructure problems and the service- delivery problems that we are facing in this country. Stop trying to fix the past and start addressing the future.
In recent days, we have noticed how leading retailers, economists and risk analysts have voiced with great concern the growing levels of poverty, hunger, the ongoing energy crisis in this country and the water problems associated with it, all brought about because of the policies of this government, especially that of cadre deployment.
We know that in many parts of the country water and sanitation services, in other words life and dignity, have come to a standstill, and after 30 years of misrule by the so-called liberation movement, millions of people are still excluded from life and dignity, water and sanitation. [Interjections.]
Things will only get worse because since 1994 very little has been done about expanding our capacity in terms of dams because ... building dams ... Why? It’s because the late Kader Asmal for one, believed that rivers must flow freely ...
An HON MEMBER: Chairperson, over here.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon members, let us not drown out the speaker, please. Please don’t drown out the speaker.
An HON MEMBER: Chairperson, I am speaking!
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Yes, but why ... Sorry, sorry ...
An HON MEMBER: I would just like ... Thank you, Chairperson.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Sorry, no, I have not given you a ... [Inaudible.]
An HON MEMBER: Yes, Chairperson. Chairperson ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Don’t scream at me.
An HON MEMBER: No, but I wanted you to hear me. You didn’t hear me.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): No, I hear you. I hear you. Just make sure that you don’t scream at me because I was still telling members not to drown out the speaker. You came to the wrong conclusion that I was not listening to you. So, I was trying to bring order to the House. So, you can now say whatever you want to say. What is it that you want to say?
An HON MEMBER: Chairperson, I am also in agreement that they are heckling way to loudly but we must also be mindful when we talk that we don’t spew racism again because the land belongs to the Khoi and San people.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Okay. Well, you didn’t say point of order or whatever. It’s just a statement. Hon members, let me urge you ... [Inaudible.] Let me appeal to you not to drown out the hon Myburgh. Continue.
Mr N G MYBURGH: As I said, things will only get worse because since 1994 the building of dams has largely been neglected because the late Kader Asmal for one believed that the rivers must flow freely. We mustn’t dam them up. The people must simply use water more responsibly, you see. That was his approach to infrastructure and to planning. Meanwhile, it
seems that no one in the department has noticed that Kader Asmal is no longer the Minister, and so today we face the situation that by 2030 South Africa’s demand for water will outstrip supply by almost 20%.
When it comes to sanitation, the picture is no better. I quote from the budget analysis of Vote 41 produced by this Parliament’s Research Unit:
The majority of wastewater treatment systems are dysfunctional and continue to threaten the integrity and quality of water resources as untreated wastewater is constantly being discharged into rivers.
When homes and businesses are without electricity, people understandably get deeply upset and fed up. When they are with lights and water they get extremely upset, and rightly so.
However, when they are without lights, water and food, we don’t only have a socioeconomic disaster but also all of the ingredients for large-scale public violence and disorder.
Ms M R MOHLALA: Chairperson, I just want to check if the speaker will take a question.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon Myburgh, are you ready to take a question?
Mr N G MYBURGH: No, sir, I don’t have time.
Afrikaans:
Die VOORSITTER (Mnr S O R Mahumapelo): Nee. Gaan aan, meneer.
English:
Mr N G MYBURGH: As I said, when they are without lights and water, people get extremely upset. When you add food to that, we don’t only have a socioeconomic disaster but also all of the ingredient for large-scale public violence and disorder, as we have seen before.
Now, we already know that most of the time our Police Force is absent without leave. We’ve also learnt recently that our Defence Force has apparently loaded their last few rounds of ammunition onto a Russian ship at Simon’s Town, with the result that the government will have no hope of restoring law and order when the masses do in fact rise up.
Fundamentally, Minister, what lies at the heart of this deepening crisis is the interdependence of three crucially important factors, namely water, energy and food. These three
— water, energy and food, are indispensable pillars for the proper functioning of the economy and the livelihoods of our people, and if neglected, will create the perfect storm. The government clearly does not understand this or simply couldn’t care less because after decades of self-indulgent misrule, they appear oblivious to the decay all around them and actively continue to mislead the public in order to hide their own wrongdoing. For instance, the President and the ANC know nothing about millions of dollars stuffed into his furniture. The President and the ANC know nothing about a foreign ship in the government’s most important naval base, nor does his government know anything about corruption at Eskom. Next, they will tell us that they know nothing about a water crisis in South Africa.
You see, every oversight visit undertaken by this department simply underlines one point, and that is the deepening water and sanitation crisis unfolding across the country, with one notable and happy exception of course, the Western Cape.
So, as we look to 2024, we need to remind the country that where the DA governs, potable water and safe sanitation is not the preserve of the select few but a basic and essential service for all. We also need to alert the country that whilst the ANC ...
An HON MEMBER: Chairperson, does hon Myburgh agree with the member of the DA when she says that this land belongs to the Khoi and San?
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): What is that?
An HON MEMBER: I’m asking ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): You are debating now.
An HON MEMBER: I’m asking the member a question. No, it’s not an order. It’s a question, Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Okay, take your seat, hon member. Hon Myburgh, continue.
Mr N G MYBURGH: We need to alert the country that whilst the ANC pretends to deal with corruption, not a single ANC cadre, not one, has gone to jail, despite the ... {Inaudible.] ...
Minister of Water and Sanitation, under whose watch the large- scale looting of state resources took place within this department has been elected to the highest echelons of the party, where she finds solace and succour whilst the taps of the poor run dry.
The crux of the matter is this. As the custodian of the country’s water, and responsible for ensuring that water resources are protected and developed, the Department of Water and Sanitation has failed the people of this country miserably.
Make no mistake and have no doubt that water is rapidly going in the same direction as electricity. The only difference is that the water crisis will be much, much more difficult to manage.
However, all is not lost. All is not lost. We live in the hope and we live with the consolation that after 2024, a DA-led
government will do for water and sanitation what it’s doing for the Western Cape ... [Time expired.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon Sihlwayi.
Mr W F FABER: Chairperson it is hon Faber, can I please come in before the next speaker.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): There were some minutes that were saved when hon Matuba was speaking on behalf of the ANC. So, instead of you having 11 minutes, you will now have
13 minutes for you to decide what to do with it. Over to you.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Hon Chairperson, hon members, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers and fellow South Africans.
IsiXhosa:
Kuhle ukuba namhlanje sivumelane kwinto yokuba eli sebe lisemsebenzini. Umntu ongafuniyo ukuvuma ngakumbi okuyo le komiti udlala ngexesha. Ndimamele apha ukuba kukho nomngcwabo ocetywayo ngowama-2024 yi-EFF neDA. Asingxamanga, siza kudibana phaya etshatshalazeni, siza kudibana phaya. Indima ingowama-2024 etshatshalazeni. Kaloku awukwazi ukuthi
uneminyaka elishumi kwaye ungazange ulawule, ube sele uyazi ukuba kulawulwa njani.
Awusokuze uthi uneminyaka engama-300 unikwe ithuba lokulawula woyiswe ungenzi nto. Ndiyayibona le yokutshintsha iikepusi kuthethwe ngomnye umbutho kanti isekwangulowa mnye, lo silwa nawo ngoku. Asifuni ke ukude singene kwezo zinto Myburgh kodwa musani ukusiqhubela khona. I-EFF nguqengqelekile, ukuba ukhe uwubone umxoxozi ongena uhlale kulaa tafile ungenaplani, ungenayo kwanto kodwa ucinge ukuba uza kuphatha eli lizwe.
English:
Plan Minister, that is what you are doing. That is what you are doing. [Inaudible] … corruption ...
IsiXhosa:
... ucinga into youkuba siyayoyika. Andimazi ukuba uvela phi la mntu.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon member just hold on. Hon Faber, I am told you hand is up on the platform. What is the issue?
Mr W F FABER: Chairperson I am putting it down. I will speak to the Whip on duty. Thank you Chair.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): That’s kind of you. Proceed hon member.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: The department has got constitutional obligations and so legislated to deal with the mandate ...
IsiXhosa:
... yokunikezela ...
English:
... the clean and quality water to the citizens. This is the premise ...
IsiXhosa:
... esikuyo le. UMphathiswa uMchunu akajikelezi, ukuloo ndawo
...
English:
... with the department.
IsiXhosa:
Ndifuna ukungena kule nto yolu rhwaphilizo.
English:
In the national conference this December, the ANC is very clear in that, we must make sure that everyone accounts. Everyone is able to understand, everyone ... [Interjections]
... everyone is ...
IsiXhosa:
... uyandiphazamisa lo mntu ndingamaziyo apha. [Uwele-wele]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Order! Order! Order hon members, proceed hon member.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: The premise is that when we came to this government when Nelson Mandela was the President ... [Interjections.]
Ms M R MOHLALA: Chairperson, on a point of order.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Just hold on hon Sihlwayi. What is the point of order?
Ms M R MOHLALA: Yes Chair, I just want to check if the speaker on the platform can take a question.
IsiXhosa:
Nksz N N SIHLWAYI: Alikho elo xesha.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon Sihlwayi, are you in a position to take any question from the hon member?
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: I don’t have time.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Go on hon member.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Nelson Mandela when he was the President here once said, I quote:
When the conditions improve and the wealth improves, make sure that you leave something for the poor people.
It is a pity that the corruption that we didn’t plan for, the ANC did not plan for corruption, it planned for good services to the people, is highly emerging.
IsiXhosa:
Lindani, musani ukungxama nina.
English:
Let me speak about Giyani. Mohlala must speak the truth ...
IsiXhosa:
... angayithethi enye into.
English:
We are coming from Giyani.
IsiXhosa:
Imali yaseGiyani yalahleka ...
English:
... and there are no pipes, there is no infrastructure. This government, this department, took all those to jail and dismissed them even from the municipality.
IsiXhosa:
Abanye ke mabathule kuba apha kusekho ityala elingekagqitywa leVBS. Mabathule abanye ... [Ngokungavakaliyo.] Abantu ...
[Ngokungavakaliyo] ... yabantu abalapha ekunxele.IDA mayingathi xa itshintshe iikepusi ...
English:
... come and challenge the ANC. We are in this quagmire because of the 300 years that the National Party and the Democratic Party which is the DA today. [Interjections]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Order! Order hon members. Order in the House. Order! Hon members, no, no. [Interjections] Hon members, please. Hon Sihlwayi just relax my sister right. I just want to bring the House under some control.
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson, Chairperson.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon member, hon member.
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson please.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Hon member don’t scream at the speaker and you hon member, don’t scream across because people might not notice the difference with regards to
adherence of the Rules. So, thank you very much. Continue hon member.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Let me come to the corruption that you speak about in the department.
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Yes, just hold on. Just hold non hon Sihlwayi. Hon Sihlwayi take your seat my sister.
IsiXhosa:
Nksz N N SIHLWAYI: Olu ndwendwe luyamosha.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Don’t worry, we are holding your time. Yes, hon member.
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson, I raised the point and the issue that, the ANC and the DA are the same. The ANC swallowed the National Party ... [Interjections.] That one is pointless. The point is that she is misleading the people of South Africa because they are the same. The ANC and the DA are the same thing.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Okay, take your seat hon member. Proceed hon Sihlwayi.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: As it is now, it has resulted to 173 forensic investigation cases led by the internal audit, the Special Investigating Unit, SIU and the Hawks. We’re dealing with corruption ...
IsiXhosa:
... asicengi nabani.
English:
We applaud the department for the sterling work Mphathiswa (Minister) and director-general, DG ...
IsiXhosa:
... ningasilahli, hambani kakuhle nathi endleleni.
English:
Remember we could not employ top management for years. Today the department has a director-general, DG, a deputy director- general, DDG, has a chief financial officer, CFO, has got all
chief directors for the programmes. Government investigation is systematic towards evidence-based.
IsiXhosa:
Apha asipheki iintloko zegusha. Awusuki ufake intloko yegusha embizeni uyitye sele ilungile, ...
English:
... you must plan. Let you speak about the issue of infrastructure development.
IsiXhosa:
ILINGU ELIHLONIPHEKILEYO: Asipheli iintloko zegusha, siyasebenza apha.
Nksz N N SIHLWAYI: Mandiphendule le nto yaseGiyani. EGiyani abanye babo besihamba nabo phaya.
English:
The work that the department has done in Giyani is amazing. [Interjections]
IsiXhosa:
Lindani maan heyi.
English:
Twenty-four villages out of 55 will be reticulated within 12 months. As the committee we hold on to your words Mphathiswa (Minister) because we need sustainable quality infrastructure. The Mopani District must stick to the implementation ... [Inaudible] ... segment utilising the department’s grants.
IsiXhosa:
Imali yesibonelelo yesebe mayingayi kwimivuzo bantakwethu. Mayingabhatali imivuzo.
English:
What we must do is to make sure that we create value for the money. Strengthening of many dams – ...
IsiXhosa:
...masiphendule nale nto yeNandoni. Ingaba nyayazi ukuba iNandoni iyaphuphuma, andazi nokuba nigqibele nini na ukuyibona. Iyaphuphuma amanzi enjenje.
English:
When the ... [Inaudible] ... came to this department, Nandoni was in crisis. It is only this department that created that Nandoni be where it is today. Nandoni supplies many other dams such as Itsani Dam, and it provides water to Giyani and Limpopo. That is commendable hon Minister.
IsiXhosa:
UMohlala wayekhona phaya sihamba naye uyayazi kwaye ...
Englsh:
... and she was happy. The construction of bulk infrastructure for sustainable water provision has expanded to many Limpopo areas.
IsiXhosa:
Ndicela nimamele eLimpopo, umamele nawe Mohlala.
English:
These are the areas ...
IsiXhosa:
... - abantu baseLimpopo mabamamele kuba ...
English:
... these are the areas that are going to benefit in that water within 12 months because we put bulk and we put reticulation ...
IsiXhosa:
... bafumane ... [Ngokungavakaliyo] ... abantu. Linda maan. IMalamulele, iMakumeke, iTshenzhelani, iDinga, ... [Ngokungavakaliyo] ... iMatsakali ...
English:
... are in the plan in these 12 month to get water, because we talk about sustainability here ...
IsiXhosa:
...asipheki iintloko zegusha apha.
English:
The project will benefit 12 228 households in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality.
IsiXhosa:
Siza kuba sikhona singayanga kukha iimbotyi, siza kuba lapha. Ndikunika nje iinyanga ezili-12.
English:
The overall project in Giyani will then benefit 47 086 households. People that have never been cared for by the National Party, the Democratic Party, the DA. [Interjections] The ... [Inaudible] ... also identified amongst others speed progress on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project on the national bulk infrastructure. Siyabulela [We thank you] Minister about this Lesotho Highlands Water Project. It is going to benefit Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West.
IsiXhosa:
Kufuneka bayazi ukuba ...
English:
... this Lesotho Highlands Water Project ...
IsiXhosa:
... yeyantoni.
English:
... and which are the areas that are going to benefit. Individual households are going to benefit in that programme.
IsiXhosa:
Ukuba beninokukhe niqhwabe izandla, ningafa?
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson! Chairperson!
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Just hold on hon Sihlwayi.
Mr D M MTHENJANE: Chairperson, I want to check if the speaker can take a question.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Hayi, hayi, hayi niyandilibazisa.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Okay, proceed hon Sihlwayi.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: The Umzimvubu Water Project is a very, very delayed project.
IsiXhosa:
Abantu kudala belindile, bancamile. Ndiqinisekile ...
English:
... they’ve listened to the Minister today as to what is going to happen in Umzimvubu. The Minister deals with the issues of principles of project management 100%.
IsiXhosa:
Awukwazi ukutsiba isigaba sokuceba usuke uthi unemali yokwakha
English:
You can’t do that. That’s what has happened at Umzimvubu. The Minister has started to hold on and assess what the problems are. He is here now.
IsiXhosa: Lindani maan
English:
He is here now.
IsiXhosa:
Uthi uza kwakha ela dami elakhela iNtabelanga. ENtabelanga ke kuza kuxhamla iSidwadwa, uMhlontlo, iJoe Gqabi, INyandeni, iPort St Jonhs, iMount Frere, iNtabankulu, uMzimvubu, ... [Ngokungavakaliyo] ... iNgwemnyama ne ... [Ngokungavakaliyo.] Andazi nokuba nimamele kusini na.
English:
These areas have been waiting, but today there is ... [Interjections.]
IsiXhosa:
Andiyazi ukuba lo mntu uthathwa phi. Asifikanga sigalelekile.
USIHLALO WENDLU OBAMBELEYO (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Lungu
elihloniphekileyo uSihlwayi, ixesha lakho liphelile ke mama wethu.
Nksz N N SIHLWAYI: Ngaba bantu, bekumele ukuba undinike imizuzu emibini.
USIHLALO WENDLU OBAMBELEYO (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Kulungile, sikunika imizuzu emibini.
English:
Sorry, it’s my fault.
Ms N N SIHLWAYI: Let me get to bucket eradication.
IsiXhosa:
Abanye abantu abayazi le nto kuthiwa lilindle. Niyalazi ilindle nina? Yile nto kuthiwa yi ...
English:
... sanitation.
IsiXhosa:
Thina bantu baziintombi zasezilalini, ubusithi xa uphuma endlwini ukhangele ukuba uza kuya phi na ukuzinceda ...
English:
... because sanitation is dignity.
IsiXhosa:
Emva koko kuza kulandela amanzi nezikhukula uhambe uye kuwakha uwasele ...
English:
... not purified. Today we are talking about bucket eradication that needs to be taken away ...
IsiXhosa:
... kunikwe abantu bakuthi isidima. Ndifuna ukunichazela ukuba siphi apho sikhoyo. SiseMpuma, eFicksburg ... [Ngokungavakaliyo], siseNorthen Cape, siseNorth West ...
English:
... dealing with bucket eradication ...
IsiXhosa:
... ukunikezela abantu ubomi obungcono. Wuyekeni lo mbutho unenkqayi uqhube maan. Ngowama-2024 siza kubanani etshatshalazeni. Asinantanga. Qhuba Macingwane, sikujongile kunye nooSekela Baphathiswa bakho. Abantu beli lizwe ...
English:
... want dignity and you have started very clear. Don’t lose it.
IsiXhosa:
Sikubukele, sikujongile.
English:
How the ANC struggled for legacy for freedom should bear fruits today. The committee supports the report.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Order! Order hon members. Hon Sihlwayi, my apologies. I was under the impression that because we are in the digital age, there is an automatic addition of the minutes. So, I am very sorry that I disrupted you. Thank you very much. Hon members, for the next
10 minutes ... [Interjections.] No, the meeting ... no ... oh no. no.
IsiXhosa:
Bendisithi thatha isihlalo sakho:
English:
Hon Sihlwayi, you can take your seat. I was saying, earlier on remember I interjected you, it was my fault. I should have allowed you to proceed for an additional two minutes. I made the wrong assumption that, when there are additional minutes because of digital technology, that is automatically added by
the watch of Parliament. Unfortunately, I was wrong. That is why I was apologising to you hon member. I owed you that apology. For the next 10 minutes hon members, we are going to be listening to the Minister of Water and Sanitation.
The MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION: Thank you very much, hon member. Hon Chair, just to complete the list of projects and the impact in the Free State, we are intervening via Bloem Water in Maluti-a-Phofung and we are making progress. In the North West, the same thing - we have initiated Operation Bulela Metsi and we are going to be rolling out water range of projects short term, medium term and long term. And on the bucket system, it is a problem we are dealing in a number of areas. But just before that, I need to complete this. Rand Water in Emfuleni and Midvaal municipalities are making progress. Deputy Minister covered that. But I need to emphasise that Giyani, in the bulk pipeline, from Nandoni to Giyani, water is there. Water is there – which was not happening, it is now happening. Water has reached Ntsami Dam and all of us in our consciences, we must know.
There are 27 construction companies that have been appointed by Mopani, 20 are on site. You may have been there some time
ago – they are on site. They are putting pipes, out of which water will come and people will drink water. Of course, they can’t drink water without pipes, that’s what is happening there. When the hon member was speaking about uMkhanyakude, I thought he was talking about another uMkhanyakude. We were there on Thursday and Friday. And we have covered all the municipalities there, and those people were rolling out water and in Jozini and Umhlabuyalingana pipes are being laid and water will come out of that.
So, of course we can’t take the blame. We came in here in 2021. But we accept assets and liabilities, and we are making progress. That’s the main thing. In the morning when you wake up, you didn’t have a hat and at some point you wore it – that’s progress towards preparing yourself for coming here. In Giyani – it is not our headache anymore except that water must come out. Loskop, which will pump water to Moutse and Thembisile Hani and give those people water is underway and progressing very well.
I now want to proceed to the bucket eradication system, we are doing that in the Free State and the Eastern Cape and of course Northern cape and we are making progress. On the
reconfiguration of water boards, that is on the way. By July and June this year, we should be over with that process.
I want to get to the budget. In conclusion of our budget speech, emphasising what Deputy Minister Mahlobo said on filling our posts – we have filled up all the posts, right to the Chief Directors and we have made great progress there and the department is quite strong and functional. On the budget itself, the budget for the MTEF is R132,6 billion. It consists of allocations of R4,.2 billion in the first year and
R43,9 billion in the second year and R48,4 billion in the next financial year – the third year in the MTEF.
The department’s budget consists of two components: the Main Account and the Water Trading Entity. And money has been allocated as follows, R72,3 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. This consists of allocations of R22,2 billion, R24,1 billion and R25,8 billion in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively. Included in the main account budget are conditional infrastructure grants for municipalities totalling R37,6 billion over the MTEF, consisting of R37,6 billion in the first year for the Regional
Bulk Infrastructure and Water Services Infrastructure Grants which I mentioned earlier.
The Water Trading Entity is mostly funded through revenue collection from the sale of water. The Water Trading Entity has budgeted as follows, R60,3 billion over the MTEF consisting of R18 billion, R19 billion and R22 billion year on year. We will make every effort to follow on our expenditure. Last year, we are happy to say that we made an effort and progress, we spent 95,4% on our budget, and we completed underspending of zero in the next financial year with this improvement. I can see that there is a concern from the Democratic Party by Basson on corruption ... Okay, the DA. [Interjections.] No, you are an alliance with yourselves in collaboration with the private sector. Yes, I attended to it on a rising scale – corruption, fighting against corruption, we are on board.
Your concern on waste water treatment plants, we are addressing it to the best of our ability at the moment. So, your way to the ANC is open with all these concerns removed. On the EFF side, we note the concern. We are just shocked that you said you are rejecting this budget. You are black people
so what must we do from here. Must we tell of South Africa as we roll out this budget ... [Interjections.] ... that you rejected this. So, we will say so that we are on our own. On your own you do not want any money to be spent. We will say so. Otherwise, thank you very much to the ANC and the IFP and others for supporting the budget. Thank you very much.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr S O R Mahumapelo): Thank you very much. Just before we conclude, hon members, I need to bring the following to your attention. The first one is that the debate on Public Service and Administration, including National School of Government and Public Service Commission Budget Votes will take place at 14:00 at Good Hope Chamber – that’s number one. Two, the debate on Government Communication and Information Systems Budget Vote will take place also at 14:00 in Committee Room M46.
Debate concluded.
The mini plenary rose at 12:08.
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