Speaker, the residents of the Umkhanyakude District have had to live with the promise of water from the ruling party for many years. Even today, the Jozini Dam stands as a constant reminder to the residents that the government does not keep its promises.
Community members still do not have access to water from this dam, despite promises to build infrastructure that would provide access to clean running water. Members of this community walk long distances to access mostly unsafe water. How can people live next to a vital source of water yet be denied access to it? This is a serious disservice.
The people of Umkhanyakude are in dire need of help and their cries continually fall on deaf ears. We urge the Minister to take immediate steps to deal with this untenable situation. Are the people of this district not a priority to this department?