Hon Deputy Speaker, this has been one of the most difficult questions I have had to respond to during my tenure as Minister of Water affairs. Why it is difficult is because I really battled to think of what I would say. The hon member would have heard that when this imbizo was held in De Aar I was unwell, and this was widely publicised.
I had also told the hon Chief Whip and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and gave them the necessary documentation to that effect. I take it that the hon member is not asking about my state of health, so I have opted to respond to the question, which is really about what I am doing about the issues that were raised in that imbizo.
Furthermore, I am also offering to give a full report on the work that we are doing in that area. We are doing a great deal of work. We are aware that the area of De Aar - the entire district of Pixley Ka Seme - has water challenges. We have projects that range from ensuring that there is reticulation of water to bulk services projects that are being provided for right now, utilisation of boreholes, and so forth. Some of them have been completed, but I am just going to refer to those that are currently under implementation for this year.
I am sure, in particular, that the hon member would like to understand what is being done about the laying of the new pipeline that was announced by the hon Deputy President.
First, there is currently a bulk water supply project. This is a programme under the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, which is certainly a major grant. Its abstraction point is at Umsobomvu Local Municipality, a 23 km pipeline which has been installed to the tune of R12, 5 million.
The first phase has been completed and we are now in the second phase. The Colesburg water treatment plant is being upgraded, and the Noupoort bulk water supply project is also being implemented.
There are three scenarios in that regard to ensure that we arrive at the correct solution in providing services, particularly in the Noupoort area. We are looking at the installation of a pipeline from the Orange River, which is the first scenario. We have not really opted for this scenario, but we are aware that the people of that area actually want that pipeline. However, the problem is that it is going to be a very expensive pipeline, which will actually increase the cost of water for the people in that area.
There are also other programmes that we are looking at for Thembelihle Local Municipality that are under implementation. Examples of these programmes are the Hopetown new treatment plant that will be completed in March next year; the Strydenburg bulk ground supply project; in Siyathemba Local Municipality the Niekerkshoop bulk ground supply project is under implementation; in the Kareeberg Local Municipality the water supply of Vanwyksvlei and Carnavon is currently being implemented. In Renosterberg Municipality there are also reticulation refurbishment programmes and wastewater network projects in Phillipstown and Petrusville. As I have undertaken to do, I will give the entire report to the hon member.
I think that would be appropriate. Hon Minister, I have allowed you a bit of extra time to do that.
Hon Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank the hon Minister for her response. I trust that you are well now, Minister. We did not know that you were not well at the time. We are pleased that you are attending to the challenges that the people of De Aar are facing.
Deputy Speaker, through you ...
... mandiyibuze ngesiXhosa le nto. UMphathiswa makasincede asixelele isizathu esibangele ukuba angabikho embizweni ... [Uwelewele.] Hayi, akakhange ayithethe le nto ndiyithethayo ndicela nikhe nime. Uza kuzisombulula njani iingxaki ezi banazo abantu phaya kwaye zithini izicwangciso zakhe? Makasixelele.
USEKELA-SOMLOMO: Kuthiwa phendula ngesiXhosa Mphathiswa. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[... let me ask this in isiXhosa. The Minister must please tell us the reason why she didn't attend the imbizo ... [Interjections.] No, she didn't say what I'm saying, so please wait. How is she going to solve the problems the people are experiencing there and what are her plans? She must tell us.
Minister, they say respond in isiXhosa.]
TONA YA METSI LE MERERO YA TIKOLOGO: Mme Motlatsa-Mmusakgotla, ke bua jaana ka Setswana se se tlhapileng ka re: Ke ne ke sa itekanela mo mmeleng mme go ntse jalo. Ga re rwalarwalege go ya kwa bokgakala jo bo jaaka kwa De Aar mme o sa itekanela mo mmeleng. Ke seo ke se buileng. Mme gape kare, dikgang tse go buang ka ga tsona tseo ke rile Mme Zikalakala o tlhalogantse sentle fa ke ne ke re o batla go utlwa ka neelano ka ditirelo mme eseng ka ga bolwetsi jwa me. Ka neelano ya ditirelo ke tlhalositse gore ke tla dira eng. Leloko le tshwanetse go reetsa ka tlhoafalo, mme le utlwe sentle. Ke buile ka tsona gona jaanong jaana, bagaetsho. [Legofi.] (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[The MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Madam Deputy Speaker, let me clarify this by saying: I was not in good health at that time. We cannot go to faraway places like De Aar when we are not in good health. That's what I said. Also on that, I thought the issues raised were clearly understood by Ms Zikalala when I said she wants to know about service delivery instead of my illness. I have explained what I'm going to do regarding service delivery. The honourable member has to listen attentively and hear things clearly. I just spoke about those things now. [Applause.]]
Madam Minister, the Emthanjeni Local Municipality, in which De Aar falls, had a Blue Drop score of only 63% in 2012, which is lower than in 2011. The main reason for the decline was lower microbiological compliance.
The leading inspector said, amongst other things, that the reservoirs needed scouring. In the most recent Green Drop Report, the De Aar wastewater treatment plant received only 20,8%, a decrease from the previous 31%, making it one of the worst wastewater plants in the country.
The inspector noted poor effluent quality compliance in De Aar. While it is accepted that managing drinking water and wastewater is the competence of municipalities, the Department of Water Affairs is the regulator.
If we consider the poor performance of the Emthanjeni municipality, what is it that the department is doing to ensure that the performance of the municipality improves in future?
Hon Deputy Speaker, the hon member's question is indeed directed at the right issue. The Department of Water Affairs is the regulator and as the regulator we were not caught by surprise; we have actually been carrying out the Blue Drop and Green Drop certification programmes on a yearly basis.
We, as the regulator, realised that there were some weaknesses there, and again we did not sit back. We have put in place mechanisms to deal with the challenges that the hon member referred to. In ensuring that there is a response, we have actually introduced a mechanism to clean up the systems where those microbiological challenges occur, so that right from the pipelines and throughout the systems the bacteria present in that area are eliminated. Therefore, as the regulator we have not sat back and done nothing; we have implemented programmes to rectify the problems.
Hon members, it is possible that the electronic system is faulty. I will try to recognise the members who raise their hands, bearing in mind that we allow four people, as well as the person who put the question, to respond. If you raise your hand, I will do my best to recognise you.
Particulars regarding number of mud schools and plans to replace them
421. Mr L B Gaehler (UDM) asked the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) (a) What is the total number of mud schools in the country at the moment and (b) how many schools has her department built in the 2011-12 financial year;
(2) whether her department has developed a plan to replace mud schools; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?