Minister, the clean up of the Vaal River system by the SA National Defence Force resulted in alleviating some of
the pollution issues of the Vaal River. Will the department still utilise the services of the SA National Defence Force in future? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND SANITATION: Thank
you, hon member. The Defence Force was our first recourse to deal with such a huge problem because they have the necessary lift to be able to deal with this. They have done a good work; they have clearing and dislugging the river. They have done whatever is possible within the means of the Defence Force. They have indicated to us that they are now ready to leave and we will be handing over to Erwat, which has been commissioned to continue to deal with this work because it has the necessary expertise.
We have an agreement with the Defence Force that they will be available to us when we experience another problem. However, we are intending to put together a team of young people to be trained the same way that we have trained other services within the Defence Force so that we can continue securing the rivers that we have, especially the dams, and making sure that the necessary security is put in place so that we stop people polluting the river.
We are going to have programmes like those we have in the Environmental Affairs such as Working for Water, to make sure that on a regular basis we are able to check and clear the rivers. However, we are grateful for the Defence Force and I think that at the end of November they will be rounding up and going back to their barracks, leaving behind those people that they would have trained. Thank you.