Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members of the House access to water is internationally recognised as a basic human and fundamental right. Water is part of the socioeconomic processes that play an important role in improving human livelihood and reducing poverty.
Moreover, water is essential to energy resources, manufacturing processes and industrial activities required for economic development. The fundamental principle that guides the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998, is that water is a national resource that is owned by the people of South Africa.
The state has custodianship over the use of this resource. This use includes the management of this resource in a holistic, environmental and ecological manner. Therefore the state must create the ultimate vision for a lasting solution.
In South Africa, 45% of our population lives on less than US$1 a day and government, in its New Growth Path, has identified water as a strategic catalyst for the achievement of the economic growth objective. Proper water management and co-ordination of these resources therefore is of critical importance.
One of the main challenges, with regard to water management in South Africa, remains how to turn concepts and strategies into practical action on the ground. We live in the most unequal society in the world; therefore different South Africans face very different water challenges.
Safe access to water can avoid more than 2 million preventable deaths a year. It increases for many people the ability to work and reduces child labour and school absenteeism.
Rapid unplanned urbanisation, climate change that results in poor rainfall, lack of skills in the water sectors and aging infrastructure are just a few of the issues facing water management in South Africa. Within the rural setting the challenge in getting water to people is that villages are usually located at remote points from the infrastructure.
In addition, many South African municipal waste treatment plants are not performing to acceptable standards as far as water is concerned. A lack of skills, financial capacity and infrastructure investment exacerbates this problem.
Political will is required to overcome this administrative and management challenge. While South Africa has an advanced National Water Act that has all the legal clauses required to take action against the municipalities and industries that transgress against discharging their duties, standard implementation is often lacking. I thank you.