Hon Chairperson and Minister, water is life. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is extremely active within the country and it is one of those departments that carry a heavy responsibility as they are tasked with providing access to clean drinkable water to our people. Post 1994, the department has ensured that more people have access to water than ever before and for this it must be applauded.
We must also congratulate the Rand and the Umgeni Water Boards and other water boards that have excelled in providing our communities with access to clean water. Access to water is still a major issue, especially in rural areas, where infrastructure is mostly not upgraded, which forces people to still travel long distances in order to obtain water. Urban areas are also experiencing major water shortages, with the department seemingly incapable of keeping up with water demands as populations in the cities grow.
A lack of qualified individuals, poor maintenance of infrastructure and absence of political will have ensured that the department is constantly reacting to many water situations instead of proactively dealing with them. Without proper infrastructure, we will instantly be faced with residents around the country who are experiencing major water shortages.
Rustenburg residents had no water for 10 days, while those in Louis Trichardt faced 27 days without it. For those 27 days, hospital equipment could not be cleaned, exposing people to infections, sewage flowed constantly in the streets, and public toilets were forced to close. Recently, the North Gauteng High Court has ordered the municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality, Mr Masala Makumule, to restore water to the community of Makhado in Limpopo within 90 days. Areas within these municipalities have been experiencing water shortages for years, while some have been completely without water for months.
The municipality uses tankers to supply water to the areas, but residents do not know the delivery schedules. It is disturbing that municipalities have to be taken to court in order for them to do what they are elected to do. Community members have been expressing major concerns about water being wasted due to the lack of action by municipalities in fixing leaking water pipes, specifically after countless reports have been sent to those in charge.
There is an extreme lack of leadership in the implementation of the national department's regulations locally because more time is spent in denying the existence of a problem than actually fixing it. If community members see that there is no actual action being taken to improve the supply of water, how can they support the department's major plans for water conservation?
Poor regulation of water treatment plants ensures that water shortages not only increase, but also that the purification of polluted water does not occur. Factories and other major businesses are the main culprits when it comes to polluting our water supplies. However, due to economic interests, some of them are not held responsible for their actions, and the main blame for polluting our water is shifted to households.
If nothing is done about cleaning up our rivers and stopping polluters, the water shortages will turn into a major crisis, which will result in the department deciding to build more dams and treatment facilities, the costs of which will be pushed onto the consumer. This cannot be allowed to happen.
In conclusion, the actions of the department to improve our water supply are commendable. However, in order to ensure that we do not end up having a water crisis, water conservation must be taken seriously by municipalities - even more so those private households with no flow - through improving infrastructure and dealing with water issues in communities urgently. Municipalities have added up as the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting water. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is being run by the girls. There they are - look at them ... [Applause.] ... from the Minister, to the director-general, to the deputy director-general, you name it! The girls are in charge. I have to support the Budget Vote. I thank you! [Applause.]