Adjunkvoorsitter, Suid-Afrika staar vele uitdagings in die gesig. Dit is inderdaad so dat skaliegas-ontginning 'n enorme ekonomiese dividend kan lewer, maar teen watter ekologiese en morele prys, vra ons. Suid-Afrika is 'n waterskaarsland. Selfs sonder die impak van hidrouliese splyting, sal die land op die laaste teen 2025 'n waterskaarste in die gesig staar. Ons sal dus al hoe meer aangewese wees op ondergrondse water. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Deputy Chairperson, South Africa is facing many challenges. It is undoubtedly the case that shale gas mining could deliver an enormous economic dividend, but at what ecological and moral price is our question? South Africa is a water-scarce country. Even without the impact of hydraulic fracking, the country will be faced with a water scarcity by 2025 at the latest. We will therefore have to rely increasingly on subterranean water.]
It is therefore quite disconcerting that there is empirical proof from studies done in Dimrock, Pennsylvania and Pavillion, Wyoming - that fracking contaminates groundwater aquifers. Furthermore, in America it has been shown repeatedly that the volumes of water demanded by the fracking industry create an artificial drought for the agricultural industry.
Now, with regard to the ANC's inability to provide even basic services, how can one trust it to oversee such a fragile exercise? Further noting that the ANC already has numerous entities connected to it ready to jump at the economic opportunity fracking brings makes one wonder if this option is truly designed to benefit all South Africans or only certain connected cadres.
Dus, totdat die ANC kan wys dat hy hidrouliese splyting kan bestuur met 'n 100% waarborg dat geen ekologiese skade sal plaasvind nie en dat die ANC en sy vriende nie alleen hieruit gaan voordeel trek nie, sal die VF Plus nie hidrouliese splyting in die Karoo steun nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Therefore, until the ANC can prove that it is able to manage fracking with a 100% guarantee that no ecological damage will occur, and that it is not solely to the benefit of the ANC and its friends, the FF Plus will not support fracking in the Karoo.]
The onus is on you to prove us wrong, but history is against you.