Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, and hon members, the UDM supports Budget Vote 38. [Applause.] Hon Minister, I hope Minister Chabane will take note of the praise hon members have been showering on you and your department.
Bayakuncoma, ngoko ke sele sikunike amanqaku akufaneleyo thina. [They are commending you. Therefore, we have already given you all the marks that you deserve.]
Hon Minister, I agree with you that the challenges confronting the department responsible for Water Affairs do not just revolve around the water crisis South Africa faces today. They also have to do with the poor state of the water infrastructure in the country. Water leaks and burst water and sewerage pipes at the sides of our roads are responsible for most of the potholes that are increasingly becoming the defining feature of our roads.
In some areas, as you correctly said, water is yet to run from taps, although the water supply infrastructure was put in place some time ago. We suggest that the department should consider setting up a call centre that would allow it to receive early warnings and help it to address general water delivery challenges.
Compounding the delivery challenges is migration. As more people migrate to urban areas from small towns, the existing water supply and water infrastructure are put under tremendous pressure. There is therefore a need to better co-ordinate the delivery of water resources with that of human settlements infrastructure.
While we noted the announcement made by President Zuma during his state of the nation address about government's plans to build dams in some provinces, the department should ensure that the ongoing roll-out of clean water to rural communities remains intact. Expecting our people to wait for the completion of a long-term dam-building project before they can access clean water would be unjust.
When we engage with members of the public on this matter, they ask us to explain the process the department follows in approving applications for water, because they claim that the department gives special preference to certain communities. The department should develop a national register for all water applications. The aim of this register would be to ensure transparency and fairness in the delivery of water. Fairness in the water delivery process would ensure that water delivery occurred on a first come, first served basis. The opaqueness of the current water delivery system opens it up to political abuse in terms of which the politically connected and the powerful jump the queue willy-nilly.
Finally, I know of many villagers around the country who submitted their applications for water as far back as 1994, and those applications have not been finalised to this day. Some community members claim they are told that they will never get water if they do not vote for the ruling party. [Interjections.] To help resolve the situation, I would gladly arrange ...
Batsho; akutsho mna. [Kwahlekwa.] [They say so, not me. [Laughter.]]
I would gladly arrange for your department to conduct an inspection in loco in the affected areas.
Kutsho bona; akutsho mna, madoda. Ndisisithunywa. [They say so; I am not the one who says so, gentlemen. I am a messenger.] [Applause.]