Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Edna Molewa, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi, hon members and distinguished guests, water is indispensable for life. It is also indispensable for economic activity. However, the water supply in South Africa is limited, unevenly distributed and negatively impacted upon, both by changes in climate and the prevalence and spread of invasive alien plant species.
Although water availability is one of the key challenges to South Africa's development, we have made significant progress in the development of the policy and legal framework dealing with water resources since 1994, and a range of management tools have been developed.
The percentage of households with access to water infrastructure above and equal to the standard set by the Reconstruction and Development Programme increased by March 2010. Although the rate of increase in the percentage of households with access to water is gradually slowing down, South Africa is likely to achieve the 2014 Millennium Development Goal of universal access to potable water.
Despite the scarcity and the challenges facing the distribution and allocation of water, we must continue to work tirelessly and with ever greater urgency to fast-track water infrastructure development. South Africa's installed base of water infrastructure is in need of attention, with dams for water abstraction and storage needing repair, water distribution pipelines requiring leak detection, and wastewater treatment facilities needing to be maintained, upgraded or, in some cases, completely rebuilt. Without swift infrastructure action, areas in South Africa may become water stressed.
As far as unlocking the economic opportunities of the North West province is concerned, Taung, including the surrounding villages in the Greater Taung and Naledi Local Municipalities, is experiencing water supply shortages. That is why we commenced with the implementation of the Oakman strategy in regard to bulk water supply, mostly for domestic water use. The Taung Dam is being used to address the bulk water supply and a total of approximately 186 000 households will be served with water. The project started during the 2009-10 financial year and several phases have already been completed. The budget allocation over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period is R358 million.
The Greater Mamusa project will focus on the upgrading of the bulk water supply to the Greater Mamusa area, including Schweizer-Reneke, Amalia, Glaudina and Migdol. This project consists of the development of groundwater sources, supplemented by surface water abstracted from the Bloemhof Dam. Construction will start during this financial year, using the department's construction unit. A budget of R435 million has been allocated over the MTEF period.
Still in the North West, in Madibeng there is a high demand for additional water to serve the numerous new developments that are currently being planned. These include greenfield developments and the densification of existing developed areas. The Madibeng project to upgrade the water treatment works is now in the design phase and construction will start during the current financial year. A budget of R75 million has been allocated over the MTEF period.
With regard to integrated municipal infrastructure projects in addressing the water supply and sanitation backlogs and the sustainability of the water supply, the Minister announced that for the current financial year the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Programme would continue to construct 55 bulk water supply projects and 12 wastewater bulk infrastructure projects. These projects would address the water supply needs of communities in 35 district municipalities.
One of the highlights of this financial year will be the completion of the Dwarsloop-Acornhoek steel pipeline for the provision of water to all nine rural communities, with a total estimated population of 265 000, in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality by December 2012. As the pipeline completion progresses, each community is being connected with two communities already connected and receiving water. The total cost of the project is R130 million.
In addition, the Nandoni Bulk Distribution System, including steel pipelines, is being constructed and is expected to be completed by 2013 at an estimated cost of R750 million. You will remember that the Minister reported the failure of the glass-fibre reinforced plastic pipes and the two projects mentioned above will address the completion of the bulk distribution systems.
In the area of agro-logistics and rural infrastructure, we are making progress with the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam in the Western Cape. The design is under way and construction will start in 2013. This will include raising the dam by 13 m and will increase the water supply by 69,5 million m3 per annum. Rural areas that include Clanwilliam, Vredendal and Klawer will benefit from the increased supply. The total budget for this project is estimated at R1,8 billion.
Ladies and gentlemen, the department is working on a large project in Limpopo, namely the Greater Letaba River Water Augmentation Project. This includes the raising of the Tzaneen Dam and the construction of the Nwamitwa Dam and associated works. The Mopani District Municipality will be the beneficiary of this project. Phase 1 has already commenced and we have prioritised the urgent upgrading of the existing infrastructure, which will supply much needed water to domestic users. The total estimated cost for all phases will amount to R2,1 billion.
Another of the Sips is regional integration for African co-operation and development. On 11 August 2011, the Minister signed an agreement with her counterpart in Lesotho on the implementation of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This project comprises the construction of the Polihali Dam and the transfer tunnel to the Katse Dam. Phase 2 will increase the supply of water to the Vaal River system, which will increase those already stretched water resources. The agreement allows for Lesotho to construct a hydropower generation system. This project is one of the flagships of economic integration and positions water at the core of regional development. The Minister has directed the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, through the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, to drive the implementation of this project. Water delivery is expected by 2020.
With regard to the dam safety rehabilitation project, the department has also set aside approximately R370 million to address dam safety rehabilitation. This programme deals with the rehabilitation of departmental infrastructure all over the country.
Regarding jobs and job opportunities, all our programmes put together have created 4 588 jobs, including those for youth and women, and a further 4 800 will be created during the 2012-13 financial year.
In conclusion, the ANC-led government has made great progress in the past 18 years in the provision of water to millions of homes. The ANC has always stood for basic democratic principles, including a Constitution that guarantees human rights for all, and the right to a minimum standard of life, including the right to access health, education, social security, food and water. The ANC-led government will continue forging a much stronger link between land and agrarian reform programmes and water resource allocation to ensure that the best quality water is available for economic development and for people's health and wellbeing. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]