Chairperson, hon members, colleagues, ...
Metsi ke botshelo. O tshomarelo ya matshelo a lobopo. O lwantsha tlala ya le?ekere le komelelo. Kwa ntle le wena re nna mabitla, re jewa ke letsatsi. O tshwanelwa ke tshomarelo e e tseneletseng e e makgethe. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Water is life. You preserve coastal life. You fight hunger and drought. We would die without you. You deserve to be truly conserved.]
Fresh water has been as precious as gold to the people of South Africa and, indeed, of the world. Water is one of the fundamental necessities for the survival of human beings, animals and plants. However, in our country water is one of the scarcest resources. We need to preserve, conserve and recycle water in order to save it for future generations.
Metsi ke botshelo. Metsi a dirisiwa go fetlha motlakase. [Water is life. Water is used to generate electricity.]
Salt water can be desalinated and used domestically.
The ANC has always stood for basic democratic principles, which include a constitution guaranteeing human rights for all and a minimum standard of life with access to health, education, social security, food and water as a basic right. The World Summit on Sustainable Development of 2002, which was preceded by the 1992 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, affirmed these needs as part of sustainable development. Agenda 21, a global action plan aimed at managing resources and repairing damages to our earth, should also be considered.
A fundamental policy principle in regard to our water resources is the right of access to clean water and water security for all. This recognises the economic value of water and the environment. It also advocates an approach to the management of our water resources, and to the collection, treatment and disposal of waste that is economically, environmentally and politically sustainable.
Because of geographic limits to the availability of water, very careful attention must be paid to the location of new settlements. The long-term environmental costs of sourcing water from neighbouring countries and between provinces must be given greater consideration. South Africa is a drought-prone country with a national drought management system, hence water reserves are a priority.
The improved provision of free and clean water to all households, sanitation and an appropriate household refuse collection system are critical policy matters for this government. Water supply to nearly 100% of rural households should be achieved over the medium term and adequate sanitation facilities should be provided to at least 75% of rural households. Community household preferences and environmental sustainability will be taken into account.
The long-term goal of the government is to provide every South African with accessible water and sanitation. The ANC is committed to providing operations and maintenance systems which will ensure minimal disruptions in service, particularly in rural areas, as well as appropriate institutions and village water committees. Consultation with the community is essential in the provision of water.
Tariffs have always been a source of contention. Let's examine what the ANC has said historically in relation to tariffs. It said that in order to ensure that every person has an adequate water supply, the national tariff structure must include a lifeline tariff. This will ensure that South Africans are able to afford a water service that is sufficient for their health and hygiene requirements. In urban areas a progressive block tariff is needed to ensure that the long-term costs of supplying large-volume users are met and that there is a cross subsidy to promote affordability for the poor. In rural areas we need a tariff that covers the operating and maintenance costs of services. So there is a recovery of capital costs from urban users on the basis of a cross subsidy in cases of limited rural affordability.
Seo se tla dira gore go nne le kgonagalo ya go tlhoka batho ba ba reng, lona ka koo le nwa metsi, rona ka kwano ga re na ona. [This will end the dichotomy and ensure that all people have access to water.]
The ANC has articulated over a long period that the Department of Water Affairs should be responsible for the integration management of our national water resources to the benefit of the whole nation. They should take responsibility for building competent local and provincial agencies that are capable of delivery. At a second tier, water resources management must be founded on catchments-based institutions to ensure effective control over the supply of water resources as well as effective management and control over waste water.
This means the boundaries of such institutions will not necessarily coincide with provincial boundaries at local level. Local government must be made responsible for water distribution, the provision of adequate sanitation facilities, waste removal and the financing of these services through appropriate tariff and local tax mechanisms. At regional and "continental" level, the management of water resources, such as several major river systems, are shared with neighbouring countries. There is likely to be a need to import water from other countries. A policy of mutual co-operation with neighbours and the creation of bilateral and multilateral treaties must be pursued. This will ensure the fair and adequate allocation of resources to the benefit of the people of the region as a whole.
Water management has three main goals. These are meeting every person's health and functional requirements, raising agricultural output and supporting economic development. Decisions on water resources must be transparent and justified so as to reduce conflict between competing users. The use of water must be balanced with a realisation of the dangers of overuse and inappropriate disposal.
Community organisations must also receive training in water management and must ensure such management is integrated into the overall planning. The most critical issue for South Africans is water conservation. This must take root among mass-based structures, be driven by community-based organisations, political parties and their constituency offices and be nationally co-ordinated. The National Water Act also speaks about the involvement of the community.
Water demand management has got to be regulated. The imbalance between demand and supply and vice versa will have major consequences for the economy of our country and for social transformation. This requires a high level of political and economical management. In his 2010 state of the nation address President Jacob Zuma emphasised that South Africa is not a water-rich country. As a result, government intends to put in place measures to reduce by half the unacceptably high water losses through leaking pipes and inadequate infrastructure by 2014.
In order to prevent infrastructure-related water losses, the concerns of water conservation and protection require that careful management through efficient usage be matched by a budgetary commitment to the department. Regional management, which accounts for 54% of the total budget, remains the biggest programme in the department. It is ensuring the improvement of water resources management in the country and promoting intergovernmental relations with the nine provincial authorities by doing the following: implementing the water sector plan in the provinces, building institutional capacity in local government, fostering better international donor co- operation and promoting regional co-operation. With these words we are saying, ...
Ngwana yo o sa leleng o swela tharing. Le gale Batswana ba re lemme lennye ga le fete molomo. Ka jalo re le ANC le tshegetsa tekanyetsokabo e. [Legofi.] (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Let your voice be heard. However, half a loaf is better than nothing. As the ANC, we support this Budget Vote. [Applause.]]