Mr Chairperson, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has to ensure the availability and supply of water at national level and facilitate equitable and sustainable social and economic development and adequate sanitation for all. Water should not be politicised. Everybody gets thirsty. No doubt about it.
Ground water protection and water resource quality management is a crucial component of this sector. However, media reports have strongly criticised the state of underground infrastructure, failing sewerage systems, civil engineering vacancies, limited water resources, which may have an impact on the state of the water and sanitation sectors in this country. Millions of rand have been assigned for the upgrade, rehabilitation and renewal of infrastructure.
The department must give clarity and updates on these infrastructure projects in terms of how municipalities will be assisted in this regard. What about the villages in the North West, such as Dinokana, where there have been demonstrations this week? Ntsweletsoku has been crying: "Water! Water!" for the past 10 years. The question is, if there was water before, what has happened now? No services whatsoever!
By November 2008 ... [Time expired.] [Applause.]