National Council of Provinces - 03 June 2003
TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2003 __
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
____
The Council met at 14:04.
The Chairperson took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
QUESTIONS AND REPLIES - see that book.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the House:
That the Council -
(1) calls upon the Government to make an urgent study of the interest rate debacle where the Department of Statistics understated certain information which has skewed inflation projections;
(2) requests the Government to put particular emphasis on the impact upon the division of revenue and upon the equitable share provinces and local authorities receive, with a view to adjusting and perhaps amending medium-term and long-term budgets in the provinces and local authorities.
Mr A E VAN NIEKERK: Chairperson, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the House:
That the Council -
notes that -
(1) in certain areas, especially on the Cape Flats, responsible
citizens live in fear that a bullet fired by a gangster could kill
or harm them or their children, and therefore the New NP welcomes
the announcement made yesterday by Safety and Security Minister,
Charles Nqakula, about the deployment of over 6 000 recruits in
the Western Cape to tackle gangsterism and violence;
(2) apart from the 3 212 recruits who will be deployed in the
Western Cape, a further 2 850 will be trained in the province
during the new financial year, and members of the Pretoria
intervention unit will also be deployed at crime hotspots in the
province;
(3) the DA recycled the New NP's proposal of deploying more police
officers on the streets, and once again the DA has been so eager
to find fault that they have failed to take into account the
Department of Safety and Security's actions to combat crime, and
is now trying to instruct the department to do what it is already
in the process of doing; and
(4) the DA can only score cheap political points with pie in the sky
statements, and the New NP can, and is prepared to, assist to make
things happen.
[Interjections.]
Mrs A M VERSFELD: Chair, I hereby give notice that I shall move at the next sitting of the House:
That the Council -
(1) notes the unfortunate incident where 62 steam-train enthusiasts from overseas were ordered off a train only four days before the end of their 18 day journey because of disagreements over costs;
(2) further notes that the overseas organiser of the steam-train safari has been arranging such tour groups to South Africa for 14 years;
(3) regrets the damage that has been caused to our tourism industry by this incident; and
(4) calls on the tourism authorities to assist Union Limited Railtours, the company which controls steam-trains in this country, to develop more professional systems for dealing with its clients.
CONGRATULATIONS TO WESTERN CAPE MEC FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY
(Draft Resolution)
Ms N D NTWANAMBI: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes and congratulates the Western Cape MEC for Safety and Security, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane, on the giant step made by his department;
(2) also notes that government resources have been redirected to areas of the poor which were previously neglected;
(3) further notes that budget priorities are targeting real crime hotspots, particularly in trains; and
(4) believes that redirecting resources will help to root out criminals wherever they exist, and not only in the central business district.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
CONTINUED ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS IN DRC
(Draft Resolution)
Ms E N LUBIDLA: Chairperson, I move without notice: That the Council -
(1) condemns in the strongest terms the continued attacks on civilians by the militia group in which 352 people died in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
(2) supports the call by President Thabo Mbeki for the United Nations to deploy peacekeeping troops with powers to fire at those who attack civilians;
(3) believes that it is through a negotiated settlement that the problems of the Democratic Republic of Congo can be resolved;
(4) calls on leaders of these militia groups to stop this senseless killing and give peace a chance;
(5) supports the call by President Thabo Mbeki in its fullest sense.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
REIGN OF TERROR OF FARMER IN KWAZULU-NATAL
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs J N VILAKAZI: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes -
(a) with horror newspaper reports that a farmer stands accused of
having released a reign of terror, assaulting and maiming many
workers on his farm in KwaZulu-Natal;
(b) that, in the latest incident two weeks ago, the farmer allegedly
attempted to run over a five-year-old girl, Zami Nkosi, with his
bakkie;
(c) that 17 other charges, which range from assault to attempted
murder, are still being investigated against the farmer; and
(d) that the farmer has allegedly refused a Sowetan team entry to
his farm, threatening to shoot ``any trespassers";
(2) deplores such actions in the strongest possible terms; and
(3) calls on the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter.
Mr A E VAN NIEKERK: Chairperson, on a point of order: I am under the impression that this situation that was described here must be seen as sub judice and the Council can’t take a vote on it.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: (Mr M J Mahlangu): The Council can’t vote on it, as it is sub judice. Is the matter being investigated at the present moment? Is there anyone who can … The CHIEF WHIP OF THE COUNCIL: Deputy Chairperson, I am not too certain, but, indeed, if it is sub judice, I don’t think we can rule on it. So, Mr Van Niekerk would then be correct. We have to rely on his good judgement and perhaps defer a decision until we have investigated the matter.
The DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCOP: (Mr M J Mahlangu): Will you check whether the matter is being investigated at the moment? We will not take a decision at the present moment. We don’t have to debate it, Ma Vilakazi. We’ll look into the matter and we’ll rule on it. The matter will be printed anyway.
AFRICAN PLIGHT HIGHLIGHTED AT G8 SUMMIT
(Draft Resolution)
Mrs C NKUNA: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) commends President Thabo Mbeki and Presidents Wade, Obasanjo and Bouteflika in their attempts to bring the plight of Africans to the G8 summit;
(2) notes that attempts by these statesmen have not gone unnoticed by the G8 countries; and
(3) welcomes the pledge by the G8 to establish a peacekeeping and intervention force for the continent.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
MONEY OWED TO MUNICIPALITIES BY GOVERNMENT
(Draft Resolution)
Mr P A MATTHEE: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes - (a) the reply by the Minister for Provincial and Local Government to a written question by Mr P A Matthee from which it is clear that there are some departments of the national Government and some provincial governments that owe money to certain municipalities for services rendered;
(b) that an initiative to obtain detailed information about the
exact amounts owed was to be completed by the end of May 2003;
and
(c) that the information will now be made available to the
respective departments and provincial governments; and
(2) in the light of the above and the fact that there are many municipalities desperately needing all the money owed to them to enable them to continue the proper delivery of services, therefore requests all Ministers, Directors-General of national departments and Premiers and provincial governments to see to it that all amounts owed to municipalities are paid as soon as possible, but in any event within thirty days of the rendering of the service by the said municipality.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
SUCCESS OF LOCALLY PRODUCED CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME
(Draft Resolution)
Rev M CHABAKU: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes with great appreciation that our locally produced children’s programme Takalani Sesame was recently hailed as the “best children’s programme in the world”;
(2) congratulates this programme for also having won the Grand Jury Award at the International World Media Festival in Hamburg in Germany recently; and
(3) is of the view that we can be proud to be South Africans in the light of the fact that the whole programme is researched, produced, directed and filmed in our motherland, South Africa.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
POLICE HELD HOSTAGE IN MPUMALANGA
(Draft Resolution)
Mr B J TOLO: Chair, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) condemns in no uncertain terms the actions of the criminals who held police hostage at Kabokweni police station in Mpumalanga;
(2) applauds the police special forces who effected the release of the hostages this morning; and
(3) sympathises with the injured police persons and wishes them a speedy recovery.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 34 - Water Affairs and Forestry:
The MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY: Deputy Chairperson and hon members, while I am presenting my budget to the National Assembly on Friday, I am always happy to be here. Ndiyavuya ukuthetha kule Ndlu[I am pleased to speak in this House.]
Water resource management is a national competence, but agriculture, which uses the most water, is a provincial one. Regulation of commercial forestry is national, but provinces have specific responsibilities for nature conservation, particularly the administration of our indigenous forests. When local government has difficulty with water services, it is the province that must intervene first.
Starting with water services … meer geld as ooit tevore is toegeken aan my departement vir nuwe projekte. [… more money than ever before has been allocated to my department for new projects.]
One billion two hundred and five million rands which will be topped up to over R1,5 billion through the generous assistance of donors. This will be distributed as follows: Western Cape R16 million, Northern Cape 47 million, Eastern Cape R239 million, Free State R51 million, KwaZulu-Natal R278 million, Mpumalanga R115 million, Limpopo R256 million, North West R87 million and Gauteng R11 million.
Next month we celebrate the nine millionth person to gain access to safe water through this programme, Impumelelo Enkulu. Providing infrastructure is not enough. It must be effectively managed. The ground to fund the operation and maintenance done by my department in providing water through over 1 500 schemes across the country has also been substantially increased by almost R300 million to almost R1 billion.
This grant, in kind, to local government, in addition to the equitable share of revenue, enables us to fund free basic water in the poorest communities of the country. Metsi a mahala go batho ba ba sa kgoneng [Supply free water to those who cannot afford it.]
One of the conditions for using these funds is that over the next three years the water and sanitation schemes operated by my department, should be transferred to 84 municipalities. The 1 500 schemes transferred comprise over 27 000 different elements of infrastructure such as pipes, pumps, sections, stations, treatment works, etc., with a replacement value of R10 billion.
The transfer process is being managed by a team, National Treasury, Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG), Salga and my department. We will establish policies for transfer, guide local level transfer negotiations and ensure that services are maintained during that process.
Over 8 000 elements of the infrastructure will be refurbished before transfer and that is costing us R700 million. With R116 million budgeted this year, refurbishment is required because of the ageing process. However, some maintenance has been delayed due to budget constraints.
I regret to say, hon members, that vandalism and theft have been substantial problems and I appeal to members to help us build the right culture in this country. Sakhe amasiko enhlonipho ezakhiweni zomphakhathi. [Let us build a culture of respect for public buildings.]
The refurbishment requirements have been clearly identified. Their completion will ensure that fully functional schemes are transferred. Negotiations are under way for the transfer of 8000 departmental staff to operate the schemes. Surveys have been done of staffing requirements, and any overstaffing will be dealt with in terms of current agreements on the restructuring of the public sector.
While the transfer is a major challenge for the municipalities, Government established them to provide these services, and the department, working under the umbrella of DPLG, will continue the intensive capacity-building work that is under way. Our programme is to complete the transfers by June
- Ninety schemes have to be completed during this financial year, and all conditional grants must be phased out by 2011, at which stage the conditional grants will be incorporated into the equitable share allocation to local government.
We are also working out management arrangements for the consolidation of infrastructure grants to local government into a single municipal infrastructure grant. In terms of the Division of Revenue Act, this new conditional grant which will be phased in over the next three years will fall under the DPLG. My department’s mandate will still ensure that the basic water supply and sanitation needs of our people are met as soon as possible in a sustainable, affordable way. I will use all the instruments at my disposal to achieve our agreed national goals for the provision of clean water to all by 2008, and the provision of basic sanitation by the year 2010.
We will also seek to ensure that projects continue to use labour-based approaches which last year generated over 25 000 person years of employment. During last year over R220 million was spent on the sanitation programme and 65 000 household toilets were constructed. Health and hygiene education, an integral part of sanitation, was provided to approximately 400 000 people, with the Department of Health playing a crucial role.
Taking into account the programme of the department to provincial local government and housing, over 396 000 toilets were constructed and reduced the national backlog to 16,7 million. Hon members, in 1994 it was 21 million. Sanitation delivery was slow and it is now beginning to accelerate.
For the coming financial year my department has allocated over R320 million to local government for sanitation. Our target is to build 120 000 toilets a year as part of the national target of 300 000 per annum by government as a whole. If we can achieve this rate of delivery, we should reach our target by 2010.
The breakdown is: Western Cape 3 million, Northern Cape 18 million, Eastern Cape 71 million, Free State 44 million, KwaZulu-Natal 60 million, Mpumalanga 37 million, Limpopo 36 million, North West 45 million and Gauteng 6 million.
As in previous years, priority will be given to areas where there have been cholera outbreaks. Contrary to the allegations of those who allege that cholera has been caused by water pricing and cut-offs, and there are people of that kind in this country, unfortunately from academic institutions, and many from abroad, it is clear that cholera occurs generally through the wet and warmer areas of our country and in poor communities which do not yet have the basic water and sanitation services or good hygiene practice knowledge. That is why we focus so much on health education. We are working as a team with my department leading and supporting health education, DPLG and housing.
Thus, Treasury has allocated R40 million for clinic sanitation and R150 million for school sanitation projects. The national sanitation task team is helping to prioritise needy schools with local integrated development planning processes. In addition to addressing the original sanitation backlog, the department is facilitating the eradication of the despised bucket system, currently used in nearly 500 000 households.
This year R62 million will be allocated as follows: Free State R23 million, that is the province which has 25% of households with the bucket system; Northern Cape R10 million; North West 9 million; Eastern Cape 8 million; Gauteng 6 million and smaller amounts for other provinces with very few households with a bucket in place.
With the sterling support of the Premiers and MEC’s concerned, I am sure we will achieve our target date of 2006 for eradicating the buckets. In fact, if the Premiers and the provinces come to the party and add to it, we can eradicate these things sooner. The Premier of Gauteng told me he was going to add to the funds that I had put there. The Free State and Northern Cape together have nearly 40% of households with a bucket system in the country. The Premiers of these provinces are on a crusade to end this despised system.
Sanitation is closely linked to pollution control, the protection of our precious water resource and the quality of our water. Although provinces have concurrent responsibility for the environment, my department is responsible for water quality management, since rivers do not respect provincial or even country boundaries. However, pollution often results from activities over which provinces have mandates, such as, urban waste water, for which local governments are indeed responsible.
While local governments usually understand the cost of water used to flush the toilets, they often do not consider the expensive business of treating and exposing that waste that goes down the tubes, soon to be forgotten by us. This often costs more than providing clean water, and must be paid for by local government and the users themselves, since flush toilets involve a higher level of service than national Government currently subsidises. We subsidise the ventilated improved pit latrines in the rural areas, and the municipal infrastructure grant system subsidises toilets in the urban areas.
If waste water is not properly managed, we will continue to face problems, such as those which recently arose at Hartebeespoort Dam where nutrients from waste water feed troublesome, smelly algae particularly in hot, dry weather. To remedy the problem, we must not just look at Johannesburg’s treatment works, but also at fertiliser pollution from farms, golf courses, septic tanks of local households and waste water from high-density settlements, which is only one element in the equation. Investment in sanitation in areas such as Alexandra and Diepsloot in Gauteng may well be the best way to improve water quality in urban rivers, and I am working with the relevant departments to encourage a solution.
We must also ensure that water users do not take more than their fair share, particularly in years of drought. Last year I warned that we were monitoring illegal water use, using data from that Eye in the Sky. The department has begun legal processes against such people. Directives have been issued, which will be followed by prosecutions where unlawful actions are not stopped. I am pleased to say that many water users cease their illegal activities the moment we confront them with satellite evidence.
The current drought in some areas highlights the need for discipline in the use of water and control which must go hand in hand with improved management, particularly at municipal level. This is why we have transferred the responsibility for agricultural scheme operation and maintenance to what are now called water user associations, previously irrigation boards.
However, the process of transforming these associations reflects the challenges facing the rural communities. Current water users are still largely white commercial farmers, although the associations can now include representatives from local government and black farmers as a result of the change from boards to water user associations. We encourage water users to take over scheme management, but this must be done in a way that reflects the values of the new South Africa.
I will certainly not, and none of us can, tolerate a continuation of human rights abuses from our apartheid past in any organisation, and I will not allow that in one for which I am responsible. I must confide in members that I have recently been shocked at allegations which have surfaced about certain people’s behaviour, and I will be dealing with this in the National Assembly on Friday. Accordingly, I have instructed my Director-General to ensure disciplinary hearings take place where these infringements occurred, and to strengthen departmental oversight of the water user associations to ensure that their human resources and procurement policies are in line with government policy.
The national water policy commits government to ensure that water management helps to right the inequalities of the past and contributes to economic and social development. Since farming uses the most water, we continue to seek ways to promote equity and economic development in agriculture.
Since 1998 the department has provided financial assistance to emerging farmers, with capital subsidies of R4,47 million given for over 800 new small-scale farmers and to an additional 500 women in respect of food gardens.
New farmers need support and guidance, and commercial farmers who are already organised to manage water are often more than willing to assist. An example of what can be done comes from the Impala Water User Association, which is working with community groups and traditional organisations in the Pongola and Hlobane areas of KwaZulu-Natal, using water from the new Bivane Dam.
There are now over 60 black farmers growing sugar in the area, and in their first season they sold R9 million’s worth. That is empowerment through water development. The income was shared through the creation of 200 jobs. A further 47 farmers are due to be established, and the area for emerging farmers has expanded to 1 200 hectares. The dam made expansion of commercial farming possible, creating a further 700 jobs, as well as supplying a water scheme that serves 50 000 people in surrounding villages. This is really a wonderful example of partnership in the new South Africa, of established farmers, of emerging farmers and of communities, and I commend many such farmers throughout the country, from Ceres to Blyde River, and including Pongola.
This is the kind of investment we need to empower our people and create jobs, and we aim to help 500 farmers annually. I am interacting with the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that our support is part of the Government’s overall farming package.
All over the country groups of poor unemployed people, mainly women, have come together to grow vegetables on small plots of land to provide food for their families, and a little income that can produce for extras. In some areas, I hear that they are being discouraged by agricultural officials who tell them that they cannot take water from streams or boreholes for their gardens. This is not true! The National Water Act says that water for domestic gardens can be taken without a licence, except when there is an acute shortage. Certainly, no one using a hand-driven pump or carrying water in buckets need be concerned. The law is there to prevent a few people from gaining control over the nation’s precious water and to stop them from preventing others to feed their families.
The restructuring of the department’s plantation forests has continued. You have heard a reply to a question today from my hon colleague, the Minister of Public Enterprise, on this issue. The large plantations, as he indicated, have either been transferred to new operators, or incorporated into Safcol until Safcol’s disposal is finalised.
The structuring is bearing fruit, as Minister Radebe pointed out. We were delighted to learn again that Mondi is investing R2 billion to expand its mill in Richards Bay to export an additional R500 million’s worth of pulp per year. R800 million of the investment will be spent in South Africa, benefiting local business and their employees; and Mondi will expand procurement for black-owned businesses.
Much of the timber will come from Siyaqhubekha Forests, the empowerment company which took over the management of the forests around Richards Bay.
I want to see similar developments in the Eastern Cape. It is the area in the country where we have the most significant potential to expand forestry. Sixty thousand hectares of new forests could be added over the next 20 years, creating 3 000 direct jobs, bringing development to the rural poor and alleviating poverty. Industry believes that new plantations would allow further expansion of processing facilities in the province.
We can ensure that benefits are equitably shared with the communities whose land will be used for growing trees, as we are doing in the Singisi area of the Eastern Cape where, after forestry restructuring, there is already in just under two years R25,6 million of rental income awaiting distribution to the communities. Because so much money is involved, the legitimate landowners need to be identified through a thorough land claims process which is underway. We are working closely with the land authorities and, of course, the eminent Minister of Agriculture, who was here earlier, to finalise this. Meanwhile, the Singalanga Trust which owns shares in the Singisi operating company, is receiving dividend payments.
My special adviser, Prof Dennis Goldberg, who is with us today, has met with industry stakeholders, political leaders and the affected communities, and found keen interest in forestry as a vehicle for economic development. Turning this potential into a reality will be a high priority for my department.
There has also been progress in the conservation of our country’s indigenous forests which provide fuel, building materials, food and muti. The gathering and sale of these forest products generate much informal employment. We continue to work with communities to protect the forests and the livelihoods provided. The participatory forest management approach involves stakeholders in decision-making regarding forests, and we have forums in which communities participate. We have completed a number of economic feasibility studies around selected forests, and we have identified projects.
This is a tough job, as we know from the rehabilitation of the Dukuduku Forest, but we have seen good progress in other areas with the imminent transfer of the Knysna indigenous forests into an expanding Garden Route National Park. I am also in discussions with the Minister of Environmental Affairs and the Eastern Cape government, and I hope that we will shortly announce plans for the wonderful indigenous forests of Pondoland and the establishment of the Pondoland National Park.
The Working for Water Programme of the department also supports the nature conservation responsibilities of provinces. Last year the programme cleared more than 230 000 hectares, and did a follow-up on over 460 000 hectares. The 305 projects created approximately 14 000 person years of employment, and we plan to do as much again this year.
The future of Working for Water is being reviewed with National Treasury, considering how such poverty relief programmes should be funded in future. I believe that Working for Water has an excellent track record of poverty alleviation in those parts of the country where alien vegetation poses a particular challenge. In conclusion, we have made much progress, but clearly there are many challenges, and much remain to be done. Nonetheless, I have noted - and I am disturbed by this, as a South African, like all of you I am a patriotic South African - that some critics of our Government, and I am talking about those external to Parliament, in fact, people who are in a sense, anti the parliamentary process, who claim to be the great democrats of this country, and who have found it necessary to invent statistics to, quite clearly, incite people in informal settlements, people who do not yet have services. They have gone to the extent of coming up with fictitious claims about nondelivery.
I am referring here particularly to water service delivery, and to the outbreak of cholera in some areas. I am talking about the claim by such elements that we have privatised water in this country. I am going to go into detail on this in the Assembly on Friday. This is a shame, because we have so much to be proud of in terms of what we do as South Africa incorporated in terms of our achievements, and yet there is a coterie of people who pose as radicals and revolutionaries, but who totally undermine, and distort those facts, and I will expose them on Friday in the Assembly, given that my precious time, like precious water, is up at this particular point in time.
Let me conclude by thanking my Director-General, Mr Mike Muller, and his able team from the water resource and service sanitation area and forestry who are with us today, as well as Dennis Goldberg, for all the hard work and commitment they have shown to ensure that our water and forests contribute to a better life for all. My thanks to the Premiers, the MECs and hon members for your support. Siyabonga kakhulu. Enkosi. [Thank you very much.] [Applause.]
Moruti P MOATSHE: Modulasetilo wa Khansele ya Bosetshaba ya Diporofense, Tona ya Merero ya Metsi le Dikgwa, maloko a Ntlo eno, le maloko a a tlotlegileng go tswa kwa diporofenseng, ke le dumedisa ka pula. Ke re pula! (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Rev P MOATSHE: Chairperson of the NCOP, the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, members of this House, and hon members from provinces, I greet you all.]
MALOKO: Pula! [HON MEMBERS: Rain!]
Moruti P MOATSHE: Moroto o le mongwe ga o tlatse noka. Noka e tlatswa ke melatswana. Lentswe la MoAfrika Borwa le a meketsa la re mphe metsi ke nwe. Magalapa a me le mafatlha a me di tletse komelelo. Leleme la me le maparetse magalapa. Tsweetswee mphe metsi ke nwe. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Rev P MOATSHE: Two heads are better than one. A South African voice says: Give me some water to drink. My palate and lungs are dry. My tongue is stuck to my palate. Please give me some water to drink.]
The South African Constitution establishes the principle of human dignity for all the citizens of the country. To give effect to this principle, the Constitution provides various socioeconomic rights, including the right to access sufficient food and water. In addition, the Constitution requires from the state to take reasonable legislative and other steps to give effect to these rights.
In order to attain the principles outlined in the Constitution, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has made great advances in attempting to ensure that the right of access to water is attainable for all the citizens of South Africa. This speech will provide an overview of the functions of the department, and thereafter focus on some of the programmes and projects undertaken by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
The Department of Water and Forestry, DWAF, is responsible for three functional areas, namely water resources management, water services and forestry. In managing its three functional areas, the aim of the department is to ensure the availability and supply of water at a national level to ensure the equitable and efficient provision of water services at local level, and to promote sustainable forest management.
When South Africa’s first nonracial democratic Government took power in April 1994, the country’s population was just over 40 million. Some 15,2 million people, of whom 12 million lived in rural areas, lacked access to basic water supply, and 20,5 million lacked basic sanitation.
Prior to 1994 there was no single national government responsible for water supply and sanitation in South Africa. Responsibility was fragmented and allocated to local governments in the previous four provinces and to 10 nominally autonomous homelands, resulting in very different levels of service. Most of the then white local governments offered standards equal to those in industrialised countries.
In the rural areas there were often no services, whilst in black urban areas the situation was mixed. Both urban and rural services for black people were often in a state of disrepair. This situation was exacerbated by the absence of any coherent national policies, guidelines, or support structures. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry focused on water resources and forestry management.
In 1994 the new Government made DWAF responsible for ensuring that all South Africans have equitable access to water supply and sanitation. To this end, DWAF initiated programmes and projects to fast-track services to the disadvantaged populations of South Africa. DWAF consulted a range of interested parties, and produced a policy White Paper on community water supply and sanitation in November 1994.
This policy provided the foundation for the legislative and regulatory framework enacted in the Water Service Act of 1997 which governs the water sector; and for the national programme to address the backlog of water and sanitation services for those who had been previously excluded from services in the past, especially the rural poor.
According to the Water and Sanitation Programme, Africa region:
South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that formally recognises water as a human right. Its national water and sanitation programme, which is one of the largest national programmes in Africa, aims to deliver sustainably on that right.
Both the recognition of water as a human right and the development of the national water and sanitation programme derive from the advent, in 1994, of South Africa’s democratic era. At the time the country faced immense challenges relating to water supply and sanitation. The Government and its development partners have been determined to tackle those problems, and to achieve major progress in water and sanitation as quickly as possible.
In the next few pages, I shall outline some of the programmes and projects that have been undertaken by DWAF to achieve the vision for the South African society encapsulated in the aim of the RDP to provide peace and security for all, build the nation, link reconstruction and development and deepen democracy.
Clean water and sanitation are essential for water reduction, economic development and food security. The progress by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry can be briefly summarised as follows:
Firstly, since 1994 basic water has been supplied to almost 11 million people, about 80% by DWAF. Secondly, 26,8 million South Africans now have access to free basic water. At least 12 million of these are poor people who would otherwise have been unable to afford a basic supply of clean water.
Thirdly, over 133 000 households have received sanitation. If one considers that 65 000 of these were in the past year alone, then the tempo is clearly increasing. Fourthly, by 2008 the entire water supply backlog will have been eradicated and by 2010 that of sanitation. As the Minister has said, this means that South Africa will not only have met the millennium target of wiping out 50% of the backlog by 2015, but the entire backlog.
An important aspect of Government policy is its strategy to alleviate poverty in South Africa. For this purpose a policy for the provision of free basic services has been established, of which water is one of the essential services. During 2001 a policy for free basic water has been developed and implemented.
The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry announced in February 2001 that Cabinet approved a policy to provide a basic supply of water free of charge to poor households. Although there is broader policy commitment to the extension of free basic services to all households, the primary target of the free basic water policy is poor households.
The free basic water policy is viewed as an important means through which Government can give effect to its commitment to improve the lives of ordinary South Africans, and especially of the poor. It is considered that this policy will also result in various other benefits.
Firstly, it can improve individual and community health through providing access to a basic and clean water supply. Secondly, it can promote gender equality through reducing the burden on women to provide in the basic water needs for the household.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the free basic water policy, the basic levels of water supply has been determined as 6 000 litres per household per month. This level is based on the World Health Organisation’s standard of 25 litres per person per day, which amounts to about 6 000 litres per month for a household of eight people.
However, the 6 000 per month only serves as a guide, and local authorities still have some discretion over the amount to be allocated as a basic level of water supply. We are grateful that there are municipalities that are really providing this free water, and there are other municipalities which are not, which should be urged to do so. Working for Water was launched in 1995 in an effort to tackle the problem of invading alien plants and unemployment. It is a multidepartmental initiative led by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs. With 300 projects throughout the country, the programme aims to enhance water security, improve ecological integrity, restore the productive potential of land, promote sustainable use of natural resources, and invest in the most marginalised sectors of the South African society.
The Working for Water programme will sustainably control invading alien species and optimise potential use of natural resources through the process of economic empowerment and transformation. In doing this, the programme will leave a legacy of social equity and legislative, institutional and technical capacity.
Regarding the transfer of water services schemes, DWAF is in the process of restructuring … [Interjections.] [Time expired.] [Applause.] Nkk B N DLULANE: Enkosi Mhlalingaphambili. Mhlalingaphambili, mandithathe eli thuba lokuxolisela uMphathiswa waseMpuma Koloni. Ngenxa yeemeko ezingaphaya kwamandla akhe akwazanga ukuba eze aze kumela iPhondo. Ngoko ke ndimela yena ngoku.
Okokuqala mandibulise kule Ndlu, ndibulise kuwe Mhlalingaphambili, kuMphathiswa namalungu ahloniphekileyo ngokubanzi. Mhlalingaphambili, singavuya ukuba kule nto agqiba ukuyithetha uMphathiswa yokuba sisonke kule Ndlu singaba nokwazi okokuba lo mbono anawo kwisebe lakhe sikwazi ukuba aphumelele ngokuba sixhamle okanye sixhamlise abantu baseMpuma Koloni kuba kaloku le nkqubo yakhe yamahlathi iya kugxotha indlala phaya eMpuma Koloni ukuze kuzaliseke okusoloko kusitshiwo yiAfrican National Congresss, ngakumbi uMongameli wayo, amahlathi aya kuba yigolide yaseMpuma Koloni. Ndize ke ngoku kule nto ndiyithunyiweyo. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[Ms B N DLULANE: Thank you, Chairperson. I would like to take this opportunity to tender an apology for the hon MEC of the Eastern Cape. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he could not be here to speak on behalf of the province. I, therefore, rise to speak on his behalf.
Firstly, I would like to greet everybody in this House. I greet you, Chairperson, the hon Minister and hon members in general. We will be glad if what the hon Minister just spoke about succeeded and afforded the people of the Eastern Cape an opportunity to benefit from this, because his programme on forestry will certainly drive away hunger and poverty there. Then what is always said by the ANC, particularly by its hon President, namely that forests will be the gold of the Eastern Cape province, will be fulfilled. I will now proceed with what I have been asked to do.]
Providing water in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape is proving to be very challenging. Due to the topography of the rural areas in the former Transkei, you would typically find small villages on the top of high ridges, with the rivers or streams miles down below. This makes it very expensive to provide adequate potable water to the households. Both the capital, as well as the operation and maintenance costs are very high. Aspects that increase the cost of providing water can also be contributed to the size of the plots in rural areas, the inaccessibility of the terrain, lack of access roads, long distances of pipelines and the distances material suppliers have to transport the materials.
The most typical source of water would be the rivers or streams, and a big percentage of projects would be boreholes. It appears that alternatives, such as harvesting rain water and storing it in tanks, do not get the necessary attention due to cost or possible unreliability. More innovative ideas such as harvesting the mist should be more actively pursued. Only 12% reduction in backlogs has been achieved with an estimated 500 000 rural households still without adequate water.
In the Eastern Cape the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), the provincial department of housing, local government and traditional affairs and district municipalities are working closely together in service delivery. For instance, on a number of water and sanitation projects, a close working relationship was forged by using funding provided by both DWAF and the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP) on projects. The DWAF funds are being used for social development, whilst CMIP funds are used for implementation, the reason being that the DWAF funding is conducive to social development, whilst the CMIP funding is not to the same extent. On the other hand, the funding of CMIP projects, such as sanitation, is more conducive to implementation than DWAF funded projects. The combination of the two addresses both the physical and social needs of a project.
The various sector plans form an integral part of municipalities’ IDP. There is a problem when an important sector plan, such as water and sanitation, is lagging behind. As far as could be determined, only five of the six integrated water services development plans have been successfully completed. The comprehensiveness of such plans is also questionable when it appears that certain important divisions within DWAF did not participate in the process. At a workshop in Pretoria it transpired that the Water Quality Division was not aware of the processes and were not involved, but played an important role in the control and monitoring of bulk services. It is important that the sector plans be aligned with the timeframes of the IDPs and that the various plans be revised at the same time.
Under the powers and functions, all district municipalities in the Eastern Cape, except Cacadu, is the Water Services Authority (WSA). It is important that rural representation be present in the training aspects, as well as all other aspects pertaining to water and sanitation that will have an impact on them. The role of water boards will need to be relooked at. Within the Amatola District Municipality, the DM as Buffalo City Municipality is a WSA. The Amatola Water Board is also operating in both areas. This not only duplicates certain functions, but leads to an increase of cost for the end user. The issue becomes more complex since DWAF is still the owner of some of the bulk services with an agreement with the Water Board, but the DM or Buffalo City is the WSA.
It is important to protect water resources from exploitation and pollution. Certain boreholes had to be abandoned due to pollution from nearby sewerage treatment works. In some instances finding sufficient ground water is difficult, and pollution of such resources cannot be tolerated. The pollution of surface water increases the possible occurrence of diseases such as cholera. In the more arid western and northwestern areas in the province, conservation of water is important. Innovative solutions will have to be found as alternatives for water-borne sanitation.
Sanitation is one of the most underrated services that are provided to all in South Africa. Expenditure on sanitation is a small percentage of the total funding allocation. The expenditure in terms of the number of households served should be the same as that for water services. The one service should not be provided in the absence of the other. One of the reasons why sanitation lagged behind the provision of water services was the nonalignment between various programmes providing the same services. It is trusted that with the changes in the criteria of providing sanitation by DWAF, an increase in sanitation projects will take place. The province still has a long way to go in eradicating both the water and sanitation backlogs. With the information available to the department, only a 2% reduction in sanitation backlogs in the rural areas in the Eastern Cape has been achieved to date, with 750 000 households still without adequate sanitation.
Xa siphulaphule eyibeka uMphathiswa sinethemba lokuba iza kwenzeka le mibono siyibonayo singuRhulumente. Sqinisekile naseMpuma Koloni kuya kutsho kube mhlophe kube hele. [Listening to what the hon Minister is saying we have hope that the visions we have as Government will be realised. We are certain that even in the Eastern Cape things will shape up.]
Mr R M NYAKANE: Madam Chair, I think that the department’s purpose has been clearly captured in paragraph 3 of this Vote, namely that it will ensure that effective, efficient, sustainable and affordable water and sanitation services are provided to the people of South Africa.
Regarding the expenditure estimates, an expenditure outcome to the tune of R7 billion has been realised by this department for the period 1999 to
- The Medium-Term Expenditure Estimate for 2003-04 stands at R2,4 billion. Yet, hon Minister, hardly a few days ago when I was home attending a funeral, I received a message that an area called Malamulele town had been without water for the past month.
For the past two weeks I have been interacting with communities such as those of Zangoma, Petanenge, Mafarana and Sasekani and following up their problem concerning electricity reticulation. In the same villages there were complaints that they did not have water, and that they had to go to the nearest boreholes and start to queue at midnight for water which would be used the next day. I am not suggesting to the Minister that there is nothing that is being done by the department. However, there are definitely certain communities which still experience desperate water supply shortages.
One other observation that I wish to share with the Minister is that another area of concern is the existence of inequity between urban and rural dwellers with regard to access to sufficient and sustainable water. This imbalance calls for urgent attention. The elite residents of towns like Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Pietersburg and Louis Trichardt do not lack water. Water is so plentiful that car-wash businesses have mushroomed in those areas, let alone the watering of flowers and green grass in the yards.
Rural households struggle to put up with only 20 litres of water for all domestic use. I have already made reference to the queues for water at the boreholes which start at about midnight. The water shortage is so acute in Limpompo that the situation has assumed disastrous proportions. Last, but not least, a word on sanitation: I would like to know, Mr Minister, which section within DWAF is responsible for sanitation programmes? Do we have task or health education teams in pursuance of these programmes? Year in and year out cholera and other water-related epidemics occur during flood seasons. That suggests that no prophylactic measures are put in place during the quiescent period.
Poor sanitation practices are linked to our habits, practices, beliefs and values. Rural communities hardly put a high premium on the Western habits of hygiene like the use of toilets and regular washing of hands. Instead, they would rather respond fast to issues of witchcraft and initiation schools. It is against this background that I interrogate issues that pertain to sanitation programmes, and how they are implemented. Thank you.
Mr M M MACKENZIE (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, hon Minister, I am going to thank you in isiZulu, Minister.
Ngiyayincoma inkulumo yakho nomsebenzi owenziwa umnyango wakho. Ungadinwa nangomuso ndoda. [Ubuwelewele.] [I commend your speech and the work that is being done by your department. May you carry on like that, fellow man. [Interjections.]]
I must also apologise to you for having to represent the pretty Belinda whom I believe you were looking forward to seeing - but we heard it through the grapevine.
The Water Act, in its fullest sense, is a most advanced piece of legislation that covers this vital natural resource. It is the implementation of the Act which is giving rise to some concerns, as the habitual users of water in most cases, whether directly for irrigation or indirectly for crops such as forests and sugar cane, continue with water usage, and not yet pay the full price for it.
It is assumed that the Department of Water Affairs is applying the Act in terms of a predetermined set of criteria with the most fragile catchments receiving first attention. It is suggested, in all humility, that more dissemination of information, particularly to rural communities, is required in order to dispel the myths that fly around and could threaten future initiatives. In particular, the impact of rural community forestry on stream flows and the need therefore to measure those for the sake of parity require ongoing attention. With the advent of more rural agriculture being established, the emphasis on water for successful cropping is growing, and the cost of this water needs to be factored into the gross margins that are anticipated.
Regarding forestry, the rate of entry into commercial forestry by new foresters is still very slow. This can be put down squarely to the rotation length and the absence of income until exploitation occurs. Schemes exist where payments are made on calculated MAIs each year, but these require intensive administration. It is requested that the department considers looking into some system that will supply an income on an interim basis, particularly for the first crop and before maturity. Interaction with the main processors of fibre is essential in arriving at a workable solution.
The woodlot system prevalent in traditional areas has been under scrutiny for some time, as this is the obvious dodging of the planting permit system for an area too small to qualify. It has resulted in marginal areas being used for forestry, and of course has resulted in negative impact on stream flows. The economics of woodlot forestry are questionable for the grower as the predation on the crop from a multitude of predators frequently results in the crop returning a pittance compared to the anticipated income claimed by the processor prior to planting.
It is strongly recommended that rural forestry should be encouraged along the lines of block planting in areas that can sustain an economical return and where the forest is owned by the community on a co-operative basis and linked to an ongoing mentorship programme in order to avoid the many pitfalls which are encountered by beginner growers. Training in the basics of silviculture is essential. It is suggested that short courses be offered by the department, acting in concert with the universities and forestry colleges. Again, the private sector should be inspanned to contribute with practical training, as it is in their interests to encourage a quality supply of raw material for their processing plants.
An HON MEMBER: Khuluma ndoda, khuluma. [Speak, man, speak.]
Mr M M MACKENZIE: Ngiyeza, ungangiduduli. Mina senginomnkantsha obovu. Ungangihluphi ngoba ngiyokuphuphisa ebusuku. [Uhleko.] [At my own pace. Don’t be impatient with me. I am a seasoned man. Don’t mistreat me because I will cast a spell of nightmares on you. [Laughter.]]
There are new sources of fibre that are now being introduced into the growing market. They grow quickly and they come in the form of quina and the benign form of cannabis known as hemp.
Akuyona insangu leyo kodwa isitshalo esihlobene nayo insangu. [That is not dagga, but a plant that is related to dagga.]
These crops require far less critical growing conditions for economic success, as their water requirements are far less. They also lend themselves to outgrower schemes where the rural land user can, with little difficulty, produce a crop that will enhance family income, and at the same time not be vulnerable to livestock damage except, of course, goats, which we all know will eat anything from plastic to ladies’ underwear. The markets for this crop exist. BMW and Mercedes need the fibre - and listen to this carefully - ``to construct biodegradable dashboards’’, for what reason I don’t know. However, as long as there is a market, it is fine. It is considered essential that these fibre crops be encouraged.
To reiterate, I request this active department, and I do it in humility, to hold information sessions with rural water users, and educate them on the aims and objectives of the Act, which are not punitive, but are essential to the conservation of our water. To encourage the entry of new tree growers into the industry … [Time expired.] Thank you. [Applause.]
Mr A E VAN NIEKERK: Hon Chairperson, Mr Mackenzie always makes me jealous with his isiZulu. However, I am going to copy him today and not only thank the Minister, but deliver my whole presentation, not in isiZulu, but in Afrikaans. [Interjections.]
Die voorsiening van dienste, en veral watervoorsiening, onder baie
gemeenskappe, en veral op die platteland, was van die begin van 1994 af een
van die hoogste prioriteite wat deur die nuwe Regering aangespreek moes
word. Ek kan goed onthou dat in 1994, toe die Witskrif hier in die ou
Senaat bekendgestel is, het al die senatore van al die opposisiepartye dit
eenparig gesteun, selfs dié van die DP. Hulle het eers later begin met
hulle fight back"-benadering. [Tussenwerpsels.] Die agb lid hierso het
moeilikheid met die woordshame’’. Miskien moet ‘n mens shame'' inbring
saam met hullefight back”-benadering. [Gelag.] (Translation of Afrikaans
paragraph follows.)
[Since the beginning of 1994, the provision of services, and water
provision in particular, in many communities, and in rural areas in
particular, was one of the highest priorities which had to be addressed by
the new Government. I can well remember that in 1994, when the White Paper
was introduced here in the old Senate, all the senators from all the
opposition parties supported it unanimously, even those from the DP. They
only began their fight back'' approach later. [Interjections.] The hon
member here has trouble with the wordshame’’. Perhaps one should include
shame'' with theirfight back’’ approach. [Laughter.] It is a shame.
Hierdie ideaal word goed aangespreek, en moet in stand gehou en uitgebrei word, want daar is nog steeds ongeveer ses miljoen mense sonder skoon en veilige water, en plus minus 16 miljoen wat nog wag vir voldoende sanitasie. Dit is egter nie so eenvoudig nie, want Suid-Afrika is ‘n waterarm land. Ons het nie ‘n voldoende waterbesparingskultuur nie. Ongeag al die veldtogte, mors mense nog water by hul huise, en word die beste praktyke nie oral in die landbou en nywerheid toegepas nie.
Nog ‘n uitdaging vir die departement is die invloei van onwettige immigrante wat ook nie sonder hierdie basiese dienste kan klaarkom nie. Daar word al van ses miljoen gepraat. Verder trek gemeenskappe agter werk aan, en die noodwendige vestiging van nuwe nedersettings skep verdere uitdagings en plaas druk op die verskillende bronne van die departement.
Om die meeste water te lewer, moet die waterleweringsgebied in elke stroomgebied so goed as moontlik beskerm word deur baie streng reëls oor bebossing. Ek is nie seker of die huidige reëls streng genoeg is nie, en of dit streng genoeg en doeltreffend genoeg toegepas word nie. Hierna sal gekyk moet word.
Indien die omgewing na behore beskerm word, sal ons meer water hê, asook minder erosie en stadiger toeslikking van ons damme. Die probleem van indringerplante en van bome wat te naby aan riviere geplant is en in sekere gebiede watervloei drasties benadeel, is nog nie oral opgelos nie. Die Werk vir Water-projek was ‘n goeie gedagte waarop innoverend gebou moet word.
In die Noord-Kaap word voorheen benadeelde gemeenskappe by besproeiingskemas in die Oranjerivier betrek, byvoorbeeld by die Congregational-kerkgronde, 282 hektaar; by Pella, 745 hektaar; by Sanddrif, 450 hektaar en ‘n verdere 1 000 hektaar sal geadverteer word vir vennootskappe tussen kommersiële en opkomende boere. Die water van die Oranje- en die Vaalrivier is die Noord-Kaap se lewensaar, en bied geleenthede vir volhoudbare vestiging van nuwe boere, mits insetkostes soos watertariewe, grondbelasting, lone, diesel en arbeidswette dit nie vir almal té moeilik maak nie.
Die provinsie het R10 miljoen opsy gesit vir 2003-04 om die watertekort in die Karoostreek aan te spreek, en verlede jaar in hierdie debat is daar gewys op die probleme wat ons in die De Aar-streek met water het, en ek sal graag van die Minister wil weet of daar al planne is om dit aan te spreek.
Waternavorsing oor die impak en beleid ten opsigte van akwakultuur moet versnel word. Ons versoek die departement om ‘n leidende rol te speel om afgevaardigdes van die Departemente van Omgewingsake en Toerisme en Landbou en Grondsake in ‘n werkgroep saam te kry om oor beleid en ‘n versnelde werkwyse te besin. Akwakultuur is ‘n eeu-oue sektor in talle wêrelddele, maar in Afrika en in Suid-Afrika het dit tot dusver ‘n minimale rol gespeel.
Navorsing, gemeenskaps- en vryemarkbelangstelling, en die potensiaal van die industrie dui duidelik daarop dat daar ‘n vinnige ontwikkeling op die gebied op ons wag. Ons kan leiers in Afrika wees, maar dan moet deur die genoemde departemente saamgewerk word. Daar moet redes deur die departemente gevind word om die ontwikkeling van akwakultuur as ‘n industrie aan te moedig, eerder as om administratiewe rompslomp en ou denke te gebruik om dit juis te kniehalter, en dit is wat op die oomblik aan die gang is.
Dit is egter jammer dat die agb Minister nie hierdie Huis goed genoeg geag het om die groot aankondiging wat hy Vrydag in die ander plek wil doen, hier te doen nie. Indien hy dit hier sou gedoen het, sou sy boodskap byna oornag by die mense op grondvlak uitgekom het. Dis waaroor ons hier is, en sou hy nie vir die media hoef te gewag het nie.
Water, amanzi'',metsi’’ is in Suid-Afrika nie volop nie, en tog ag ons
dit nie as kosbaar genoeg nie. Die agb Minister en sy departement maak goed
gebruik van bestaande infrastruktuur, en hy skep nuwe infrastruktuur en
wend dit aan tot voordeel van almal in Suid-Afrika op so ‘n wyse dat dit
ook beskikbaar sal wees vir ons kinders wie se plek ons net leen. Dankie.
[Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[This ideal is being addressed well, and must be maintained and expanded, because there are still approximately six million people without clean and safe water, and approximately 16 million who are still waiting for adequate sanitation. However, it is not that simple, because South Africa is an arid country. We do not have an adequate water-saving culture. Despite all the campaigns, people still waste water in their homes, and best practice is not implemented everywhere in agriculture and industry.
Another challenge for the department is the influx of illegal immigrants who also cannot do without these basic services. There is talk of six million already. In addition, communities move to follow job opportunities, and the necessary establishment of new settlements creates further challenges and puts pressure on the various resources of the department.
To deliver the most water, the water supply area in each catchment area must be protected as well as possible by very strict rules about afforestation. I am not sure if the current rules are strict enough, and if they are being implemented strictly and efficiently enough. This will have to be looked at.
If the environment is properly protected, we will have more water, as well as less erosion and slower silting up of our dams. The problem of alien vegetation and of trees which are planted too close to rivers, and which drastically reduce water flow in certain areas, has not been solved everywhere. The Working for Water Project was a good thought on which we must build in an innovative way.
In the Northern Cape previously disadvantaged communities are becoming involved in irrigation schemes on the Orange River, for example at the Congregational Church ground, 282 hectares; at Pella, 745 hectares; at Sanddrif, 450 hectares, and a further 1 000 hectares will be advertised for partnerships between commercial and emerging farmers. The water from the Orange and the Vaal Rivers is the lifeblood of the Northern Cape, and offers opportunities for sustainable establishment of new farmers, provided that start-up costs like water tariffs, land tax, loans, diesel and labour laws do not make it too difficult for everyone.
The province has set aside R10 million for 2003-04 to address the water shortage in the Karoo district, and in this debate last year the problems we have with water in the De Aar district were pointed out, and I would like to know from the Minister whether there are plans to address this.
Water research on the impact and policy with regard to aquaculture must be expedited. We request the department to take a leading role to get delegates from the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Agriculture and Land Affairs together in a working group to deliberate on a policy and an accelerated working method. Aquaculture is a centuries-old sector in many parts of the world, but in Africa and in South Africa it has thus far played a minimal role.
Research, community and free market interest, and the potential of the industry very clearly indicate that a rapid development in this area awaits us. We can be leaders in Africa, but then the aforementioned departments must work together. The departments must find reasons to encourage the development of aquaculture as an industry, rather than using administrative red rape and old thinking to hamper it, and that is precisely what is happening at the moment.
However, it is a pity that the hon Minister did not consider this House good enough to make the important announcement he wants to make in the other place on Friday, here. If he had done it here, his message could have reached the people on the ground overnight. That is what we are here for, and he would not have to wait for the media.
Water, amanzi'',metsi’’ is not abundant in South Africa, and yet we do
not value it enough.
The hon Minister and his department make good use of existing infrastructure, and he creates new infrastructure and utilises it to the benefit of all in South Africa in such a way that it will also be available for our children whose place we are merely borrowing. Thank you. [Applause.]]
Mr S V NAICKER (KwaZulu-Natal): Madam Chair, having heard the hon Minister’s speech this afternoon, I must say that I am indeed pleased, because this is a very emotive and a very sensitive subject pertaining to our community as a whole. He has touched on effective management, vandalism and on equitable share. It is an area, I would like the hon Minister to remember my own experience in local authority, where funding was given to local authorities for the sole purpose of providing water to the poorer people.
The question is, was equitable share money, intended for water, in actual fact given to the poor people? I am very pleased indeed that the Minister has allocated R278 million to KwaZulu-Natal, which is very deserving.
Water is vital for human life. Clean water means health, growth and prosperity. Water is a guarantee for the unlocking of human economic and social potential, especially for rural communities and the poorest of the poor. Research by the Human Science Research Council has pinpointed the hurdles that are faced by rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal and on a national level.
Despite the efforts of the responsible Minister, water is an integral part of solid and efficient environmental management. Despite the debates of practitioners and researchers regarding the scarcity or not of water as a vital resource, the reality is that the existing legislation gives the national department authority to control water and its allocation.
Scientific research conducted at the University of Natal and the HSRC has shown that the water projects that have involved participation, collective decision-making of communities in the allocation of resources and regarding contractors, have been more successful than those that have been delivered through a top-down approach.
The privatisation of water, on the other hand, should not mean the poor community and individual must have their water supply cut when there is unemployment and poverty, and when they cannot afford to pay for it. In such cases innovative ways need to be devised between the agencies, individuals and communities so that our people will not suffer. We need to look at these realities with deep feelings of solidarity and understanding for the poor and the needy. Provincial and local authorities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry, must study comparative ways of delivering water and methods of payment, and not burden poor communities with penalties and cut-offs.
There has been a report that in many areas of KwaZulu-Natal the allocated free water is not delivered to our communities, and this serious discrepancy needs to be rectified. KwaZulu-Natal has two urgent crises apart from HIV/Aids: one is starvation and the other is potable water and proper sanitation. I am indeed pleased, as I have mentioned earlier on, with the remarks made by the Minister in this particular field.
In view of the fact that as recently as the Nepad conference, held only last week, where eminent scientists warned of threatening climatic conditions, we need to look at some of the consequences of emphasising the development of forestry in our country. As we know, because of the prodigal misuse of irreplaceable resources such as fossil fuels, wood and water in the First World, world climatic changes have come about.
This has resulted in famine and drought on the whole African continent. We all know that although forestry is a highly profitable undertaking, it has real dangers also. Firstly, the amount of arable land is eroded by the planting of trees which deplete the water table in the vicinity, resulting in impoverishment of surrounding farmlands. One just has to look at the reduction of dairy farming in certain areas of KwaZulu-Natal, such as Boston, Bulwer, Underburg, Creighton and Greytown, to name but a few. Furthermore, these forests deplete the soil on which they are growing, a fact which sincerely needs the personal attention of the ministry. The invasion of the Dukuduku Forest, on the other hand, indicate clearly that unless the authorities act decisively, fairly and adequately on burning issues of land restitution, we must be ready for many other cases similar to this throughout the country, from North West to the Limpopo and beyond. The dispute between the squatters and the land claims authorities regarding the beautiful national forest that contains a massive ecological attraction, as was recently heard in the KwaZulu-Natal region land claims court, pin-points the importance of consulting cooperation between communities and organs of state. This is a 13 200 hectare tract of land near the beautiful St Lucia estuary where forest squatters invaded against the decision of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, this despite the fact that a portion of the forest had been designated for the resettlement of the community. The people living on the land decided they would not move, as they had created agricultural products for their own economic survival. [Time expired.]
Mrs A M VERSFELD: Thank you, Chair. Contrary to popular belief, the DA gives credit where credit is due. Therefore I would like to thank the Minister today for keeping a promise. There are few people who can keep a promise for a year. I thank the Minister and his Ministry for being extremely approachable, and I also want to thank the Water Research Council for an excellent presentation during the past week.
Ek gaan my egter vandag op die Clanwilliamdam toespits. Hierdie dam staan vandag op 12% waterinhoud, terwyl dit ‘n jaar gelede op 31% gestaan het. In hierdie stadium verloor die dam 1% water elke drie dae. Die afname in water gebeur nou baie vinnig. Indien dit nie gou reën nie, gaan daar probleme wees. As ‘n dam op 14 November die vorige jaar nie oorgeloop het nie, bestaan die moontlikheid dat waterbesparingsmaatreëls in die daaropvolgende jaar toegepas gaan word. Dit het nie verlede November oorgeloop nie. Die afgelope paar jaar was daar reeds ‘n 20% besparing deur die Besproeiingsraad en die Departement van Waterwese. Hoewel die landbouer sy volle kwota vir water moet betaal, moet die landbouer nog steeds weet hoe om sy waterkwota te rek. Die landbouer kan dus nie die volle potensiaal van die plaas benut nie, want die jaarlikse beplanning het ‘n persentasiebeperking in die verdampingsfaktor, asook in lekkasies in die kanaal. Vanweë die ouderdom van hierdie kanaal wat tans in ‘n baie swak toestand is, gaan 30% van die watervoorraad verlore. Landbouers kry dus nie die volle kwota waarvoor hulle betaal nie.
As ‘n mens aan watervoorsiening dink, moet ‘n mens nie duur dink nie, maar wel toekomsgerig. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[I am going to focus on the Clanwilliam Dam today. This dam today stands at a 12% water content, while it stood at 31% a few years ago. At this stage the dam is losing 1% of its water every three days. The decrease in water is now taking place very fast. If it does not rain soon there will be problems. If a dam did not run over the previous year there is a possibility that water restrictions will be put into place in the subsequent year. It did not run over last November.
During the past few years there has already been a saving of 20% by the Irrigation Board and the Department of Water Affairs. Although the agriculturalist must pay his full quota for water, the agriculturalist should nevertheless know how to stretch his water quota. The agriculturalist therefore cannot utilise the full potential of the farm because the annual water planning contains a percentage limitation in the evaporation factor, as well as in leaks in the canal. Owing to the age of this canal, which is in a very poor state of repair at present, 30% of the water supply is lost. Agriculturalists therefore do not get the full quota for which they have paid.
When one thinks of water supply, one must not think expensive, but rather with a view to the future.]
The need for additional water in the Olifants River catchment area has been known for some time, but it was confirmed in an Olifants-Doring Basin study in 1998. During this study the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam was identified as a potential option to make more water available. A safety inspection of the Clanwilliam Dam revealed that remedial work for dam safety reasons is required. Due to a chemical reaction between the cement an,d the aggregate that was used for the dam wall, the concrete swells, which pushes the wall in an upstream direction.
This, in turn, may compromise the anchoring cables that were used around 1956 as part of the previous raising of the dam. The situation is exacerbated by the temperature differences that occur on the downstream side of the wall, which faces in a northwesterly direction.
The remedial work that is proposed consists of adding a protective layer of concrete on the downstream side of the wall in order to minimise the temperature differences and to add stability to the structure. This will then reduce the movement of the dam wall to a tolerable level. Adding to the protective layer offers the opportunity to raise the dam wall by five metres without any work to the foundations being required. The remedial work to the wall offers the opportunity to raise the wall at the same time, thereby saving costs in doing so.
Die Sederberg-munisipaliteit oorweeg dit om munisipale meentgrond beskikbaar te stel aan opkomende boere. Indien addisionele landbouwater beskikbaar is, kan meer boere gevestig word. Grond is beskikbaar. Ek haal graag aan uit ‘n dokument. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The Cedarberg Municipality is considering making available municipal common land to emerging farmers. If additional agricultural water is available, more farmers can be established. Land is available. I would like to quote from a document.]
It is the study into the possible raising of the Clanwilliam Dam, which was conducted by BKS in February 2003. It goes: There is sufficient irrigable land below the Clanwilliam Dam to utilise virtually any increase in yield from the dam.
Deur die verhoging van die damwal, kan ook groter buitebedding-plaasdamme gebou word om watertekorte, veral gedurende die somermaande, te help verlig. Die tempo waarteen landbou in die Sandveldgebied ontwikkel, plaas ‘n groot las op bestaande waterbronne, so ook die verhoging van die soutgehalte van ondergrondse water wat besig is om te styg.
In die Sandveldgebied is die grootste waterverbruik in landbou, en al die water vir landboudoeleindes word uit grondwaterbronne verkry. Die vinnigste groei is in die Langvlei-area waar aartappels gekweek word vir een van die grootste kitskos konsessiegroepe in die Wes-Kaap. Groot hoeveelhede saadaartappels, wat van groot belang is vir die aartappelbedryf, word ook in die Sandveld geproduseer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[By increasing the dam wall, larger outer-bed farm dams can be built to assist with relieving water shortages, especially during the summer months. The pace at which agriculture is developing in the Sandveld area is placing a heavy burden on existing water resources, and so is the increase in the salt content of subterranean water which is rising.
In the Sandveld area one finds the highest water utilisation in agriculture and all the water for agricultural purposes is obtained from subterranean water resources. The fastest growth is found in the Langvlei area where potatoes are cultivated for one of the largest fast food franchises in the Western Cape. Large quantities of seed potatoes, which are of great importance to the potato industry, are also produced in the Sandveld area.]
The following conclusion can be drawn: There is no fatal flow that would prevent the raising of the Clanwilliam Dam. Secondly, there is enough water to support raising of the dam; thirdly, there is proven demand for water; fourthly, the benefit of additional water is far greater than the cost of raising the dam. Fifthly, the 10m raising appears to be near the optimal, but other considerations could favour a higher raising which is still economically viable. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the capital cost can be recovered by selling water rights at a market related price.
Why am I raising the issue today? A more detailed study should be undertaken to obtain the optimal height by which the dam wall should be raised. Such a study should be completed as soon as possible, as the remedial work required for dam safety reasons at the Bulshoek Dam and the Clanwilliam Dam have to commence as soon as possible.
I trust the Minister will make the promise today that the necessary work will start in his term of office. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr S E BYNEVELDT (Western Cape): Baie dankie, Minister, vir u wonderlike inset. Baie dankie vir u visie en vir u plan en u optrede. [Thank you very much, Minister, for your wonderful input. Thank you very much for your vision and for your plan and your action.]
Water is our most valuable natural resource; at the same time also one our largest vulnerabilities. It is a renewable resource that belongs to all the people of our province, and it is therefore our shared responsibility to ensure that we have the supply we need. Water is our lifeline. It is a resource too valuable to waste and our survival depends on it. It is the life blood of our industry, agriculture, tourism and communities. We must, together, find ways of ensuring our water future.
Our provincial government is committed to building the Western Cape into a world-class province which cares for all of its people, and the key to this is the principle of iKapa eliHlumayo [The developing Cape], growing and developing the Cape. Growth and development requires that we not only address the challenges of the next year or two, but that we actively plan for the challenges of the next 10 to 15 years. One of the most visible and pressing of these challenges is the impending water shortage in our province.
Ons is dikwels gou om daarop te wys dat toegang tot veilige drinkwater ‘n basiese grondwetlike reg is. Dit is so, maar ons moenie vergeet dat met elke reg daar ook ‘n verantwoordelikheid kom nie. Miskien is dit die eerste stap om te erken dat water nie ‘n ewigdurende hulpbron is nie. Navorsing dui daarop dat as ons sou voortgaan om water te verbruik soos wat ons dit nou verbruik, elke huishouding in die Wes-Kaap binnekort permanente en streng waterbeperkings in die gesig gaan staar. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[We are often quick to point out that access to safe drinking water is a basic constitutional right. That is so, but we must not forget that with every right there also is a responsibility. Perhaps the first step is to acknowledge that water is not an everlasting resource. Research indicates that if we were to continue consuming water at the rate at which we are consuming it at present, every household in the Western Cape would soon be facing permanent and stringent water restrictions.]
The fact of the matter is that the demand for water is ever increasing. A recent migration study shows that the Western Cape is experiencing an annual influx of 48 000 new residents, which undoubtedly places enormous pressure on the delivery of water supplies. As a province we have been performing well with regard to the vision of free basic services. Twenty- two municipalities are providing a certain amount of water free of charge to all households. The remaining eight municipalities supply this service only to indigenous households. The reality is that if we run out of water, we will not be able to continue with this service.
On the surface there would appear to be little cause for alarm. Although there are already water shortages in some catchment areas, on average supply and demand in the Western Cape seem to be in balance. There are even opportunities for increased use of the Breede River and the Olifants-Doring River catchment areas. This apparent equilibrium of supply and demand has led to widespread complacency. Although it is often acknowledged that water is a very scarce natural resource, with South Africa receiving just more than half of the world rainfall average of 900mm per year, water consumption seems to grow unchecked. This apparent equilibrium of supply and demand is, however, misleading. The reality is that water consumption and demand for water in our province is growing annually at a rate of 3% to 4% for households and 1,5% to 2% for agriculture. Although the demand continues to grow, there is no way to ensure higher levels of rainfall to compensate. The reality is that water demand in the Western Cape is a ticking time bomb, which we must urgently defuse.
One of the key indicators of just how finely balanced our water situation in this province is, is that in certain areas there is not sufficient surplus water available to sustain the conditions under which natural water life can prosper. In some areas present water use will have to be reduced, or new schemes will have to be built to provide these environmental requirements.
Landbou in die Wes-Kaap is verantwoordelik vir ongeveer 43% van die totale verbruik van water in die provinsie, hoofsaaklik deur middel van besproeiing. Verder is die stedelike waterverbruik in die provinsie 11% van die totale verbruik, bosbou verbruik 5%, voorsiening vir die reserwe, soos vervat in die Nasionale Waterwet, beloop 34% en indringerplante verbruik 7% van die water in die Wes-Kaap. As daar slegs na waterverbruik gekyk word, dan is die landbousektor verantwoordelik vir 67% van die totale verbruik van water in ons provinsie.
Die realiteit is ook dat daar min opvangsgebiede is waarvandaan daar in die toekoms addisionele water aan die landbousektor toegeken kan word. Die uitbreiding van bestaande besproeiing sal dus hoofsaaklik vanuit besparings in huidige waterverbruik voorsien moet word.
Dit is dus net logies dat die kompetisie vir water in die toekoms sal toeneem, en die besproeiingsektor sal toenemend betrokke moet raak by die vind van gebalanseerde oplossings binne die landbousektor en tussen landbou- en ander waterverbruikers. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Agriculture in the Western Cape is responsible for approximately 43% of the total consumption of water in the province, mainly by means of irrigation. Furthermore, urban water consumption in the province is 11% of the total consumption, forestry consumption is 5%, provision for the reserve, as contained in the National Water Act, amounts to 34% and invader plants consume 7% of the water in the Western Cape. If one looks at water consumption only, one sees that the agricultural sector is responsible for 67% of the total consumption of water in our province.
In reality there are also few catchment areas from which additional water can be allocated to the agricultural sector in the future. The extension of existing irrigation will therefore have to be provided primarily from savings in present water consumption.
It is therefore just logical that the competition for water will increase in the future, and the irrigation sector will have to become increasingly involved in finding balanced solutions within the agricultural sector and between agricultural and other water consumers.]
Factors like changing climatic conditions, population growth and pollution are also impacting on the water supplies of the Western Cape. They cause water quality problems such as high salt content, acid water and bacterial contamination.
Other major water quality problems are the result of waste water from industry and mining, agricultural fertilisers, erosion, domestic waste and lack of sanitation. All of these seriously impact on our ability as Government to provide our communities with a healthy supply of fresh water.
Within the City of Cape Town alone, demand is rising by 20 million cubic metres a year. The fact is that until the Berg River Project has been built at an estimated cost of R1,4 billion, water restrictions will be part of our lives, unless we receive an abnormally high rainfall over this period. After the completion of the dam in 2008, we will have temporary relief until about 2012, after which shortages will again be experienced on a regular basis.
The building of dams and water schemes is massively expensive. It has been estimated that the cost of water to the Cape Town Metro region will rise by about 60c per cubic metre, following the completion of the Skuifraam Dam. Apart from merely postponing the water shortages, this near constant rise in costs will make it more difficult to sustain the basic quantities of free water being provided by municipalities - let alone to expand these amounts. Already some towns in our province, like Hermanus, Vredendal and McGregor, regularly experience water restrictions and this situation will continue unless we can find longer term solutions. The provincial government of the Western Cape believes that the key is not to find more water, but rather to reduce the present demand for water. Government alone cannot solve the problem. It is ultimately up to all of us to be informed, to be responsible and to be involved when it comes to the problems that we as a nation face with regard to our water.
We must become familiar with our local water resources, and learn about ways of disposing harmful household waste, so that they do not end up in rivers or streams. We must determine whether additional nutrients are needed before fertilisers are applied and look for alternatives where fertilisers might run off into surface waters. We have to preserve existing trees and plant new trees and shrubs to help prevent soil erosion and promote infiltration of water into soil. Our efforts must be geared towards the protection of our available water resources.
We are also aware of the responsibilities of the agricultural sector in this regard. Local, provincial and national government must find ways to assist our farming communities to keep soil and water from running off their fields. We cannot control when or how much water will fall on our land, but through research we can help to conserve water by changing the soil, plants and the type of farming used to grow crops.
Daar is egter ook ander geleenthede wat benut moet word om ons beskikbare water meer effektief te gebruik. Gedurende die 2000-01-waterkrisis het Kaapstad reeds goeie vordering gemaak met waterbesparingsmaatreëls en is ‘n besparing van 14% in waterverbruik behaal. In 1995 het effektiewe glyskale vir die koste van water, en ‘n ewe effektiewe opvoedingsprogram, daartoe bygedra dat Hermanus se waterverbruik binne een jaar met 22% verminder het.
Hoewel talle besproeiers in die Wes-Kaap reeds hul beskikbare water effektief benut, is verdere aansienlike besparings in die landbouverbruik haalbaar indien die algemene effektiwiteit van waterverbruik op plaasvlak verbeter word. Dit sluit onder meer in die evaluering van besproeiingstelsels onder veldtoestande. Hierdie diens word tans gratis, maar op ‘n beperkte skaal deur die Subdirektoraat: Landbou- ingenieursdienste aan besproeiers gelewer. Hoewel die uitwerking van doeltreffende besproeiingskedulering reeds alombekend is, maak verbasend min besproeiers van al die moontlikhede van hierdie tegniek gebruik. Daar bestaan dus tans ‘n behoefte om die voordele van effektiewe besproeiingskedulering onder die aandag van besproeiers te bring.
Die Subdirektoraat: landbou-ingenieursdienste is ook reeds sedert 2000 besig met ‘n projek om die effektiwiteit in die gebruik van besproeiingswater op vier van die belangrikste landbougewasse, naamlik wyndruiwe, tafeldruiwe, pere en pruime te moniteer. Riglyne vir die breë besproeiingsektor in die provinsie sal hieruit voortvloei.
Twee onontginde waterbronne in die Wes-Kaap is die water van die Doringrivier, ‘n sytak van die Olifantsrivier, asook die water wat opgesluit is in die dieperliggende akwifers in die Tafelbergsandsteenformasies. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[There are, however, also other opportunities which must be used to utilise our available water more effectively. During the 2000-01 water crisis, Cape Town made good progress with water-saving measures and a saving of 14% in water consumption was achieved. In 1995 effective sliding scales for the cost of water, and an equally effective education programme, resulted in Hermanus’ water consumption decreasing by 22% in one year.
Although many irrigators in the Western Cape already utilise their available water effectively, further considerable savings in agricultural consumption are viable if general effectiveness of water consumption on farm level is improved. That includes, inter alia, the evaluation of irrigation systems under field conditions. This service is at present being provided to irrigators free of charge, but on a limited scale, by the Subdirectorate: Agricultural Engineering Services. Although the effect of efficient irrigation scheduling is already well-known, surprisingly few irrigators make use of all the possibilities of this technique. There is therefore a need at present to bring the benefit of effective irrigation scheduling to the attention of irrigators.
The Subdirectorate: Agricultural Engineering Services has also been working on a project since 2000 to monitor the effectiveness in the use of irrigation water on four of the most important agricultural crops, namely wine grapes, table grapes, pears and plums. Guidelines for the broad irrigation sector in the province will flow from this.
Two untapped water sources in the Western Cape are the water from the Doring River, a tributary of the Olifants River, and the water contained in the deeper-lying aquifers in the Table Mountain sandstone formations.]
The Western Cape Olifants-Doring River irrigation study … [Time expired.] Mr K D S DURR: Chairperson, may I just say that was a very good speech from my colleague in the Western Cape. I really have great appreciation for the wonderful work that you are doing, Minister. It is like a breath of fresh air when I look at some of the tremendous things that you are doing; many for the first time in our country’s history on the scale that you are doing them, and with an excellent department behind you.
Land-use decisions are the events that affect your department most, and they create the water needs. Very often you do not have a say in those land- use decisions which you then consequentially have to deal with. The trouble with your department - and may I say it is an excellent department and I have only had the best service when I contacted them - sometimes is that linkages to other departments with whom you should interact, are often not ideal as far as your laudable objectives are concerned. Of course, you need to co-ordinate laterally and vertically with other tiers of Government. Furthermore, much of what other departments do can impact upon your department. In my constituency we have landowners who chop out rare, low-land fynbos in super sensitive botanical hot spots in the middle of a biosphere reserve without permission, pump water day and night from fragile aquifers, who have done little or no rain research and plant potatoes. The same landowners allow large wetlands and sponges to be infested by aliens such as Port Jackson, which stress the water table and the biodiversity, without any pressure or assistance from Government.
It is difficult to get anything effective done when the problems arise. The buck gets passed from central to provincial government, and one finds the real decision lies with the Department of Agriculture. However, the Department of Agriculture is not biased towards either the conservation of the ground water or the fynbos. They are production orientated, and I have discovered there is no effective law that is implementable to protect either the ground water or fynbos, and the officials have no teeth or effective sanctions available to them. They seek to do things by moral persuasion, and I have to say they do them very well.
When it comes to a choice between money or the environment, money always wins. Although it is short-termism, it is usually not in the long-term interests of the area to protect the water table and the botanical biodiversity. It is part of our heritage which we have to protect intergenerationally. Alternative use of the land, for example for ecotourism, has greater potential than pumping water out of aquifers to plant potatoes that can be planted more successfully elsewhere in areas where irrigation water is available, or in water rich areas.
I have seen examples where a complaint is lodged, where … [Time expired.]
Mr V V Z WINDVOЁL: Chair of chairs, it is very heartening that as we stand up to make our input as Mpumalanga, all the provinces are supportive of this department. One was taken by surprise when the hon member Nyakane from Limpopo raised that matter, because I thought that as a bona fide member from Limpopo, he should not be ignorant of the fact that the great province of Limpopo is currently experiencing drought, and that also has an effect in terms of water provision. I expected that he was not going to wait to say that in this debate, because his role as an MP is to interact with the relevant authorities at that level so that he ensures that he tries to resolve those matters.
That’s what I did when I was doing my constituency work at Steenbok where people were having such shortages, and it was discovered that because of the legacy of the bantustans, water schemes and water pipelines made it impossible for the new schemes which were being put in place to supply adequate water. It just reminded me of what was said by one member of a community in a meeting, namely that the UDM is just like unauthorised demons man can trust. [Laughter.]
We welcome the hon member Versveld’s support for the department. We weren’t surprised by that, because she is a person who has fishing at heart and, of course, fish live in the water. She is supposed to support this. [Laughter.] However, on a serious note, we really appreciate the work which the hon Minister Kasrils is doing. From being an operative of the ANC in Operation Vula, where they were opening the way towards our liberation, he has now moved to being an operative to open taps for our people so that they can get water. [Applause.]
Chair, I must just emphasise that the department really plays a significant role in making the lives of our people better. Since the dawn of democracy the Department of Water and Forestry has made huge strides in addressing the water needs of South Africa. More than eight million people have received access to clean water, and they have given many women their dignity and a better life.
Kuyatiwa-ke kutsi bomake ngibo labatfolakala bahamba libanga lelidze betfwele titulutulu nome tigubhu tekuyawukha emanti. Silibonile lelitiko lifaka sandla lesikhulu kakhulu kutsi bomake baphumule kulomtfwalo wabo longaka, babuye batfole nekuhlonipheka njengobe sihambisana nemgomo wabo wekutsi emanti akatfolakale edvutane nemakhaya. Translation of Siswati paragraph follows:
[It is a known fact that it’s the mothers who are found walking long distances to draw water, carrying big buckets or calabashes. We noted the determination of the department to put in much effort to relieve mothers from their heavy burden, and to afford them their dignity, as this concur with their policy of bringing water into every homestead.]
The intention of the department is that water should at least be provided about 200 metres from each and every household. However, we are aware of the challenges, especially in the rural areas where you will get some of the households that are about 200 to 300 metres apart, and they have to face those challenges. In terms of the White Paper of 1997:
The development of women in relation to water management is important for a number of reasons. Women are the traditional custodians of natural resources in rural areas, and they are also the people who suffer the most from degradation of water and other natural resources. It is thus important that women are represented at all levels, and in all spheres of water management activities in political, technical and managerial positions.
This goes to the extent of ensuring that rural women have equal access to economic opportunities, and enjoy better living conditions in relation to water supply and sanitation. Hence we welcome the position of the department that 30% women representation should prevail in all structures dealing with water management.
It is important to emphasise that in terms of the Constitution, water services are a concurrent Schedule B municipal function. Furthermore, the Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997, assigns municipalities the WSA, or water services authority, function. Hence, water services rests primarily with local government. The national department is responsible for the bulk supply by managing water catchment facilities like dams and rivers, etc. DWAF, in that regard, is transferring water schemes to municipalities. The Minister has already alluded to that fact. It will take place from 1 July
- The processes which will take place will include the reallocation of the assets, liabilities, personnel and budget between the two types of municipalities.
We need to commend our ANC-led Government on its policy to provide six kilolitres of water free of charge to all households. Already 76% of municipalities, during the year 2002, have adhered to this. Our congratulations go to the Kei/Karrieb municipality, the Gamara municipality and the Umvoti municipality who have already provided 10 to 12 kilolitres of water free to households.
However, we must hasten to clarify that the free basic policy does not extend to sanitation beyond the provision of basic levels of on-site sanitation, that is with regard to the VIP toilets. For those who do not know, the VIP toilets are the ventilated improved pit toilets. We normally associate VIP with first class standards, but this is a move to ensure that the poorest of the poor also get that basic sanitation service, and that is being done by our ANC-led Government. It is important to note that sanitation policy for access to waterborne sanitation is under consideration.
In conclusion, we must state our appreciation and the fact that we are encouraged by the stance on the eradication of the apartheid doctored, dehumanising and racially based bucket system, which even the Iraqi prisoners of war are not subjected to.
I stand here on behalf of Mpumalanga to support the vote of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Thank you. [Applause.]
Nk B THOMSON: Sihlalo, angazi-ke amalungu ahloniphekile uma esencoma kangaka ukuthi umhlonishwa uNgqongqoshe useyobona ngani lapho kungahambi kahle khona. Bayongixolela ngoba ngizothi ukuthinta kancane nje hhayi kakhulu. Kodwa ngeke ngiqale ukuthinta njengamanje ngizoke ngithi ukukhuluma nje enkulumweni yami. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows)
[Mrs B THOMSON: Chairperson, I do not know how the hon Minister will know where he needs to make corrections if members thank him so profusely. They will forgive me because I will talk briefly and not say much, but I am not going to talk about it now. I will first talk about other things in my speech.]
Clean water and sanitation are important parts of everyone’s life. Without water the Government cannot achieve its objective of pushing back the frontiers of poverty. It is the most important resource for reducing poverty, diseases and improving the quality of life for all poor South Africans. The Government has made the provision of water to all South Africans a high priority. It is implementing a free basic water policy, up to 6 000 litres of free water per household per month, as part of the Integrated Rural Sustainable Development Strategy. The provision of six kilolitres of free water is a simple and practical way of ensuring that the poorest of the poor receive a basic water supply. The Government’s initiative of free basic water services is appropriate, as it assists rural people, including farm labourers, who have struggled in getting access to water.
The water services policy recognises the role of community-based organisations as water service providers, particularly for small scale, rural water service schemes. Efficient functioning of water service institutions and their viability is a key to sustaining water services in rural and urban areas. The South African water sector is complex, with a wide range of organisations contributing to the development of water resources. Water resource management is the national Government’s function, whilst the actual delivery of services is undertaken by service providers, such as municipalities. Much of the ultimate responsibility for delivering free basic water lies with local municipalities.
Ngizothinta kancane nje ngokuthi ngithi mhlawumbe thina KwaZulu-Natali asizange sibe nenhlanhla yokuthi sikwazi ukuyithatha leya ndawo ngeningi elingethandabuzwe. Ngicabanga ukuthi lokho kusibangela izinkinga eziningi.
Kuzobaluleka ukuthi ngiwathathe amehlo kamhlonishwa uNgqongqoshe nabasebenzi bomnyango ngiwase endaweni okuthiwa yiSisonke district. ESisonke ukubona umpompi nje umile kuyinto eyivela kancane. Mhlawumbe ngingathi bayivela kancane njengezinyo lomthakathi ngoba lona awuliboni ngenxa yokuthi umthakathi akahleki, uhlala emubi ngoba usuke egaqele ukubulala abantu. Ompompi banjalo-ke kuleya ndawo, ababonakali. Kuyafunakala ukuthi umhlonishwa uNgqongqoshe akwazi lokho.
Ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zako-Underberg, Donnybrook nakoRiverside, abantu bakhona amanzi basawaphuza emfuleni, bawabange nezinkomo.
Ngoba-ke inhlangano ka-ANC mina yangifundisa ukuthi into uma ibaba ngiyisho ukuthi iyababa ha, uma inoshukela ngiyisho ukuthi inoshukela, le nto yokungabi khona kwamanzi kuleziya zindawo esengizibalile ayehli kamnandi ngoba kwathina esathunyelwa khona ngabaholi bethu abafana nani mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe ukuthi siyoyisebenza isibangela izinkinga ngoba kudinga ukuthi uma siya khona sithwale amanzi ezimotweni zethu futhi siwafihle ukuze abantu bangawaboni uma siwaphuza ngoba bazoxwaya ukuthi kungani singawaphuzi lawo abukeka ebovu.
Ngiyathanda-ke ukuthi ngelinye ilanga umnyango ungimeme noma mina ngimeme wona, ngiwuhambise ngiwuyise kulezi zindawo engizishoyo. Angikholwa ukuthi oVersfeld bayazazi izigwedlo. Kusagwedlwa-ke laphaya. Kukhona le nto okuthiwa yisigwedlo. Akayazi-ke uVersfeld leyo nto. Akakaze ahlangane nesigwedlo. Kufuna ube ngumuntu onamandla ukugwedla ngoba uma ungenamandla ngeke ukwazi ukugwedla bese amanzi engaphumi. Ngakho-ke ungagcina ungaphekile uma ungenawo amandla okugwedla. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[I will briefly mention that perhaps we in KwaZulu-Natal did not have the luck of winning that province with an absolute majority. I think that is giving us problems now. It is important to focus the hon Minister’s attention and that of the workers on the area called the Sisonke district. In Sisonke seeing a tap is uncommon. Perhaps I should say it is as uncommon as the teeth of a witch because one cannot see it, since a witch does not laugh. She is always furious and wants to kill people. Watertaps are like that in that area. They are not visible. It is important for the hon Minister to know that. In areas like Underberg, Donnybrook and Riverside in particular, people are still fetching water from the river. They compete with cattle.
Because the ANC taught me to tell it as it is'', like, if something is
bitter, I must say it is bitter, and if it is sweet, I must say it is
sweet. The fact that these areas have no drinkable water is not a pleasant
one to us who were sent there by people like you, hon Minister, to go and
work there. It is not nice, because it gives us problems as we have to
carry water in our cars and hide it so that people will not see us drinking
it, since they will be suspicious and wonder why we are not drinking their
dirty water.
I would like to be invited by the department one day - or if I can invite
the department - and take officials to these areas that I am talking about.
I do not believe that people like Versfeld know what is it to crank for the
water to be able to come out. People still crank in these areas. There is
this thing calledcranking for water to come out’’. I am sure Mrs
Versfeld does not know what that is. She has never come across a water
crank. One needs to be physically strong to be able to crank because if one
is weak, the water will not come out. So one might end up not cooking if
one is physically weak.]
To this end, the roll-out programme for delivering free basic water included numerous activities to provide the necessary support to local government. This included the establishment of a free basic water strategy task team to prepare and investigate an implementation strategy countrywide, the preparation of a guideline document to assist local municipalities in applying free basic water policies and the preparation of a financial model and programme assistance manual to assist local municipalities in evaluating the financial sustainability of different approaches to supplying a free basic water service. Through this assistance a significant number of municipalities with major challenges are implementing the free basic water service policy.
Water is also critical for the development of the agricultural sector for commercial, emerging and subsistence farming and other economic activities. Water is important for rural development, increasing food security and promoting health, particularly in rural communities. Deep inequalities, including access to water services, are a legacy of post apartheid South Africa. Emerging farmers have had to struggle with reasonable access to water. As a result of the Government’s water policy, their concerns are being addressed.
The principle of equity is central to the water law. Special attention has been given to addressing the needs of those who were historically denied access to water or the economic benefits of water. We appreciate the steps taken by the Government in its attempt to provide access to sanitation services to all citizens by the year 2010.
Nalapha, mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe, kuzobaluleka ngikusho ukuthi lokhu engiqeda ukukhuluma ngakho kuyinto esingakayiboni kahle kule ndawo ebengiyisho. Uma ungale, kuleziya zindawo, umuntu uvele azishonele ngale kwehlathi noma kwesihlahla bese enza lokho abefuna ukukwenza ngoba izindlu zangasese lezi umhlonishwa uWindvoël abekhuluma ngazo azikho, azibonwa. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Even here, hon Minister, it is important to mention that what I have just talked about is something that has not yet come to the areas that I was talking about. If one is in these areas, one will see people going to the other side of the hill or hiding by the trees and do what they are there to do because they do not have toilets, which hon Windvoël is talking about.]
In this regard we recognise and appreciate South Africa’s leading role at the recent Eleventh United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in ensuring that the resolutions on sanitation taken at the International Conference on Sustainable Development are implemented. A challenge that remains is the fact that access by local municipalities to capital funding remains a problem. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is responsible for funding, particularly for rural areas. The funds of consolidated infrastructural municipality programmes for some districts have been used up. In some areas it is impossible to provide reticulatory water, given the inaccessible topography. This, therefore, implies that communities in these areas can only have access to its springs and boreholes, equipped with landpumps, which are acceptable, which are usually a kilometre far. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY: Siyabonga kakhulu Sihlalo. [Thank you very much, Chairperson.] I think that was an excellent input from the members. I listened to all the inputs with great interest and, certainly, the members of the House show an intimate understanding of our water resources and our forestry.
We have had very cogent expressions of concerns relating to water shortage, water quality, the problem of drought and the issue of forests versus water provision. Of course, the very key problem, which the last hon member mentioned, are those areas, such as Donnybrook, which still do not have water, and which for all of us is the greatest challenge. Above everything, the priority is to ensure that everyone’s basic constitutional right to water is fulfilled, which was mentioned by an earlier input.
I would like to immediately state that the reason why there are some announcements which I will make on Friday - I think the hon Mackenzie raised this point if I remember correctly - and not here, is that one has to provide some division of work between here and the Assembly, given the time factor. I was about to let the cat out of the bag in my assault on those who seek to undermine us through falsities, but the time had run out, as your time had run out in your excellent input.
Incidentally, it is a pity that the hon Mackenzie had run out of time, just as he was coming to a very salient aspect of his input, and that was suggestions to the department. This is really what I, the Ministry and the department are very open to, and I really appreciate the hon Durr’s point about the department and its responsiveness. They certainly deserve to get that kind of praise. I thank you very much.
The department and its Minister are there with open doors to serve in terms of Batho Pele. That is emphasised from my desk to my Director-General’s desk and down. Where members are not quite up to scratch with the professional standards required, I am talking about the department, councillors, members of the public, the MECs, members of this House and the National Assembly should bring it to our attention. We carry out very serious investigations, and this is taking place all the time. I would, in that spirit, tell to hon Mackenzie and others, like our good friend Nyakane who was complaining about the water cuts in Limpopo, that we do not even need to wait. Why wait until the Minister comes here once a year, or once in a blue moon, to answer questions or to speak. It is very important. Antoinette Versfeld raised an issue last year, and I thank her for her acknowledgement of the way the Minister and the department responded.
The door is open, and many of you know that, as they know it in the National Assembly, at any particular time. I want to tell hon member Nyakane, what he discovered seems to have been going on over quite a number of months - the water shortages in the villages that he referred to, Malamulele and so on. I am surprised. Why not immediately knock on my door and say: Wena, Minister, do you know how the people are suffering? What is happening there? Why is there no water in that village? I am the first person who wants to know. My department, hon members, cannot be everywhere. Very often it is that ring of the phone, the knock on the door or a member of this House catching hold of me in the passages and saying: Listen, there is a problem in such and such a place. And I would immediately say: Please put it in writing, because I am afraid the head loses a lot of the information these days. I am getting a bit old now. So, on a piece of paper, that is all I request.
In terms of some immediate responses - and looking at the time, we seem to be ending a little earlier than we thought - I would like to respond, with the patience of the Chair. I believe every member deserves some kind of response. I will therefore start with Reverend Moatshe and his input. I think that he gave a brilliant exposition and an overview of the work of my department and its functions over nine years, which is greatly appreciated, and I would really like to have a copy of that for publication.
Coming to the member from the Eastern Cape, member Dlulane, I was really taken with her reference to the green forests of the Eastern Cape being the gold of the Eastern Cape. It is a lovely expression, and that gold is elsewhere in the rural areas. We do have to find a way of balancing the needs. Forestry does a great deal for rural poverty eradication and job creation. Money is beginning to flow into the pockets of the rural people through the way the forestry restructuring is taking place. I mentioned it in my presentation.
The Eastern Cape is perhaps, as we know, one of the most poverty-stricken areas of the country. We have heard about the water problems there as well. Through the forestry development, as I indicated, we really are very excited about the possibilities for that province. I single it out, because although we have some good forests in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu- Natal, it is the Eastern Cape which actually has tremendous potential for further development in relation to rural villages and communities. I would also like to say to hon Dlulane that the question of the need to be involved in the integrated development programmes that were referred to, is very important. It is our policy that all our activities, from water to forestry, agriculture, land, small and medium businesses and so on, get looked at in an integrated way through Government, and in terms of the integrated programmes.
Regarding the role of the water boards, I listened carefully. It is quite a contentious area, but the water boards must be helped to work, and we can look at very good examples in the country. I have referred to the hon Nyakane’s input, and I can already tell him that the Malumalele area is having problems. My understanding is that currently people in those villages get water three times a week. That is my understanding from my department. You show me that it is once a month. Let us get the facts straight. We are well aware of what is happening there, and this was provided in a rejoinder to you by the hon Windvoël who said that there is a drought, and the drought is affecting many provinces, but first of all and foremost the Limpopo province, and then Mpumalanga, and it has been hitting elsewhere, including the Western Cape.
So, there is the drought problem, and also there is another point that he made, and that is the schemes that were put in through the seventies and eighties by the erstwhile homeland governments. Those schemes were certainly not sustainable. Communities were not involved, and they were second-rate. We inherited a lot of these, and instead of just abandoning them, we tried a rehabilitation approach, because there are limits to the kind of budgets that we have. So, we are battling with that. However, there is good news, because the scheme serving that area, the Tshikundu Scheme, will come onstream in September to help resolve the very situation that has been mentioned. I ask you to check on that for me. My information is that it is September, and I would like you to contact me. Maybe I will be there in September. Please contact me, and let me know how you see that situation developing.
There was mention about urban and rural differences. I would say that this Government is doing what no other government has done in this country, ever, and what you will find happening in very few countries, and that is giving tremendous priority and emphasis to the rural people. Although even then we hear the heartfelt statement by hon Thomson pointing out certain villages, and I will go there with you to visit the villages of the Donnybrook area that you mentioned. I will take along members of my department like Deputy Director-General Dipapang Puthwana, who is in charge of operations throughout the country. He will go there. He will give me a report. We will see what we can do.
However, let me make this very important point: It is not just the department - it is the same point made about the question of Moatshe, and to hon Thomson and others - it is municipal governments. They are not only going to get more responsibility in the future. They have it now, and they are our first line of attention. The municipal governments, through to the district councils and the provinces, tell me: Minister, these are our priorities for our province. I do not choose their areas. I look at the budget. We have a formula of apportioning the budget per province and then per district council in terms of the backlog in relation to water and sanitation. How do we split the cake then? According to the numbers that still need to be served. Those district councils then have to work out business plans, and present it to me, saying where they will use the money this year, next year and so on.
When members like you come to me and say that in such and such an area the
people are really suffering, and this is what is needed, I will get on to
it through the province, through to the district council, through to the
municipality. I will say: What is happening here? Can’t we do something to
fast-track? I will raise it with my Director-General and his senior
executive, and we will look at the possibilities to see whether there can
be additional funding for an area that has people who are suffering so
much. Of course, there are still 5 to 6 million people that have to be
reached. That is the problem that the hon Thomson pointed out. Were we to
have that magic wand, were we to have the thagathi'' and the muti to
waive it, so that tomorrow everyone had water, we would be over the moon,
but we know it comes to the question ofimali’’ [money] and planning. It
is a process.
Another four years is a long time to wait for water for the people in
Donnybrook. We know that we can only reach all these people by 2008, as I
have indicated, but let us see what we can do. The other possibilities I
keep looking at, interim possibilities, of maybe some additional boreholes,
less expensive projects that can fill in the gaps in the meantime. This
will, at least, give people a better life while they are waiting in the
long 5 million queue. That is a key strategic interest for myself and the
department.
Now I come to mfowethu'' [my brother] Mackenzie here. Incidentally, when
he talks about the wild goats eating everything, he talks about something
that some of our people tend to refer to asinsangu’’, which some of us
know as dagga. But do goats eat insangu? I would be very interested to
know. I have seen some funny goats in my time, but ÿ.ÿ.ÿ. [Laughter.] Let
me say that we have got your input, which was very useful.
As for hon Durr, he raised the question of forestry and its impact on the environment, the question of the Act and that of stream-flow reduction. This is very much in our minds. I have discussions with the forestry sector all the time, and I would say that we are making great headway with the Forestry Act, with the Sappis and Mondis, who are showing a greater degree of responsibility. Again, let us have the information. You are our eyes and ears on the ground, irrespective of party colour - absolutely irrespective of party colour.
You are members elected to this House of Assembly and you must tell me, as hon Versfeld did, this is the problem, when are you coming. I went there with Ms Versfeld, and met the council of the Berg River Municipality. There were very few members from my party there. It was not an issue. It is a question of how best to serve the people, listening to the voice of our people, onse mense, jikelele ikhaya South Africa. And, as hon Versfeld has seen, there was a very serious exchange and a report-back. Incidentally, just today I have signed off a very long letter to the municipality in relation to what we have come up with in terms of all the questions that were raised. In relation to the Clanwilliam Dam, we are looking at that very issue. I can assure you that you will get a response from me. The approach, the raising of it, is necessary. We are looking at, and investigating how to do this, and what the best possible approach would be. Next year it might not be myself standing here, but certainly, whoever is Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, you owe it to whoever else is sitting here, to give that account, if you indeed are sitting here.
Let me turn to hon Van Niekerk, who made a very good input about the irrigation along the Orange River, and again asked me, ``Well, what about the question of De Aar? What has the Minister got to contribute to this?’’ This was raised last year. I have had a major meeting in the course of the year with the Premier of the Northern Cape, his officials and his MEC for Agriculture. We looked at plans for De Aar and whether we could pipe water from the Orange River to De Aar. It is incredibly expensive. I showed the Premier exactly what I had answered you - I think last year - those problems, and why we have to rely on borehole water in the area. Another friend from De Aar is nodding over here.
However, what I can tell you is that I said to the Premier, ``You provide me with your business plan. How do we develop that part of the Karoo?’’ Maybe there are other ways, other than a pipeline from the river to De Aar. Let us look at it holistically. They are drawing up that plan, and I am waiting to see it. It has to involve agriculture for the province, obviously that department, as well as Water Affairs at a national level, as well.
However, there are exciting things happening along the Orange River. We are looking to resettle a community of people who lost their rights to live and work on farming land which is now covered with water of the Gariep and Van Der Kloof Dams. The farmers were paid out, but the labourers got nothing. They were scattered to the winds.
They have made contact with me. We can’t provide reparations or compensation for the millions who lost out in the apartheid era, but with the Premiers and the MECs of the Free State and the Northern Cape, we are looking at possibilities to provide them with water allocation and to get them going as farmers along land which both Premiers and MECs from those provinces have in fact earmarked, and are earmarking. So, we are looking at things in a holistic way.
I am just finishing off. I want to say to the hon Naicker, on the equitable share used for water in terms of the new municipal infrastructure grant arrangements, we will spend more time and energy helping to ensure that funds are used by local governments for the purposes for which they are intended. I don’t know whether it’s Pietermaritzburg, but I think there has been a bit of a problem there, and in other areas where some of the municipalities are not using these grants for free basic water. I will cajole them and I will name and shame them, because that water is meant for free basic amounts.
On the Dukuduku issue, it has been a slow process, but people are being relocated to the new farm land. There is a small number who are very stubborn, and who are refusing to go. They have taken the issue to the Land Claims Court, as you have referred to. However, I really doubt whether they will be allowed to stay in that forest, because there is land that my department has bought, and the province is involved in the housing and the development. We have to save the Dukuduku Forest. There are very few of these natural forests left in our country.
I just have to mention to the representative from the Western Cape - I believe the name Gelderblom was used, but I know the MEC Gelderblom, and that doesn’t seem to be him. I didn’t get your name. Unless there’s a new MEC … [Interjection.]
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: He is the chairperson.
The MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY: Oh, the chairperson. Thank you. I didn’t get the name; is it Byneveldt?
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Byneveldt, yes.
The MINISTER OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY: Ah, thanks. Good to meet you, sir. I welcome the points that were made and the way the province has identified the long-term challenges of water supply. The work done to draw attention to this has been very good in this province, such as the need for demand management and the restrictions that were applied by regional directors. Sitting up there is Rashid Kahn who was responsible for that.
It did show us two years ago that people in this country - in this case it was the Western Cape - were responsive when we raised the problem of water scarcity. They did respond very positively. The fact that we are building a dam on the Berg River, obviously, is in answer to the development of the province, Cape Town, the farming community, the population developments, etc. And it is not enough. We have got to do more. We are looking at groundwater exploration, and that seems to have tremendous potential in this province.
Let me end here by saying that, not only in the Gulf states and the Middle East, but in an arid country like South Africa, there’s going to come a time when we do numerous things to augment our water shortage. Like Namibia, like Windhoek, we are going to have to recycle the water in the city seven times. I have drunk that water in Windhoek which has passed through human bodies seven times. It was very fine, and I didn’t get unwell.
Like the Middle East, we are going to have to desalinate. Port Alfred already has, and there’s been a bit of an experiment on Robben Island. It did’t work out very well. Cape Town, for sure, is going to have to develop. There is plenty of water there, you see. It is a question of technology, which is there, and it is a question then of the price. The price we will have to pay, which is why ``siyabonga kakhulu, enkosi’’ [thank you very much, thank you] for the way in which the members have shown that they understand the precious water resource, which we must maintain sustainably for future generations, for our children and their children. Let me end by saying that we can be positive and optimistic. My department has a blueprint for our survival, the National Water Resource Strategy. It’s going to be published soon. And that shows us how we can ensure that we have security for the future.
Baie dankie, almal. [Applous.] [Thank you very much, everyone. [Applause.]]
The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Thank you very much, hon Minister. I’m sure you have been entertained by members of this House. This actually shows how, as provincial representatives, they know what they are talking about. They know where the problem areas are. I’m sure it would have been very nice, hon Minister, for you to let the cat out of the bag here, rather than in the National Assembly. [Laughter.]
Debate concluded.
The Council adjoured at 18:29. ____ ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
FRIDAY, 30 MAY 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Council of Provinces:
- Membership of Joint Committees:
(1) The following members have been appointed to serve on the
Committee mentioned, viz:
Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Reparations:
African National Congress
Chabaku, M
Kondlo, N C
Lubidla, E N
Mkhaliphi, B J
Mokoena, M L
Ramodibe, D M
Democratic Alliance
Lever, L G
Inkatha Freedom Party
Bhengu, M J
New National Party
Adams, F
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs:
Report of the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights for 2002-2003
[RP 48-2003].
- The Minister for Safety and Security:
(a) Strategic Plan of the Independent Complaints Directorate for
2003-2006 [RP 40-2003].
(b) Planning Information for the South African Police Service for
2003-2004 [RP 42-2003].
MONDAY, 2 JUNE 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Assent by President in respect of Bills:
(a) Exchange Control Amnesty and Amendment of Taxation Laws Bill -
Act No 12 of 2003 (assented to and signed by President on 30 May
2003).
National Council of Provinces:
- Referrals to committees of tabled papers:
(1) The following papers are referred to the Select Committee on
Land and Environmental Affairs:
(a) Treaty between the Government of the Republic of
Mozambique, the Government of the Republic of South Africa and
the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the
establishment of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, tabled
in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.
(b) Explanatory Memorandum to the Treaty between the
Government of the Republic of Mozambique, the Government of
the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the
Republic of Zimbabwe on the establishment of the Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Park.
(c) Annual Report of the Committee for Environmental Co-
ordination for 2002.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development:
Government Notice No R 663 published in Government Gazette No 24867
dated 16 May 2003: Code of Conduct for Debt Collectors made in terms of
section 14(b) of the Debt Collectors Act, 1998 (Act No 114 of 1998).
- The Acting Minister of Transport:
Strategic Plan of the Department of Transport for 2003-2004.
TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2003
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
- Introduction of Bills:
(1) The Minister for Safety and Security:
(i) Firearms Control Amendment Bill [B 28 - 2003] (National
Assembly - sec 75) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior
notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No
24767 of 25 April 2003.]
Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Safety and
Security of the National Assembly, as well as referral to the
Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint
Rule 160, on 4 June 2003.
In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of
the Bills may be submitted to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM)
within three parliamentary working days.
TABLINGS:
National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:
Papers:
- The Speaker and the Chairperson:
Strategic Plan of the Public Service Commission for 2003-2006.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
National Council of Provinces:
-
Report of the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs on the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Bill [B 44B - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), dated 3 June 2003:
The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Affairs, having considered the subject of the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Bill [B 44B - 2002] (National Assembly - sec 75), referred to it, reports the Bill with proposed amendments, as follows:
CLAUSE 11
-
On page 7, from line 36, to omit all the words after “question” up to and including “necessary” in line 37 and to substitute:
unless the state in question takes immediate steps to rectify the situation giving rise to the contravention
CLAUSE 19
-
On page 10, in line 20, after the second “to” to insert “property or to”.
-