The Democratic Alliance speech regarding the drought
situation in South Africa. The drought is not the biggest challenge right now,
NO, it's the African National Congress
(ANC) leadership. The ANC is the greatest
disaster in South Africa. It is shocking that they have been allowed to turn
this once beautiful country into such a mess.
Kevin Mileham MP
DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Government’s poor water management has compounded the effects of the drought
25 February 2016
Release: immediate
The following speech was delivered by Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs during the
Drought Debate, called for by the DA.
Chairperson,
The issues of drought are not limited to prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall. Of particular concern is the failure of this government and many municipalities to properly administer the water resources under their control, and to maintain the water infrastructure.
In a water scarce country, we can ill afford to allow ANY water to go to waste. And part of the problem is that we don’t know exactly how much water we are losing to this wastage. We know how much is produced by water treatment plants. We know how much is billed. We know the difference between these two amounts. But the system losses – the water that literally goes down the drain unused - that we don’t know.
While the long-term effects of the drought are of critical concern, it must be noted that more than 55 towns and communities have no water RIGHT NOW. My colleague, Hon Mbhele, listed some of them during the SONA debate. Let me list more for you now:
Jacobsdal
Fauresmith
Trompsburg
Bethulie
Smithfield
Zastron
Wepener
Dewetsdorp
Dealesville
Brandfort
Theunissen
Winburg
Soutpan
Tweespruit
Marquard
Clocolan
Steynsrus
Fouriesburg
Memel
Warden
Petrus Steyn
Lindley
Parys
Koppies
Vredefort
Oranjeville
Senekal
Qwa-qwa
Mangaung
Kroonstad
Ladybrand
Kestell
Sannieshof
Delareyville
Lichtenburg
Schweizer Reneke
Zeerust
Mafikeng
Pomfret
Ratlou
Tswaing
Mookgophong
Roedtan
Bakenberg
Rebone
Gilead
Lebowakgomo
Makhada
Polokwane
Mutale
Modimolle
Barberton
Jozini
Mtubatuba
Hlabisa
As Hon. Mbhele said – “Awekho Amanzi”. In most cases, it is a result of mismanagement and maladministration, which have now become a crisis.
And yet, our Minister of This and That has not seen fit to declare this water crisis a national disaster.
I repeat what I said during the SONA debate, that the work of non-governmental organisations is commendable, and we are indeed extremely grateful for their intervention! – but that should NOT excuse government at National, Provincial or Local level from their responsibility to ensure that all South Africans have access to sufficient water. Indeed, s27(2) of the Constitution expressly places this duty on the state, Minister Sisulu!
S23(6) of the Disaster Management Act defines a national disaster as one that affects more than one province. Thus far, no less than seven provinces have declared the drought a disaster of either a provincial or local magnitude. But will the best qualified Finance Minister ever be appointed – oh, wait, he isn’t that anymore, is he? – have the guts to declare a national disaster, so that the necessary emergency funding can be released, and resources such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) be brought in to assist?
No, he won’t.
Will the esteemed Minister of Weekend Specials intervene in and take over the administration municipalities that are failing to meet their financial and service delivery obligations?
No, he won’t.
Will he ensure that the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant, and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, and the Urban Settlement Development Grant, are used as intended – to upgrade and maintain the infrastructure of our municipalities and provide basic services such as water – and not to pay municipal salaries?
No, he won’t.
Will the Minister of No Water and Poor Sanitation stop playing hide and seek with the Blue and Green Drop reports?
No, she won’t.
Will she admit the true state of affairs of South Africa’s water resources, and the extent of our reliance on other countries for water?
No, she won’t.
Will the Minister of Finance top up our contingency reserves, which are meant to address emergency funding requirements such as this, but were instead used to pay for a bloated public servant wage bill?
No, he won’t.
Why won’t they do this? Because, fellow citizens, I’m sorry to say that the drought is NOT the worst disaster in South Africa. No, the biggest national disaster in our country, is the ANC government.
Release: immediate
Chairperson,
The issues of drought are not limited to prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall. Of particular concern is the failure of this government and many municipalities to properly administer the water resources under their control, and to maintain the water infrastructure.
In a water scarce country, we can ill afford to allow ANY water to go to waste. And part of the problem is that we don’t know exactly how much water we are losing to this wastage. We know how much is produced by water treatment plants. We know how much is billed. We know the difference between these two amounts. But the system losses – the water that literally goes down the drain unused - that we don’t know.
While the long-term effects of the drought are of critical concern, it must be noted that more than 55 towns and communities have no water RIGHT NOW. My colleague, Hon Mbhele, listed some of them during the SONA debate. Let me list more for you now:
Jacobsdal
Fauresmith
Trompsburg
Bethulie
Smithfield
Zastron
Wepener
Dewetsdorp
Dealesville
Brandfort
Theunissen
Winburg
Soutpan
Tweespruit
Marquard
Clocolan
Steynsrus
Fouriesburg
Memel
Warden
Petrus Steyn
Lindley
Parys
Koppies
Vredefort
Oranjeville
Senekal
Qwa-qwa
Mangaung
Kroonstad
Ladybrand
Kestell
Sannieshof
Delareyville
Lichtenburg
Schweizer Reneke
Zeerust
Mafikeng
Pomfret
Ratlou
Tswaing
Mookgophong
Roedtan
Bakenberg
Rebone
Gilead
Lebowakgomo
Makhada
Polokwane
Mutale
Modimolle
Barberton
Jozini
Mtubatuba
Hlabisa
As Hon. Mbhele said – “Awekho Amanzi”. In most cases, it is a result of mismanagement and maladministration, which have now become a crisis.
And yet, our Minister of This and That has not seen fit to declare this water crisis a national disaster.
I repeat what I said during the SONA debate, that the work of non-governmental organisations is commendable, and we are indeed extremely grateful for their intervention! – but that should NOT excuse government at National, Provincial or Local level from their responsibility to ensure that all South Africans have access to sufficient water. Indeed, s27(2) of the Constitution expressly places this duty on the state, Minister Sisulu!
S23(6) of the Disaster Management Act defines a national disaster as one that affects more than one province. Thus far, no less than seven provinces have declared the drought a disaster of either a provincial or local magnitude. But will the best qualified Finance Minister ever be appointed – oh, wait, he isn’t that anymore, is he? – have the guts to declare a national disaster, so that the necessary emergency funding can be released, and resources such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) be brought in to assist?
No, he won’t.
Will the esteemed Minister of Weekend Specials intervene in and take over the administration municipalities that are failing to meet their financial and service delivery obligations?
No, he won’t.
Will he ensure that the Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant, and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, and the Urban Settlement Development Grant, are used as intended – to upgrade and maintain the infrastructure of our municipalities and provide basic services such as water – and not to pay municipal salaries?
No, he won’t.
Will the Minister of No Water and Poor Sanitation stop playing hide and seek with the Blue and Green Drop reports?
No, she won’t.
Will she admit the true state of affairs of South Africa’s water resources, and the extent of our reliance on other countries for water?
No, she won’t.
Will the Minister of Finance top up our contingency reserves, which are meant to address emergency funding requirements such as this, but were instead used to pay for a bloated public servant wage bill?
No, he won’t.
Why won’t they do this? Because, fellow citizens, I’m sorry to say that the drought is NOT the worst disaster in South Africa. No, the biggest national disaster in our country, is the ANC government.
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