Debate Speech by Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Mrs Pamela Tshwete on the occasion of the Budget Vote Debate at the National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town
Theme: “The Year Of Oliver Reginald Tambo: Unity in Action Together Moving South Africa Forward”.
Honourable Chairperson
Minister for Water and Sanitation
Cabinet Members
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
Honourable Members of Parliament
Water Sector Partners and Dignitaries
Government Officials
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
The Minister, Mrs Nomvula Mokonyane has now presented the 2017 / 2018 budget of the Department of Water and Sanitation to the nation.
I stand here to further apprise the fellow South Africans of the good work that the Department is doing to change the lives of our people through services and programmes.
We are tabling this Budget Vote for service delivery to our people in dedication to our inspirational struggle hero of many years, comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo for his selfless service in the creation of a new South Africa with peace and freedoms for all.
Central in this struggle was the upliftment of all South Africans especially the poor and the vulnerable which is what we as the Department strive to maintain and emulate this hero of our people.
Honourable Chairperson, considering the figures, projects underway, the planned projects, the communities covered by these projects, the regional and international partnerships presented in our budget, they all reflect our belief as a Department that the ideals for which Ntate Tambo sacrificed his life can never die until all South Africans have a right to healthy life, a right to decent sanitation, access to food and water, and the right to the environment that is protected.
In the past financial years we have done so much in ensuring sustainable provision of water and decent sanitation facilities to both urban and rural communities. This year’s budget is considered as a further enabler to achieve the vision of the Department.
That is the ‘’Equitable and sustainable water and sanitation that supports socio-economic growth and development for the well-being of current and future generations”.
Honourable Chairperson, at a very strategic level our planning towards realisation of the Departmental mandate and vision in this financial year our work will be firmed through the Integrated Water Quality Management Strategy and located within a sound National Water and Sanitation Master Plan.
Integrated Water Quality Management Strategy
South Africa is water scarce country and this reality is further compounded by the deterioration of water quality. The issue of water quantity and quality has a huge impact on sustainable economic growth, social development and the protection of the environment. As a country, we need to work very hard to ensure continued supply of water in all communities.
In pursuing our efforts in water conservation and demand management, we need to work very closely with sectors such as the formal and informal industry working with breeding and caring for farm animals, the fruit and beverage industry and the municipal wastewater organisation. These institutions in the world over use large amounts of water which can be can be collected and also be treated for safe use in other industries.
Water pollution is today the major problem and is among the leading causes of disease and death in the world. The most victims of this wide spread phenomenon are mostly the poor and the marginalised communities.
The Department through this strategy needs to ensure continuous tests with the latest technology of all water sources to determine who the main culprits of pollution. We also need to educate communities and all water users that water quality and quantity must be understood as two sides of the same coin.
Therefore the implementation of this strategy must serve to enhance our economic development, social upliftment and environmental protection. This strategy should reduce the costs of providing water for agriculture, mining, manufacturing purposes and general use by municipalities for household usage.
National Water and Sanitation Master Plan
This Master Plan is about re-engineering the manner in which the water and sanitation business in South Africa is coordinated and guided. Working with all water sector partners we want to see a high level actionable plan, role players, milestones and resources required towards achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The genesis of this Master Plan would be a strong partnership with all stakeholders present here. It is about mobilising the entire water family to take the lead in their own spaces by selling this concept, collating relevant data on what needs to be done, and providing technical expertise into the task teams for strategic contributions.
The Role of the International Community
Honourable Chairperson, just last week I addressed a very strategic International Partnership session with Netherlands, to further consult all the water and sanitation stakeholders on South Africa’s very first Water and Sanitation Master Plan that should be one of the blue print documents that will inform and answer clear and relevant question in how we do our business in the sector to achieve the envisaged equity in a sustainable manner.
This is but one example of the many international collaboration arrangements that are bearing fruits in putting South Africa on the global water trends.
We have seen how our trans-boundary programmes and projects deliver good water management with our River Basin Organisations (RBOs) like ORASECOM, LIMCOM to mention a few and these are rated amongst the best in the world.
Our participation and contribution to the Global Women and Water organisations brought interest at multilateral platforms for South Africa to lead the engagements for the United Nations International Year of Water and Women, to highlight the plight of women who still do not have access to water services.
Our participation at these platforms in the recent past saw South Africa attracting International and Regional Partners based in our country. These partners include Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) to benefit the water sector and the region.
The War on Leaks Programme
We have come a long way since the President launched the War on Leaks Project in Port Elizabeth in 2015. To date some of the municipalities are benefiting from the Water Agents who have been produced by this programme. The Water Agents are assisting with water use advocacy, meter reading and leak identification and reporting.
A special thank you to Municipalities who have afforded some of the trainee Artisans with the pre-requisite on the job training they require before they can qualify. This is also a demonstration of the seriousness within these municipalities to save water. Rand Water, Eskom and other private companies have also come on board in this partnership towards saving this scarce resource.
Out of the 2717 Artisans and Water Agents who were recruited in Phase 1, 1848 have been placed. The challenge will remain with all of us ensuring that the remaining 869 as well as the 7000 recruited in Phase 2 are given the internship training they require while we reduce the water losses.
This year the department will have road shows fixing leaks in government owned buildings in partnership with the Department of Public Works, Health, CoGTA and Basic Education. At the end of this we will be able to report on the amount of water that would have been saved.
Women and Youth Empowerment Programme
In intensifying and realising the radical socio-economic transformation the Department will engage entities owned by women, youth and people with disabilities on available economic empowerment opportunities.
Honourable Chairperson these projects and programmes of have a significant influence in job creation. The Department will monitor closely awards allocation of work and payment trends.
In the last we strengthened our women in water empowerment programme in which incubates and mentors were. The aim is to strengthen their business skills in water and sanitation sector and other markets.
The Department continues to attract the young minds in water conservation, protection of the environment and healthy life. Young people are attracted through educational programmes and entrepreneurship opportunities for job creation.
This cooperation has now seen the development of the Youth Development Strategy. This Youth Strategy will be the main item for discussion in the Youth Indaba planned for later in the year.
This will be a conversation by youth amongst youth and organisations working with youth formations.
The Department will also host 2017 Bursary Award Ceremony where seventy six (76) bursaries will be awarded to the learners who have done exceptionally well in all our projects.
Since 2010 to date DWS School Intervention Programme has awarded 397 all inclusive bursary to the needy and deserving learners.
Conclusion
In conclusion I want to thank all partners in the water family and say the drought conditions witnessed in 2016 brought us very close to one another and as a country we presented a formidable united force.
Let me also thank Minister and the Officials of the Department for her guidance whilst the Department navigated through deep waters and difficult tides in the course of doing our work.
Lastly I would also like to thank the Portfolio Committee for their support and insightful contributions in the work of the Department.
I thank you.
