Africa is facing a backlog in meeting its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets on water and sanitation said the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica at the opening of the second annual Africa Water Week, at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, Johannesburg.
At the current rate, the water target will only be met in 2036, whilst sanitation needs will only be addressed by 2109. This is contrary to MDG targets that must be met by 2015.
"It is being predicted that the next war will be over water, however, I hope this is not true," said the Minister as she expressed her concerns about the possible implications of slow progress being made. Closing this gap requires countries to frankly look at what progress has been made and what is still needed."
One-million people will die each year if Africa does not secure adequate water resources. Some of the potential dire results due to this situation will include adults not able to walk and children being too weak and forced to drop out of school.
Sonjica further states, "As Africans, we trust that together we will continue to complete and meet the needs from the MDG for the benefit of our people. This must be a collective effort. The consolidation of the African agenda remains central to our policy objectives."
She affirms that Africa needs to take collective ownership of the challenges it faces for its people to have access to basic sanitation and clean water. One of the key challenges that must be addressed is political instability in some instances as well as inadequate policies.
Sonjica stresses that Africa needs to build on the progress which it has made to date and it should also critically examine the areas where additional progress can be made and define what it can improve on. "Africa's sanitation and water is making slow progress and is stifling economic growth. Sustainable financing to upscale infrastructure and service delivery in Africa remains a key focus. We especially need to focus on financing water infrastructure."
A positive development today was the signing of a R500 million water grant application by the governments of South Africa and Netherlands. This project will be implemented by Zululand District Municipality, targeting to benefit one hundred and sixty five thousand (165 000) people based in rural areas. This Dutch Orio grant is a facility to improve infrastructure, focused on most needy communities.
This development was hailed as encouraging as it was amplifying the second Africa Water Week's emphasis on partnership and implementation.
"There has been a lot of talk, but there must be action on the ground to implement all commitments and declarations. We are looking forward to the day that every African country can open a tap and drink out of it directly," said the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) Secretary General Bai-Mass Taal.
He added that Africa's biggest challenge is that only four percent of Africa's water is being utilised for drinking.
For further Information contact:
Themba Khumalo
Media Liaison
Cell: 082 802 3432
E-mail: khumalot@dwaf.gov.za
Mava Scott
Chief Director: Communication
Cell: 082 411 9821
E-mail: scottm@dwaf.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs
9 November 2009
