Honourable Speaker
Honourable Members
Ladies and gentlemen
I stood in front of you last year and made a number of pronouncements on programmes which were to be achieved in the previous fiscal year. Today I would like to give you feedback and outline new programmes and initiatives.
Local government support
Access to potable and clean drinking water remains our priority. Some of the challenges are the ageing infrastructure, linking water infrastructure with water resources and rapid population growth. We have thus embarked on the following programmes:
Regional bulk
Last year we announced a target of 107 projects, however we went beyond as we implemented 117 projects to date and created 879 jobs bringing the total number to 7 221. In the current financial year we will create 1 210 jobs opportunities.
The Olifantspoort water treatment works in Limpopo has been completed which addressed population growth in Polokwane, Lepelle- Nkumpi municipalities and some areas of Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality.
The construction of Moutse bulk water supply scheme which will enable water access to communities will start in October this year. The bulk pipeline between Taung Dam and Pudimoe will be constructed early next year.
Interventions on service delivery challenges
Provision of basic water services is the business of all spheres of government. We have jointly developed a plan of action to address the hot spot areas. To site some examples of working together, we have constructed a borehole water scheme in North West at Setlagole village. In Limpopo, Mukula Village we rehabilitated the existing boreholes as a short term solution, construction of bulk water scheme will commence in May this year to be completed in June 2012.
Water conservation
Last year we initiated Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme which we allocated R83 million in Cape Town, eThekwini, City of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Metros to address water conservation and demand management challenges.
The intervention addressed leak repairs, pressure management education and awareness and use of effluent to offset demand for potable water. We thus saved 219 megalitres.
On the basis of lessons learnt in local government support, we developed an Enhanced Local Government Support Approach which ensures that the department provides full support to the entire water value chain.
Youth empowerment
War on Leaks project was launched in Mogale City educating water users of the importance of repairing water leaks. The youtheducates the communities on fixing leaking taps and toilets. The project created 146 jobs for youth and exposed them to various skills training. In KwaZulu-Natal, 81 unemployed graduates have been trained in technical skills and employed by the department of water affairs and municipalities.
2020 Vision Programme
2020 Vision Programme is one of our key education initiatives which aims to educate learners from Grade R-12 about water resource management and water conservation.The acquired knowledge is transferred to their families and communities. It is implemented in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education. In the 9 provinces 6 000 learners participated in various projects such as competitions etc.
Curriculum aligned educational resource materials have been developed with the Department of Basic Education, to be piloted in 135 schools.
This programme has exposed learners to international platforms who performed exceptionally well, as we scooped the Stockholm Junior Water Prize twice. We also provided bursaries to 40 learners. It is with joy to introduce to you Motebele Moshodi who is one of the 3 learners who won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in 2005. He joined the department this year as a graduate Trainee through the Department’s Learning Academy. Through Baswa Le Meetse we provided 350 computers sponsored by MTN to the national winners of the Baswa Le Meetse competition.
Together lets mobilise more schools to be part of this programme. We have initiated discussions with the Department of Science and technology and Water Research Commission to facilitate patentship of science projects developed by the learners, test and implement them.
Promotion of rural development
Our rural development programme has provided 5 280 Rainwater Harvesting tanks and created 320 job opportunities. We also provided 360 poorly resourced farmers with bulk water distribution, infrastructure for irrigation with subsidies for operations and maintenance costs.
We invested R11 million for the construction of the main irrigation pipeline and pump station for Blocusso Trust Project near Upington in Northern Cape province which will benefit 446 farmers.
In Moletele community near Hoedspruit in Limpopo, we invested R107 million in the past 5 years for construction of bulk water distribution pipeline to benefit 1 600 families
We have allocated R49 million for the current financial year on Rural Development Programme which will providefinancial assistance to resource poor farmers, rain water harvesting, water allocation reform and multiple water use systems
Adopt a Catchment
The Adopt A River project stakeholders recommended that we enhance the project by Adopting a Catchment Adopt a Catchment will amongst other things promote integrated planning, shared vision, intersectoral approach and active stakeholder participation in the management of water resources.
Water user association
We have struggled with the transformation of the 279 irrigation boards. To date only 59 irrigation boards have been transformed into Water User Associations. In the current financial year we will transform 9 irrigation boards.
Women empowerment
Our rivers are highly polluted, they are dumping areas for all types of waste, health of our rivers has deteriorated and ecosystems are affected, thus the launch of Adopt A River project last year. The main objective is to clean the rivers and identify the source of pollution to ensure that it is addressed. Adopt a River creates job opportunities for women and empower them with skills thus making them Water Ambassadors. We have created 595 job opportunities in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Free State which were the pilot provinces.
The highlight is that women from Isipingo project from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) initiated vegetable gardens along the river. They also contributed in resolving crime as they found a partly decomposed body and reported to the police. It is thus my pleasure to introduce to you Honourable members Charity Ruvimbo Mphaphuli from Limpopo, Alina Mofokeng from Free State, Doreen Mandyundyu from Eastern Cape, Zodwa Elizabeth Ndlovu from KZN, and Barbara Nocwaka Thandeki from Western Cape who are amongst the women who participated in the Adopt A River Project and are Water Ambassadors. We will expand the project to include the remaining provinces. I still repeat my last year call to you Honourable members to adopt rivers in your areas. We are ready to support your participation.
Women in water awards
As a way of ensuring active participation by women in water resource management, we made a call to women out there, to identify water related challenges in their areas, conduct research and develop projects, make recommendations to the department on how those challenges can be addressed. 450 projects were registered, support was provided and workshops held 11 projects from 6 provinces won the 2010 awards.
Malibongwe!!!!
We will provide ongoing support to existing projects for sustainability, whilst we mobilise new projects.
Empowerment of departmental women
During the International Women’s Day we launched Accelerated Development Programme (ADP) for lower level women (levels 2-5) with the objective of elevating them from lower levels to junior management and beyond, empower themwith life skills which will prepare them for life beyond work (employment) and that they also become water ambassadors.
In conclusion I would like to announce that 23 700 jobs will be created through various programmes of the department and will include military veterans. I would also like to thank the Minister and the staff for the ongoing support.
Ndo livhuwa.
