Closing remarks by President Jacob Zuma on the conclusion of the Bushbuckridge Siyahlola Monitoring Visit, Thulamahashe Stadium, Bushbuckridge

Bakwethu,

Sesifike ekugcineni ke komsebenzi wanamhlanje.

We had undertaken this important visit as part of the Presidential Siyahlola Monitoring Visit to assess work done by government to improve the quality of life, working with the people.

As said earlier, the primary focus of our visit is to assess the provision of water in Bushbuckridge and surroundings.

Water is life and it is also one of the key engines of economic growth and development.

We are pleased that while Bushbuckridge faces a serious water supply challenge, progress is also being made due to work being done by government through the expansion of infrastructure.

The Inyaka Dam has been completed at a cost of one billion rand. It provides a secure source of water for the domestic, municipal, and industrial users in the Bushbuckridge area in the sub-catchments of the Sabie and Sand rivers.

The Inyaka Dam also ensures a stable water supply for irrigation development in the Bushbuckridge area.

The upgrading of the Hoxane Regional Water Scheme began in June this year and is expected to be completed in June 2017.

Once commissioned, the Scheme is intended to serve more than thirty thousand households within Bushbuckridge South and close to fifty thousand households in Nsikazi North within Mbombela.

Plans are also in place to secure the long term water supply for the Bushbuckridge area beyond 2023, by investing in an augmentation scheme for the Inkomati and Sabie catchments.

Lamadamu amanzi amasha azosiza kakhulu ekwandiseni imithombo yamanzi. Kufanele alethe ithemba.

Sanitation is still a challenge as pit latrines are still used due to lack of water. We are prioritizing the matter as sanitation is dignity.

While working to provide water to communities in the short term, we are also planning ahead to promote national water security.

Guided by the National Development Plan and the Second National Water Resource Strategy, we have identified the need for a long term Water and Sanitation Master Plan for South Africa.  Such a plan must guide the efforts of government to efficiently manage our national water resources now and into the future.

In the same manner that we are building energy security, we are also going to invest in water security.

The Water and Sanitation Master Plan will identify key infrastructure required to achieve water security. It will take into account other priorities of government that rely on sustainable water supply as well as decent and adequate sanitation.

By 2030, the date identified in the National Development Plan, our country must enjoy water security and maintain a water supply system that is reliable and sustainable. 

We plan to finalize this comprehensive Water Plan for South Africa without a lot of delay for consideration and ultimately, adoption, together with an action plan. 

With regards to the water challenges in this area, as you know, we have mandated Rand Water which was primarily Gauteng-based, to come into this area of Bushbuckridge and to assist us in resolving the challenges of access to water through rapid infrastructure development.

National government assigned Rand Water to take over this function from Bushbuckridge Water.

This is in line once more, with the National Development Plan that has directed us to align our state entities and institutions with the state developmental goals.

Through our current interventions in this area of Bushbuckridge, we have invested over a billion rand, with just under five hundred million rand spent to date on phase one.

We are pleased with the progress made.

We have since directed that in line with our Back-2-Basics approach, Rand Water must continue to assist us in building the capacity of the State to implement such programmes.

Going forward, Rand Water will assist us throughout Mpumalanga and specific attention must be given to districts in distress, such as, Ehlanzeni and Bushbuckridge.

We will continue to utilize the capacity we have in our successful and efficiently run state owned entities like Rand Water for the benefit of our people across provinces and regions.

Inkampani iRand Water izoqhubeka nomsebenzi wokunifakela amanzi lapha eBushbuckridge. Sicela umphakathi usebenze kahle nayo ukuze lomsebenzi uphumelele.

Bakwethu sihlangene nje izindawo eziningi ezweni zikhungethwe isomiso esinzima kakhulu.

Three provinces have since made disaster declarations based on the current conditions - KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Limpopo. The drought affects about 2.7 million households, which is eighteen percent of the national population.

The bulk of the economic nodes and national growth points are served by large regional water supply schemes. These schemes have a positive water balance currently, standing with an average of 66% of full supply capacity. This means most hard hit will be rural areas, and the poor and especially our farming or agricultural sectors.

On Wednesday Cabinet resolved to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water Security, chaired by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan.

The IMC consists of Ministers of Rural Development and Land Reform; Water and Sanitation, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The committee will discuss and propose further interventions to the communities mostly affected by the drought.

I wish to emphasize that we must all begin to use water wisely. We have done well to save electricity. Let us do the same with water, it is also a very scarce resource.

The challenges of global warming and climate change are adding further strain to our ability to manage this precious resource.

Bakwethu ngale kwamanzi umphakathi udinga ukuzwa nangezinye izidingo njengoba sebechazile ongqongqoshe ezinye zazo.

Bushbuckridge and surroundings face serious poverty and unemployment. Government is intervening through programmes such as the expanded public works programme and also environmental programmes to create short term employment.

Most importantly, the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA), pays out over one hundred and fifty eight million rand for various grants in the Bushbuckridge/

Thulamahashe area monthly.

This includes grants for old age, child support, foster care, Care Dependency, and Social Relief of Stress.

Lezizibonelelo zikahulumeni zezingane nabadala ziyalekelela ukuxosha ikati eziko.

Uhulumeni usiza nabazali ngokukhokhela izingane ezinkulisa ukuze ziqale kahle isikole.

For example, the Provincial Department of Social Development funds one hundred and fifty five Early Childhood Development Centres in  Bushbuckridge/Thulamahashe to the tune of 37 million rand. This is evidence that our government is already implementing free education for the poor. 

Nizokhumbula futhi ukuthi izingane eziphuma emakhaya ahlwempu azikhokhi imali ezikoleni kanti futhi zithola ukudla mahhala. Ngakho-ke seyaqala kudala indaba yemfundo exhaswe uhulumeni wentando yeningi kaKhongolose.

The provincial Department of Social Development also provides financial support to five community-based care centres in this area.

These render active ageing activities, life skills and provide nutritious meals.

Eight stimulation centres and protective workshops are also supported as part of government’s ongoing efforts to address the needs of people with disabilities.

The poor quality of the roads in this area has been raised sharply and will be prioritised.

On energy since 2012, more than nine thousand households have been connected to the electricity grid in Bushbuckridge. It is anticipated that electrification would be complete within the next two financial years.

This area is known for its beautiful tourism landmarks which attract scores of visitors from around the world.

I was at the Kruger National Park last week, launching a rhino protection and anti-poaching programme and Joint Operational Centre.

We want tourism facilities here to create jobs and to provide skills development opportunities for our people.

Ministers have mentioned various interventions that have been undertaken, and still to undertaken.

We urge you to work with us on this journey and to play your own part.

For us to be able to continue extending water or electricity and to build housing or roads, we appeal to residents to pay for municipal services. In this way you will enable government to provide infrastructure and services to all.

Government will also continue to provide free basic services to the indigent, those who are too poor to pay. However those who can pay, should pay.

Illegal water and electricity connections are against the law and are morally wrong.

Those who are guilty of such an offence will face the full might of the law.

We also urge the community to protect and look after the infrastructure and installations that are provided.

Sicela sibambisane sizivikele izakhiwo zomphakathi. Akusizi ukwakha izikole, amanyuvesi, amakliniki uma lokhu kuzocekelwa phansi kalula nje. Kuhle sibambisane siqhubekele phambili.

Sijabule kakhule ukuba nani namhlanje.

Sizoqhubeka sisebenze ngokubambisana ekuletheni intuthuko kulendawo nasezweni lonke.

Ngiyabonga kakhulu.

I thank you.