Water is the lifeblood of the economy as well as our personal wellbeing.
This axiom is revisited and reconfirmed every day in our country and the world.
We have the three-dimensional challenge of servicing an increasing and developing population; meeting the needs of a water-intensive economic growth pathway; and dealing with the vagaries of the water challenge associated with climate change in an already water-scarce South Africa.
I was inspired by the words of Mogale FM’s presenter Tracy Nthombikayise Lebe, better known as The White Pearl, in one of her radio talk shows, “The community must get rid of lazy councillors and replace them with hard workers. As I once warned government if it wants to fulfil its ambitions objective, the performance of the municipality will need to improve.”
This is true if we look at, for example, the MMC of Infrastructure in Mogale City Local Municipality and the way he continuously fails the constituency of the city. That alone requires his dismissal.
Last year we commissioned a team to investigate six water pipes bursting on one day. This made the honourable Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s office to invite me to the National Water and Sanitation Summit 2014 to participate and engage with delegates on challenges facing water and sanitation, including the story of six water pipes bursting on one day. The story was published in the news, as well as the findings of the investigation team.
I used the article as my weapon at a breakaway discussion session where Pamele Tshwete, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, honourable Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the chairperson of the portfolio committee and acting director-general of Water and Sanitation as well as minister Mokonyane all were in attendance.
In my presentation I suggested that water and sanitation forums are established in every metro and district representing communities, business, academia, women, youth and people with disabilities.
I pleaded with the delegates at the summit to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach where every district or local municipality has the powers and functions of a water services authority, yet its viability and capacity are questionable.
Furthermore, I said the South African Local Government Association, together with the Department of Water and Sanitation must engage further on issues related to water tariffs, water loss and water preservation.
