Photograph by:JORGE SILVA
Opposition MPs warned of a crisis in the state of South Africa’s water affairs,pinning the blame for it on mismanagement.
Your department has let South Africa down,and seriously so,” Democratic Alliance MP Annette Lovemore told Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica.
Lovemore,speaking during debate on the water affairs budget vote in the National Assembly,called on the minister to show “vital,critical and urgent leadership to address the current shocking level of mismanagement of our water resources”.
Ground and surface water quality in South Africa was deteriorating fast,and people had died after drinking polluted water,she said.
“We are sitting on a time bomb. This is a water-scarce country with a growing population and outdated infrastructure designed to serve a small portion of citizens who live in the privileged areas.”
Holomisa said government had failed in the past 15 years to bring the infrastructure in underprivileged areas on a par with privileged areas.
