TLU SA has taken note of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s remark to address the water crisis in the country by involving the agricultural sector, Afriforum, and Solidarity. The fact that urgent attention must be given to future water supply was already mentioned at the beginning of his term to former President Jacob Zuma. This was not only about the condition of infrastructure for water distribution but also about its availability and quality.
It appears that the approach applied was more about cadre deployment, and today our country’s inhabitants are paying the costly price for it. Meanwhile, it seems that water levies have apparently not been used for the proper management and control of water resources.
Experts have been replaced with individuals who may not necessarily be capable of adequately addressing the complexities of water management.
TLU SA will, of course, participate in discussions to ensure that the necessary expertise for effective water management is mobilised to defuse the time bomb that has been created over time and to put water supply back on a stable course.
However, before any time and energy are spent on this, agreement must first be reached on the basis on which work will be done. Involved parties must be able to function impartially, and political interference that neutralises expertise must be set aside.
“It’s about much more than just water management and the recruitment of expertise. As long as the government of the day does not ensure that the borders of the country are properly guarded and thousands of foreigners flow uncontrollably over the borders, there will still be pressure on scarce water resources. Any solutions will thus be constantly thwarted,” says Henk van de Graaf, TLU SA’s chairman of the Northern Region.
A long-term, 360-degree water vision is vital. Bennie van Zyl, TLU SA General Manager, adds that “if experts are not allowed to make the necessary adjustments, this attempt by the ANC must also be seen as a piece of political play before the election.”
The ANC must commit itself to set aside cadre deployment, in which the best experts in a specific field, regardless of their race or gender, will be appointed. If the same people who caused the problems are still in the positions for which solutions must now be obtained, everyone’s inputs will only be a waste of precious capacity.
