Water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu said the agriculture sector has raised legitimate concerns regarding a number of issues that should be urgently resolved to safeguard food security in Mzansi.
Speaking at the national water and sanitation summit that ended over the weekend, Mchunu urged attendees to come up with solutions on how to tackle concerns that were impacting the livelihood of millions of South Africans.
He said, “The agricultural sector has concerns on water rights, equity and licenses and, importantly, the ageing infrastructure that we have in the country. Similarly, we need fairness and reform of water rights.
“We need transformation when we address such issues. We also need to ask this summit to address the channels that are not working; that have dried up. This is what the farming community has asked from us.”
The minister acknowledged that the lack of a sustainable water supply brought great pain to small-scale farmers, largely in rural provinces. According to him this “destroyed” the sector for mainly black people.
Differences needed to be set aside with the focus being solely on delivering quality water to all communities, said Mchunu. He vowed to meet Thoko Didiza, the agriculture, land reform and rural development minister, to address concerns from the farming sector.
“We have seen that it is possible to issue water licences in 90 days, so we are going to continue with that. We are appointed to solve problems, not to describe the problems. We get paid to solve the problems.
“It is a sin not to provide people with water, then listening to complains and seeing people queuing for water and drinking with animals. There is nothing human about that.”
Mchunu added that his department was seeking to accelerate interventions on several pillars: access to quality water, the water license application process, streamlining water boards, infrastructure, water supply to neighbouring countries and partnerships.
Incentives for smallholder farmers
Meanwhile, Didiza said she had high hopes that by working together the two departments would be able to resolve all the challenges facing the farming sector.
“The department is committed to … addressing water challenges … relating to water pricing, water quality and water allocation.
“The recognition of use of water by traditional communities to grow food must be considered as cultural use and an existing lawful water use. Thus way more food could be grown in the rural areas, especially by women, people with disabilities and the youth.”
Furthermore, Didiza said her department was looking forward to participating in initiatives to enable the reuse of mine water for agriculture purposes.
“We are acutely aware of the possibilities of reskilling some of the ex-employees of … mines in re-using this water for agriculture purposes. I am aware that there are research programmes to ensure safe use of mine water and the department will continue to support … such initiatives,” she said.
Didiza added, “We may also, while thinking of better strategies to ensure better allocation, consider [implementing] policy parameters that would incentivise smallholder farmers to be able to afford rates until such farmers are commercialised.”
Didiza echoed Mchunu’s sentiments that all stakeholders needed to join hands and work towards a solution-driven plan to provide water as that would ensure that no enterprises were closed down amid tough economic times.
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