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We note the reckless comments made by the National Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, and her consultant in Parliament’s Water and Sanitation Committee on Wednesday, 7 February 2018, that, “Day Zero will not happen.” We will hold the Minister to account in this regard, as it appears that her department, as per its mandate, has a plan to guarantee that we #DeafeatDayZero.

That said, the #DefeatDayZero campaign is a comprehensive and effective campaign which has united the people of the province to reduce water consumption, and avoid the very real threat that our taps could run dry. Minister Mokonyane’s comments threaten to confuse the public, and derail the #DefeatDayZero campaign bringing Day Zero ever closer to reality.

Furthermore, a consultant from Minister Mokonyane’s department stated that “Day Zero could be pushed back this year as the Department has interventions in place, which include six projects around bulk infrastructure in the Western Cape”.

I would like to know what these projects are, as the DA-led provincial government has no knowledge of them, and why, if they are indeed underway, these projects were not undertaken years ago when the Western Cape Province requested them as part of our development planning strategy?

Our call to all residents is to continue to reduce their water consumption to less than 50 litres per person per day, in order for us to #DefeatDayZero.

These reckless comments, which are similar to those made in February 2017, by the Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation’s regional head, Rashid Khan, that there is no water crisis in the City of Cape Town, are further proof of the National Department’s failure to timeously address a severe lack in water provision infrastructure in the Western Cape.

Essentially, this is yet another form of negligence on the part of the National Department to fulfil its Constitutional mandate. We can already see how this gravely exacerbates the current drought crisis.

In such dire times, reckless comments such as those made by Minister Mokonyane are volatile and threaten the lives of the residents affected. Minister Mokonyane is, in essence, spreading misinformation which threatens the people of the Western Cape.

As the DA in the Western Cape, we cannot allow these reckless comments to go unchecked, nor can we allow misinformation to threaten the necessary water saving efforts in our province.

Issued by DA