AfriBusiness rejects the statements of Patrick Chauke, ANC Member of Parliament, that the ANC will see to it that the state “takes the water and controls it themselves”.
According to media reports, Chauke made these statements yesterday during a sitting of the National Assembly when water problems, namely in the Western Cape, were discussed. This follows after the Parliamentary Committee for Water and Sanitation in February this year reported that only 350 of an estimated 4 000 dams in South Africa are in state possession.
Piet le Roux, CEO of AfriBusiness, says the organisation views parliamentary members’ jealousy as a big compliment for the private sector. “It is indeed an admission that private water planning is much better than central planning by the state. The last thing that can happen now, is that the state gets more control over water – it will have disastrous consequences. Just look at the state of electricity supply.”
AfriBusiness is in the process, in light of February’s statements by Parliamentary members and government officials over the nationalisation of dams, of obtaining legal counsel. “We will unequivocally oppose this.”