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Chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal Portfolio Committee for Health, Ms Lydia Johnson
Ndabezitha, Inkosi Luthuli wesizwe saseMathulini,
Councillor Stanley Xulu and many other community leaders present
Members of the Community

Today is a special day for all of us as we are gathered here to celebrate the efforts of many people. These are the efforts of the government and community working side by side to bring to an end the unbearable situation of lack of safe potable water in uMnini Village. I salute the patience that you the community of Mnini demonstrated and the energies you have put into making this project a success.

It all started with a visit I made to this area and in particular, the area called Kwa-Jackson in November 2000 as part of my regular visit to the areas that constitute my constituency. During that visit I witnessed the shocking state of water supply and sanitation at the time when we were experiencing an outbreak of the cholera epidemic in this province.

A report by the Department of Health identified a worrisome situation of the community of uMnini drawing water collected in crevices in the open field. In almost all instances, the safe origin of the water could not be ascertained. The existence and dependence on such sources of water by a nearby pre-school gave rise to great concerns especially in the light of the cholera outbreak that we were struggling to contain in northern KwaZulu-Natal at the time. The plight of local women not having water to wash their clothes and irrigate their vegetable project highlighted the suffering that the legacy of apartheid still inflicts on many of our communities.

Now that you have the government that was elected by all of you, immediate steps were taken to contact relevant government departments to explore ways of assisting this community. Some of you might ask as to why is the Department of Health having any interest in the provision of water. We know as government that most of the diseases that affect our people are diseases of poverty and those that are caused by a lack of access to basic services like water and sanitation.

In the past two years, the Department of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, has been involved in a number of projects similar to this one. This process was started after a letter from the school principal of Pakwe Primary School at Kwa-Nodlozi area in uMsinga district was received. The principal was requesting the Department's assistance with regard to the provision of water and sanitation in the school. We did help this school to get safe water and proper sanitation for the school.

All provinces have benefited from these activities of the Department of Health. In other areas of KwaZulu-Natal and the country as a whole, co-operation between the Departments of Health and that of Water Affairs and Forestry is making it possible for communities that have been without potable water and safe sanitation to have access to these services. In the long run, these projects will contribute in reducing the burden of diseases in this country.

Initially this project was thought to be small and aimed at providing water to local educational institutions. With the help of the Durban Metro Water Services, the project was broadened to benefit the whole community and best quality material for sustained service was used. The contribution of the Durban Metro Water Services, both material and in guidance has contributed significantly into making this project a success.

Many thanks go to Ndabezitha Nkosi Luthuli for the leadership he provided during the difficult times of the project and for providing space to store the material and the equipment for the project. We also thank uNdabezitha for the enthusiastic way in which the local community received and supported the project.

May I single out uBaba Mhlongo for agreeing to the reservoir being erected on his land? In addition, we also thank Mrs Cele for allowing a pump station to be built on her plot and the temporary disruption to her 'madumbe' plantation. We say to you all, THANK YOU. Your contribution has been very valuable!

In conceiving this project, we had to think carefully and regularly refer to government policy regarding tenders and awarding of contracts. We had to ensure that the project does not only deliver the service to the community but would also contribute to creating employment opportunities in some way. It was for this reason that a small local contractor was used.

We say thank you to Mr Xolo and Sebenzile Contractors for the way they carried out their responsibilities as the project contractors. The hostile terrain in one area almost depleted the resources of this contractor. Mr Xolo showed exceptional commitment to seeing the project through. We trust that the experience he gained in this project will strengthen the growth of his 'small' contraction company to a big business in the near future.

Our celebrations here today mark the beginning of the 'challenges of responsibility.' To government and community leaders gathered here today, the challenges are in the form of:

* Continuing to extend access to services to all sections of the community. For uMnini Village, this means ensuring that access is extended beyond where the sources of water are today. I have no doubt that this is a challenge that the local government will be able to pay adequate attention to;

* Having to respond to new demands that will flow from satisfied needs of communities. This can only be addressed by ensuring that communities take responsibility for the facilities they have and how they use them.

* Budgetary constraints in the face of increasing demands for services. The need of inter-departmental approach and pooling of resources is becoming more important;

* As it is the case with the uMnini Village, the coupling of potable water provision to the provision of safe sanitation cannot be overemphasised. Only when these two services are provided in a sustained way can many health problem related to the poor environment be managed. The backlog in the provision of safe sanitation is a challenge that must be confronted jointly by all national, provincial and local government departments.

There are indeed challenges that must be faced by the community receiving services. You as the community will have to take ownership of the service being provided. You will have to preserve, protect and promote the benefits of the service facilities through proper use. One thing that apartheid inculcated in many of us is 'a sense of not belonging' which is demonstrated by not willing to 'own' what is now ours. Restless young people who may be under-occupied are destroying many facilities.

The challenge facing you as a community is to ensure that the youth realises that it is an adult community of tomorrow. They must appreciate that the present adult community is holding the environment in 'trust or guardianship' for them. The youth will hold it in trust for their own children and the generations after them. This water delivery facility is yours. If it is damaged tomorrow, you will have only yourselves to blame.

Another important message that I always send to the youth is about sexual behaviour. HIV/AIDS is real. Make sure that you abstain from sex for as long as possible. When you are ready to enter into a sexual relationship, be faithful to your partner. If you cannot do all of this, use a condom.

What is even more important for all of us as a community is to restore the spirit of Ubuntu and provide care and support for those who are already infected and affected by HIV/AIDS? Let us fight discrimination and stigmatisation of people with HIV/AIDS. A friend with HIV/AIDS is still my friend; a neighbour with HIV/AIDS is still my neighbour. Let us show our support.

With these few words we mark the beginning of the end of having to draw stagnant water from the crevices of the earth to using safe running water. Safe potable water is now available in Mnini Village - Enjoy it!

Thank you

Issued by Ministry of Health

29 October 2001