Racial water quotas: DA submits questions to Minister Mchunu

11 June 2023

The DA vehemently rejects any quotas based purely on race. We view the introduction of race quotas by the ANC government with contempt, as it is a clear attempt to reintroduce racial discrimination and division for narrow political gain. These race quotas, including the recently gazetted draft regulations for water use licenses, pose an immense threat to the agriculture sector and the overall well-being of South Africa.

The draft regulations, published by Minister of Water Senzo Mchunu on 19 May, introduce race quotas for the allocation of water use licenses. Under these new quotas, applicants who exceed certain water usage thresholds or withdraw a minimum amount from streams will be required to meet strict racial quotas to access water. Failure to comply with these quotas will result in the denial of water access, jeopardizing the livelihoods of farmers and the food security of our nation.

The consequences of implementing such water race quotas will be devastating, particularly for the farmers who play a vital role in feeding our population. Agriculture currently utilizes 60% of South Africa's water resources to produce the food we all depend on. These race quotas will result in livestock dying of thirst and fields going fallow simply because farmers have the "wrong" skin colour.

It is evident that the ANC, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, is reintroducing racial discrimination on an unprecedented scale, reminiscent of the pre-1994 era. Their motive is clear—to divide and rule as they face the possibility of losing their majority in the 2024 elections.

In pursuit of transparency and accountability, the DA has submitted a series of parliamentary questions to the Ministers of Water and Sanitation and Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. We seek to understand the potential consequences of these racial quotas on water and food security, as well as their impact on farmers and farming operations. We expect the Ministers to provide written responses within the stipulated 10-day period, as mandated by the Rules of the National Assembly.

The DA calls on all South Africans to join us in rejecting both the Employment Equity Amendment Act's regulations and the proposed water race quotas. We will continue to spearhead opposition to these destructive regulations, taking legal action to challenge the quotas and highlight their unconstitutional nature.

We are currently preparing to challenge the Employment Equity Amendment Act's regulations in court and are seeking legal advice to declare the water race quotas unconstitutional, as they will transform our agricultural and mining sectors into parched economic wastelands.

Issued by Noko Masipa, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, 11 June 2023