South African Cabinet Minister spoke to Gamal Nkrumah about Palestinian national self-determination and the importance of potable water as a fundamental human right South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry is a man focused on people-oriented agendas. In Cairo, attending the third session of the African Water Ministers Council, Kasrils took the opportunity to voice concern about the suffering of the Palestinian people. He also vehemently defended his government's record on the provision of better water and sanitation utilities in post-apartheid South Africa, linking liberation to social justice. "There is a South African saying that, 'Water is life, and sanitation is dignity,'" he tells me in his hotel suite in Cairo. Kasrils fondly recounts his memories of the anti-apartheid and liberation struggles in South Africa, and the rest of the continent. He muses about his days in exile in London, Moscow, and a host of African capitals. He humbly tells of his life as a political commissar in the African bush, in Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He remembers fellow freedom fighters, with whom he worked closely -- Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo and Chris Hani, among others. He also talked of African statesmen who provided precious support during the days of struggle, like Tanzania's Julius Nyerere and Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda. Convivial, but shrewd, Kasrils comes across as a man of action. He speaks with the fire-and- brimstone timbre of a bygone age of socialism and national liberation. Yet, he is very much focused on the challenges of today -- his own country's and the developing world's. A lifelong member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and a commissar with Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, during the anti-apartheid struggle, Kasrils is no armchair intellectual, but a self-taught and well-read man. He is at once both articulate and unaffected. Kasrils has co-written books about the British socialist philosopher Bertrand Russell, but seems more interested in analytical philosophy than in mathematical logic. As a South African cabinet minister, Kasrils understands what the concept of social justice implies. A close associate of the legendary late secretary-general of the South African Communist Party (SACP) Chris Hani, who was assassinated by apartheid agents in April 1993, Kasrils himself became a Central Committee member of the SACP in 1986. He was military intelligence chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) -- or MK for short -- for many years, and headed the ANC's campaign section from 1991-94. Kasrils has been minister of water since June 1999, but he has been a cabinet minister since 1994, serving under both former South African president, Nelson Mandela, and the current South African president, Thabo Mbeki. Kasrils worked underground in apartheid South Africa on the historically decisive Operation Vula of 1990-91, which many believe sealed the fate of the apartheid system in South Africa. At the time of Mandela's release, Kasrils was inside South Africa watching the momentous event on television in a safe house, working with other comrades-in-arms. The link between military intelligence and water might not be immediately apparent to the layman, especially those unfamiliar with southern African topography and terrain. To Kasrils, however, the two are intricately intertwined. As commissar of the ANC camps in Angola and Mozambique, Kasrils is acutely aware of the importance of the environment in which freedom fighters operate. He remembers a remark made by the late ANC military commander Joe Modise that illustrates the connection between water and military intelligence. Modise once pointed at Kasrils and said, "This one, for the last 30 years or more, has known more about the rivers of the region than anyone else." Modise was appointed minister of defence in the government of national unity in May 1994, with his former intelligence chief as his deputy. Those were momentous and exhilarating days for Kasrils, the entire nation and indeed the freedom-loving world. Kasrils believes that his ministerial post, "is a wonderful challenge", especially when it comes to improving services and raising the income levels of the people. Poverty eradication tops his priority list. "If we believe in social justice, it is the most important activity that any of us can undertake." He is, however, acutely aware that the eradication of poverty is not an easy task, but one that necessitates the close collaboration of government and non-government organisations. Poverty eradication, Kasrils says, "requires action by government, citizens, researchers and activists at the international, regional, national and local levels". Better access to clean drinking water is often the litmus test for the success of poverty eradication campaigns, Kasrils notes. "Millions of people live without access to clean drinking water, without adequate sanitation, without sufficient food and decent housing," Kasrils points out. "The World Summit on Sustainable Development, convened in September 2002, recognised that the eradication of poverty is a key element of sustainable development." Kasrils, who hails from a Jewish background, is a most vociferous critic of the atrocities committed by the Israelis against the Palestinian people. "I am Jewish born," Kasrils stresses, "but I am strongly committed to the cause of Palestinian liberation and national determination." Kasrils is actively engaged in the Palestine Support Group of South Africa, and works closely with the allies of the ANC the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) to organise support for the Palestinians. Kasrils says that his Jewish origins and South African nationality make him all the more inclined to champion Palestinian rights. "Both apartheid and Israel are prime examples of terrorist states blaming the victims," he noted. "Since Israel purports to speak and act in the name of Jews, I must cry out, as I do with other like-minded South Africans of Jewish descent: No, not in my name. Never." Kasrils said that opposition to, and criticism of, Israel's Zionist expansionism and repression is not anti-Semitism. "As a person who was born Jewish, I am morally obliged to speak out against what is being done by the Zionist State of Israel to the Palestinian people." Kasrils spoke about his certainty that the brutal and systematic attempts by the Israeli authorities to obliterate the Palestinian people are destined to fail. Kasrils believes that Israel must be ostracised from the international community. He is a strong supporter of a boycott of Israel and Israeli goods. He says that sanctions against Israel can play a vital role in isolating Israel, just as sanctions against apartheid South Africa helped to undermine and eventually dismantle the apartheid regime. "Israel must be isolated economically and politically. By isolating Israel we will bring about a solution to the conflict in the interest of Jews and Arabs alike, so that all can be spared the present agony and grief and together find peace, security, friendship and reconciliation. South Africa is an example of what is possible." Kasrils concedes, however, that not all of his co-religionists in South Africa share his opinion. "We know the confined nature, narrow point of view and bigotry of the established leadership of Jewish people in South Africa," Kasrils says. "Water and forestry are also important for an understanding of the Israeli oppression of Palestinians," Kasrils says. "I speak as a former military commander in the struggle against apartheid. Let me declare without hyperbole that the violence of the apartheid regime, as inhuman as it was, 'was a picnic' in the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in comparison with the utter brutality of Israel's occupation of Palestine." "We did not see tanks with guns blazing protecting armoured bulldozers [which] reduced homes and bones to dust," Kasrils says. "We did not see helicopter gunships 'taking out' militants' families, children and homes with calculated precision." Kasrils is also extremely critical of Israel's flagrant disregard for the environment and its use of the wanton destruction of vegetation and agricultural property in its strategy of terrorising and economically ruining the Palestinian people. "Over 700,000 olive and orange trees have been destroyed by the Israelis. This is an act of sheer vandalism, from a state that claims to practice conservation." Kasrils now channels much of his energy to the provision of potable water and proper sanitation to the victims of apartheid South Africa. Kasrils is pragmatic when it comes to governing South Africa. He understands that capital, both foreign and domestic -- which in the South African context invariably means white settler capital -- has a role to play not only in the country's development, but in the provision of public services and welfare. It is not a question of the state or the private sector that should be the issue, but whether the consumer is reaching an effective, sustainable service. That must be the ultimate test, he insists. "In developing countries the state has a major role to play which cannot be diminished. But given limited resources we believe the private sector does have a useful role," Kasrils says. "In South Africa, our constitution acknowledges access to water as a human right. Since South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, our government has been engaged in a massive programme to ensure that all our people receive clean potable water. We will reach that target by 2008," he adds. Kasrils concedes that the challenge is Herculean. Of a population of 42 million, there are six million still to be reached. Kasrils stresses that South Africa's poor and marginalised should be encouraged to actively participate in the decision-making process. "We must never make the mistake of viewing people at the community level as passive objects of our endeavours, but rather as active role-players," he explains. Advancing the standard of living of the rural poor, in particular, is a top priority. "In 1994, South Africa was two countries. On the one hand, an advanced economy with a wealth of resources and modern industrial and agricultural sectors, and on the other hand an impoverished economy with all the characteristics of the developing world." Kasrils explained how there were 14 million people who had no access to clean, safe potable water in 1994, when the apartheid system was officially abandoned. The post-apartheid government made access to clean, safe water a top priority. Kasrils explained that the main beneficiaries were the rural poor and the inhabitants of the townships that clustered around the big cities of South Africa. He also said that the South African government began a massive programme to facilitate access to clean water. Now some eight million more South Africans have access to clean, safe potable water. "We reach [an additional] one million people every year. We spend roughly $100 million per year to reach a million people." Kasrils points out that water utilities should not be more than 200 metres away from a rural home. He says that policies work out best when the people concerned are consulted and their needs and opinions taken into account. Special priority must be given, "above all to the people at the grassroots with whom we must consult, involve and empower". The challenges now are resources and implementation, he says. "There are two big things that I have changed," Kasrils says. "Easy access to free water. The first 25 litres of water should be free. Many rural people are incredibly poor, too poor to pay $1 for a month's supply of water," he adds. "I witnessed some rural women who walked for many kilometres a day to fetch water." He says that better access to potable water is an integral part of socio- economic development. "The other big change is in sanitation. We still have a long way to go, but at least we have made a good start," Kasrils says. Sometimes the government's enthusiasm for better sanitation receives a surprisingly lukewarm reception by the rural poor, the very people it is meant to reach. While people readily admit the critical importance of water, roads, schools and affordable medical care, they are often reluctant to acknowledge the need for better sanitation. Kasrils says that educational campaigns about the importance of sanitation are critical. "We use a cross subsidy. We have had no opposition from the better- off, who could understand the need to make special provisions for the poor. Everyone felt that it was an equitable and just approach." However, there was vociferous opposition to the South African water policy in certain quarters. I pointed out that the South African embassy in London was recently picketed precisely because of the alleged privatisation of water. Kasrils strongly denied that the South African government was embarking on the privatisation of the water sector. "We are not privatising water. We, however, realise that the government cannot do everything alone. The government would go bankrupt if it did," Kasrils says. "We do acknowledge that the private sector has a role to play." Kasrils says that there are 284 municipalities in South Africa, yet there are private sector partnerships in only five of these. He says that local municipalities have made agreements not to sell assets or utilities. "All the five municipalities have done is to have partnerships with foreign companies for a set period of time." Kasrils said that it was important in some areas to collaborate with the private sector to ensure an efficient service and ample water supplies. He said that foreign companies are obliged, under South African law, to provide 6,000 litres, or 25 per cent of water supplies, free. They only charge on the remaining 75 per cent, he stressed. "We ensure, from the government's side, that [foreign firms] cannot make a profit from the poor. They can make money from the big mining concerns, big businesses and industries. People should not confuse this strategy with privatisation," Kasrils says. "The fringe protesters are either confused or they have another agenda," he warns. "We are not selling off assets. This is a management contract. The reason that we've allowed such partnerships is that it helps mobilise additional capital. The foreign companies make important investments in infrastructure, pump stations and water reservoirs. We've made quite an impact. We have made the point that it is just not good enough to provide the basics but to aim at improving infrastructure and services. We now have extra capital to put to good use for the benefit of poor people in rural areas." Kasrils says that, of the five South African local governments, or municipalities that have such partnerships with foreign companies -- Johannesburg, which is the largest by far -- has a five year contract. Metropolitan Johannesburg is an amalgamation of 11 previously distinct municipalities, including the sprawling African townships of the apartheid era, such as Soweto. He said that Johannesburg faced unique and complex challenges. The local authorities in Johannesburg looked at the different options. "They saw that they could bring in expertise from abroad. A five-year management contract was worked out. It worked out very well and improved water provision. We now have a better billing system and the metering is efficient. They have been able to improve the service." In the predominantly rural municipality of Nelspruit, a British company, Biwater, was given a 20-year contract. "The interesting thing about Nelspruit was that civil servants who could well afford higher water rates were not paying. They were trying to evade payments. It was not the poor who were complaining about the higher rates, it was the middle classes and the relatively wealthy," Kasrils explains. "The key for delivery of services to the people is local government. Under apartheid, only white municipalities worked. We've had to improve the infrastructure and services of the new multi-racial municipalities in South Africa," Kasrils says. "We are putting a lot of effort to train people and make sure that when democratising services we are empowering the new local government officials. They must have real expertise," he adds. "Local government is essentially about civic awareness." When it comes to sanitation, the situation is much worse. There are 18 million in South Africa without good sanitation. "Poor [and rudimentary] sanitation complicates health problems. Hygiene awareness is very important. People cannot just go into the bush and defecate," he explains. "From my own background in the anti-apartheid struggle, I understand that better sanitation and access to potable water are part of the wider struggle for freedom from poverty, lack and want: part of the struggle for human dignity." Kasrils sees his task in South Africa as a mission to halve the amount of people in the world without clean water -- over a billion -- and the 2.4 billion without adequate sanitation, by 2015. "The stark statistics demonstrate how crucial it is to narrow the divide between rich and poor, the developed and the developing nations, the haves and the have- nots," he says.
