‘DA to take Sol Plaatje to human rights commission about water crisis’
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will refer Sol Plaatje municipality’s latest failure to supply most Kimberley residents with water for three days, and some even longer, to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) given that the water crisis is largely brought on by a lack of foresight and planning.
This is according to the DA in the Northern Cape.
The DA in the Northern Cape said that: ‘Having been on site at both Riverton and the Newton Reservoir for most of the weekend, it is clear that the municipality has again failed to proactively manage the city’s water supply and infrastructure.Given widespread flood warnings across the country, it is inconceivable that no contingency plans were put in place in the event of a very probable water crisis arising. Monitoring of the water quality should have been prioritised but instead, when the muddied flood water blocked the filters, the municipality was caught off guard.’
‘They should have known better – the same thing happened with previous floods.It is unacceptable that the acting municipal manger, Mr Boy Dhluwayo, was nowhere to be seen at the peak of this water crisis and that only today, did the municipality start with a rollout of JoJo tanks and water trucks to worst affected communities.’
‘The emergency meeting that has been scheduled for today, for all Sol Plaatje Mayoral Committee members, senior managers and section 79 chairpersons is also long overdue.Sol Plaatje’s regular water crises, its nightly water cuts and even its excessive losses of about 60% of our water resources on an annual basis, is a clear indication that the municipality is incapable of ensuring sustainable provision of water to residents.’
‘Aside from submitting a complaint to the SAHRC, the DA will pursue engagements that are already underway, with the Department of Water and Sanitation, for them to institute a water intervention in Sol Plaatje.’
‘The DA will also be seeking the latest financial statements of the municipality, to establish whether there is any truth to allegations that our water woes are being aggravated by the municipality’s outstanding debt owed to water works.’
‘The violation of residents’ basic human right to access to water, due to incompetence and mismanagement, cannot be tolerated. ‘
*media statement
