More than twelve years later and three years into Lekwa Community Forum’s (LCF) administration, the community members of Ward 5, which includes Palama, Ext.2, KaMqhewane, and Mapheshini sections, are still denied access to water.
As indicated previously, these sections have infrastructure, i.e., pipes and taps in their homes. They used to have running water in their taps, but the water supply was interrupted more than twelve years ago.
We had hoped that these issues would be resolved under the LCF-led administration, so we supported their decision to lead the municipality.
However, the water situation in the above-mentioned areas remains unchanged and in some cases worsened under the LCF-led administration. The water situation keeps deteriorating, areas that never struggled with water supply are now without water ie. ext 8 situated in Ward 9 as well as Rooikoppen situated in Ward 11. Not only does the whole municipality get low water pressure from their taps but this has put an enormous strain on the areas where local clinics and hospitals are located. We have received numerous reports indicating that on some days the local clinics close early due to the unavailability of water, this prevents their patients from being able to wash their hands and flush toilets which puts them at risk of contracting various bacteria.
We demand Lekwa Municipality under the LCF-led administration ensure there is water supply urgently to the affected areas.
Furthermore, we call on the municipality to urgently attend to the quality of water received in Lekwa, our oversights to Standerton Hospital conducted a few months ago revealed that the number 3 cause of death was caused by gastro-related illnesses which emanates from the poor quality of water consumed by community members.
We also call on the municipality to address the issue of raw or semi-treated human sewage which has been pouring into Vaal river for many years.
This is a violation of human rights and goes against section 27 of the Constitution referring to Health care, food, water and social security which states:
- Everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care;
- sufficient food and water; and
- social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.
- The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.
We call on the LCF-led administration to attend to this matter urgently, we will also use all mechanisms in Parliament to ensure this matter is treated with the urgency it deserves.