The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) visited Standerton on Thursday, February 17 after the community lodged numerous complaints about service delivery.
The Standerton Advertiser met the team consisting of Commissioner Jonas Sibanyoni, Mluleki Marongo, Thobile Sibanyoni and Olga Mahori just before 8:00 and identified some of the hot spots in mid-town.
Sibanyoni gave the background to their visit and indicated that the inspections follow an investigative hearing of the SAHRC into the state of service delivery.
It was held in September and October last year, where all the municipalities in Mpumalanga appeared before the SAHRC.
“We are following up on 17 municipalities in Mpumalanga,” she said.
“We are here to check for ourselves.”
A former DA-councillor, Louis Jansen van Rensburg who represented Ward 4, appeared before the commission on 30 November 2019.
The SAHRC is also monitoring the implementation of their recommendations of their investigative report issued against Lekwa in 2019.
It deals primarily with sewage spillages in Rooikoppen, Ext 8 and other areas within Lekwa.
The team was in Mkhondo (Piet Retief) on Monday, Pixley ka Seme (Volksrust) on Tuesday and Dipaleseng (Balfour) on Wednesday.
The potholed roads of Berg Street, Schwickard Street, Coligny Street were driven at a snail’s pace and water and sewage spillages recorded.
“One knows someone is sober when swerving to avoid potholes,” Commissioner Sibanyoni said.
Sibanyoni commented with regards to water supply that in most areas that were visited, it was found that supply is not consistent and not everyone is in a position to buy water.
A tour of the pump stations was on the cards as well as interviews with residents.
According to the team, a number of problems has been found for example sewage spillages resulting from ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance and non-collection of refuse.
Lekwa Municipality had already appeared at a hearing in Mbombela.
They have been on a rocky road with inter alia cancelled council meetings, political upheaval, protests, internal load-shedding, appointment of an administrator, intervention by cabinet and elections of new and seasoned councillors.
Basic human rights which local government should provide, are clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, shelter, waste removal and accessible roads.
Dignity is enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The SAHRC, dating back to October 1995, places great value on constitutional democracy by promoting, protecting and monitoring everyone’s human rights without fear, favour or prejudice.
They aimed at establishing a comprehensive historical record of violations and abuses by public institutions and holders of public office during periods of unconstitutional government.
The SAHRC will compile their inspection reports, which will ultimately be incorporated into the hearing report, to be shared with the relevant stakeholders.
