The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) welcomes the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) public hearings currently taking place on the state of water provision in the province.
The hearings, which take place this week in Durban, come after the Commission received 600 complaints regarding water supply in the province. The inquiry will ultimately determine whether water service authorities violated residents’ rights to access clean drinking water.
In particular, the DA welcomes the fact that newly-elected Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube will appear before the Commission.
It should be remembered that this is the very same individual who tore up a petition from the people of Ugu, regarding their ongoing water crisis, during a Legislature Sitting in 2017. This while she was Cogta MEC in the province.
Then, there is the testimony by KZN’s new Cogta MEC, Sihle Zikalala during Tuesday’s hearing.
Listening to the MEC, one would think that our province is only experiencing minor water issues, with solutions around the corner.
This while the reality is that water provision in KZN is in a terrible state and – in the words of the Commissioners, is only getting worse.
They have further acknowledged that the crisis is now five years in the making.
As the former Premier, MEC Zikalala cannot try to hide behind the fact that he is new in his MEC role. A vast amount of the deterioration happened under his watch as Premier and the truth is that the buck stops with him.
It is due to his ANC government’s inaction that Ugu residents are still without water more often than not.
Despite his obvious role in this crisis, all we heard from the MEC was a lot of hot air, amid praise for his government’s brilliant plans – plans that mean nothing if the water is not flowing.
The DA hopes that through this process and their recommendations, the SAHRC will come to the aid of KZN’s people who are desperately calling out for water.
MARTIN MEYER MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Cogta
(Letter shortened)
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
