OPINION: Ugu water crisis – MEC Zikalala refuses to apologise, denies human rights violation

A parliamentary reply to questions by the DA has seen former KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier and now Cogta MEC, Sihle Zikalala refuse to apologise to the people of Ugu for years of almost non-existent water supply, along with a denial that the untenable situation constitutes a violation of basic human rights.

The questions – originally submitted as oral questions – were replied to in writing after a July Sitting was cancelled.

According to the MEC’s response “the rights as reflected in the Bill of Rights are not absolute” when it comes to water provision.

This while he further claims that there are times when, due to circumstance, water cannot be delivered.

The DA is stunned by the MECs reply.

While we acknowledge that in certain cases – such as drought – this must be taken into consideration, the situation in Ugu is entirely different.

In this case, the ongoing lack of water provision is a man-made disaster which could have been prevented through proper maintenance and planning by the ANC government.

That the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) decided to investigate the matter also shows that there is backing for this idea.

In addition, despite more than five years having passed, there has been little progress in fixing what is broken.

This in itself is a direct violation of the Bill of Rights with Section 27 stating the right to health care, food, water and social security.

The DA also asked MEC Zikalala whether he would apologise to the people of Ugu for what they have endured during the past five years.

He has refused to do so on the basis that headway has been made.

We invite the MEC to visit Ugu and ask the people how they feel about this so-called progress.

The reality is that elderly people are struggling to collect water from tankers, schools and healthcare facilities cannot function as their pipes keep running dry and residents are left without water for days and sometimes weeks at a time.

Not only is the MEC unclear on the Bill of Rights, he is out of touch with the feeling on the ground. And no matter how he tries to spin it, the fact is that the people of Ugu still do not have proper access to water.

While the MEC’s blasé approach to the Bill of Rights is alarming it is not surprising.

This, after all, is the same individual who, as Premier, used Human Rights Day earlier this year to call for a review of the Constitution, saying that South Africa should not be a constitutional democracy.

The DA’s questions provided MEC Zikalala with an ideal opportunity to show compassion and account to the people of Ugu while committing to real progress.

Instead, he has insulted this community yet again with vague and baseless comments while failing to provide clear feedback on the way forward.

The DA remains committed to the values of our Constitution.

We will continue to fight for the Human Rights of all South Africans, including the people of Ugu whose rights are being trampled on by an uncaring ANC government.

MARTIN MEYER MPL DA KZN Spokesman on Cogta

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