The Democratic Alliance (DA) is growing increasingly concerned that enduring water challenges within Kamiesberg municipality are an attempt to sabotage support for the DA in the area, of which a new ward was recently won by the DA in the 2021 Local Government Elections.
Ongoing water shortages continue to plague Garies, Hondeklip Bay and Koingnaas and we are at odds with the Kamiesberg municipality as we try and obtain information on the increasingly volatile water situation.
While water cuts in the Kamiesberg are not a new phenomenon, the way in which information is being withheld from the DA has raised our suspicions that the water situation is in some way being manipulated to try and make the DA look bad.
This year already got off to a bad start, with residents having experienced water cuts that lasted more than 14 days, affecting businesses, guest houses and even the Garies hospital, whose tanks were empty at a stage. While water would go on randomly for about 30 minutes at a time, this was insufficient to replenish reservoirs, and for people to fill their own personal reserves.
It cannot be that we have to find out via a third party that the municipality is apparently experiencing challenges in respect of the couriers that had to ferry in chemicals.
As a democratically elected councillor, myself and the community whom I serve, have every right to know why their businesses have to lose money and why they must lose dignity, because of a lack of running water in their taps. If the municipality can’t provide water, then the very least that it is dutifully bound to provide, is transparent answers.
The DA will report our concerns relating to possible political sabotage to COGHSTA MEC, Bentley Vass, who has a responsibility to all municipalities, and all residents, and not just residents residing in ANC wards.
Constituency Head, Veronica Van Dyk, will further provide an update to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), who has already investigated her complaint relating to water challenges in the Kamiesberg area.