Oversight inspections conducted in Douglas today, with DA Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, shone the spotlight on government’s failure to ensure dignified services to the communities of Bucklands, Selfbou and New Park.
All three of these communities have been forgotten and don’t have access to clean, piped water or proper sanitation facilities.
In Mandelaplaas in Bucklands, a borehole that is serving 60 shanties, is not working. Residents make use of untreated canal water, which is not according to South African National Standards (SANS). This is unsafe and places residents at risk of illness.
The DA appreciates Seitlholo’s commitment to ensure that the borehole is reconnected. This will go a long way to restoring residents’ water rights.
In Selfbou and New Park in Riemvasmaak, residents are dependent on Jo-Jo tanks erected by the DA, for water. Tragically, one of these Jo-Jo tanks, which was still full of water, was purposefully pushed off its stand during the past week, causing it to shatter. The DA condemns the sabotage of water infrastructure, that will rob people of access to water.
The DA has donated an additional Jo-Jo tank to both Selfbou and New Park. We will also continue to seek cooperation from the municipality to enable us to lay a water pipeline from the Jo-Jos, to expand access to water.
That these areas are also without any kind of toilet facilities, and that people use the bush to relieve themselves, is a gross service failure and violation of people’s constitutional rights. We will continue to put pressure on all three spheres of government, to ensure that addressing this sanitation shortfall is prioritised.
Government must be held accountable for ensuring that basic services are delivered to all communities.