DA KZN to approach SAHRC over ongoing water crisis in North Durban

22 September 2023

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal strongly condemns the ongoing water crisis that has plagued the North Durban area for the past five days. Access to clean and safe drinking water is not a luxury or privilege but an essential human right, which the ANC-EFF run eThekwini municipality has callously stripped away from the residents of Durban North, Umhlanga and several other affected communities.

The situation is nothing short of a catastrophe, and it is one that cannot and will not be tolerated. We are deeply concerned that this crisis has left nearly 100,000 residents, countless individuals who commute for work or leisure, including patients and staff at two critical hospitals, without access to this necessity.

During this ongoing disaster, the singing and dancing Mxolisi Kaunda who moonlights as the Mayor, has been entirely missing in action which his now a standard response to any crisis that affects residents of eThekwini.

The DA is resolved to take action in response to this dire situation. We firmly believe that this crisis represents a violation of the fundamental human rights of our fellow citizens, and as such, we will be lodging a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to ensure that justice is served.

It matters little whether this water crisis is the result of economic sabotage or sheer administrative incompetence; the consequences remain the same. It is a stark reminder to the residents of North Durban and eThekwini as a whole of the ANC and EFF’s inability to effectively manage the affairs of eThekwini. We cannot allow the well-being and dignity of our citizens to be held hostage by political negligence.

We call upon the ANC-EFF led eThekwini municipality to immediately address this crisis with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

The people of North Durban have suffered for far too long, and they deserve better. We demand that an immediate plan of action be put in place to restore water supply to our communities and to prevent such a disastrous situation from occurring again in the future.

The DA remains committed to holding those in power accountable and to fighting for the rights of all South Africans. We stand with the residents of North Durban and pledge our unwavering support until this crisis is fully resolved.

Issued by Dean Macpherson, DA KZN Chairperson/North Durban Constituency Head, 22 September 2023