DA calls for SA Human Rights Commission to declare eThekwini Municipality “Human Rights Violators"
23 January 2024
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has formally lodged an appeal to the South African Human Rights Commission (View here) to urgently hold public hearings in the North of eThekwini and investigate the ongoing water crisis that has gripped communities in Phoenix, Tongaat, Durban North and KwaMashu.
It is unthinkable that the community of Bester in KwaMashu has not had water for 14 years and Tongaat has not had water for 90 days. Phoenix continues to have daily water outages without explanation.
It is the DA’s view that the ANC-EFF eThekwini Municipality is guilty of human rights violations for their failure to provide water to these residents as required in terms of Section 27 of the Bill of Rights.
It explains why there has been an explosion of protests in the last few days against the lack of water being provided. The DA fully sympathises with residents who continue to suffer under this illegitimate government.
DA Councillors have been working day and night to get answers from officials, including the City Manager, Musa Mbhele and the Head of Water and Sanitation, Ednick Msweli who have been entirely absent and silent. In fact, they don’t answer their phones or either turn them off. DA Councillors have even gone as far as trying to organise their own water tankers because they are only allocated 1 or 2 tankers per ward to service 20 000 people.
The Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, has once again been entirely absent during this crisis while the EFF-run Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure (which includes water) has absolutely nothing to say. This unholy and corrupt alliance between the ANC and EFF which is more focused on spending money on alcohol and parties is directly to blame for this crisis.
The DA will follow up every day to ascertain progress of our appeal and continue to provide feedback to the community.
Issued by Francois Rodgers, DA KZN Provincial Leader, 23 January 2024
