The right of access to water is one of the most important human rights
protected in our Constitution. Without water, there is no life. For
the past two years, the ANC-led provincial government has denied the
people of Loeriesfontein this right – for no other reason than the
fact that they have elected a DA-run municipal council.

Loeriesfontein in the Hantam municipal falls in the Namakwa district,
which was declared a disaster area due to drought in December 2013.
The area is dependent on groundwater. The Hantam municipality is
dedicated to providing services to all residents. Since December 2013,
the Hantam municipality has paid for the establishment of 20 boreholes
in Loeriesfontein. The Hantam municipality has also bought two water
trucks to distribute water to residents. The adjustment appropriation
for 2014/15 also makes provision for another borehole to be dug.

However, the costs of these interim relief measures are far too high
for a local municipality to carry. Each borehole costs R80 000. The
two trucks cost R2.2 million. The diesel for one truck for one month
alone is R150 000 and the overtime to be paid to workers is about R20
000. The municipality also has to budget for maintenance of the two
trucks – and bear in mind, in one month alone, one truck can travel up
to 140 000 kilometers.

So the Hantam municipality has requested assistance from the Office of
the Premier, the MEC for COGHSTA, the Namakwa district municipality
and the national department of Water Affairs. The municipality also
requested help from the South African National Defence Force to assist
with the water trucks.

We are grateful to the national department of Water Affairs, which
contributed R4 million to our efforts and helped with the establishing
of the boreholes. We appreciate the fact that the national department
can lay aside political differences and help us work towards a common
goal.

Aside from their assistance, we have heard nothing from the other
institutions. In fact, we are yet to have the courtesy of a reply from
the Office of the Premier, the MEC for COGHSTA and the Namakwa
district municipality. The SANDF also shrugged their shoulders and
refused to assist. With what the Office of the Premier spends on
takeaways alone, we could afford to pay our workers for three months.
Why is there no assistance forthcoming? Section 27 of the Constitution
enshrines the right of access to “sufficient water”. Why is the
provincial government undermining this important, basic right of our
people?

The only reason for their indifference is the fact that the people of
Loeriesfontein elected a DA-run municipality. In 2011, 42% of the
people in Hantam cast their vote for the DA. This number increased in
the 2014 elections. The ANC is running scared ahead of the 2016
municipal elections and are trying to create the impression that the
DA is failing to provide for the people. It is absolutely despicable
that the ANC is depriving people of their constitutional rights simply
to punish them for voting for us.

As the DA, we have referred this matter to the South African Human
Rights Commission for investigation. We trust that they will
investigate the matter fully and will make recommendations on how to
proceed.

We will not sit idly by while the ANC hampers our service delivery
efforts. We will not allow the ANC-led provincial government to turn
their backs on our people simply to make a political statement.

 

Issued by DA