The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Public Servants Association (PSA) calls on the Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Mayor of Tshwane to urgently provide an update on measures taken to resolve the current water crisis affecting Bronkhorstspruit, Pretoria East, and surrounding areas.

The ongoing water crisis has a significant impact on communities and public servants who serve members of the public at various government facilities, including clinics, schools, hospitals, and courts. These employees are expected to carry out their duties under challenging circumstances whilst facing uncertainty regarding the availability of safe drinking water.

The PSA is concerned about the health, safety, and well-being of public servants and the communities they serve. Access to clean, safe drinking water is essential, particularly in healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and courts, where employees and members of the public rely on appropriate hygiene and safe working conditions.

All employers are urged to take immediate precautionary measures by ensuring that employees have access to sufficient, safe drinking water whilst the crisis persists. Where the existing water supply has not been confirmed safe for consumption, employers should provide suitable alternatives, including bottled drinking water or other approved sources of safe water. Public servants should not be expected to perform their duties without access to this necessity. Employers have a responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect the health, safety, and well-being of their employees whilst ensuring continued delivery of essential public services.

The PSA demands urgent and transparent communication from the responsible authorities, together with practical interventions to restore a safe and reliable water supply to the affected areas. The Minister of Water and Sanitation and the relevant municipal authorities must urgently disclose the specific locations where the 36 water tanks will be stationed to provide relief to affected communities in Bronkhorstspruit, Pretoria East, and surrounding areas. The PSA calls for transparent communication regarding the distribution of these tanks, the communities and public facilities they are intended to serve, and arrangements for ensuring a reliable supply of safe drinking water. This information is essential to enable residents and public servants to identify accessible water points whilst the crisis remains unresolved.

Issued by Public Servants Association