The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and the provincial government, requesting their intervention in two Emalahleni Municipality villages that have been without running water for over a decade.
The residents of the villages Boqgo and Qhugqwaru in Vaalbank have been failed by the CHDM, the designated water and sanitation service provider for the Emalahleni Municipality.
The area has lacked running water for 13 years. Although the CHDM installed standpipes, they never supplied water and have since been vandalised.
I have written to the CHDM Executive Mayor, Cllr Lusanda Sizani, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, requesting urgent intervention.
The Chris Hani District Municipality must also conduct an expedited oversight inspection of the area.
To alleviate the suffering of these villagers, local DA councillors stepped in and in 2021 funded the installation of a borehole in each village. Their plight persists even with the borehole installation, as they must still pool resources to purchase electricity for the pumps that extract water.
Access to water is a basic human right, and the failing ANC-led Chris Hani District Municipality’s uncaring attitude is denying these villagers, who struggle to put food on the table, this fundamental right enshrined in the South African Constitution.
The DA will not fail the people of villages and communities across the Eastern Cape, we will continue to fix what we can, using our own resources, where municipalities fail to fulfil their duties. We will continue this work until we take over government in municipalities and turn service delivery around.
We will fight for the people of the province, ensuring they live a meaningful life of hope, dignity, and access to their basic human rights.