The Kimberley Prospector

Kimberley

LUISTER: Inwoners van Kimberley se waterregte moet beskerm word

Michael Hawthorne

Die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) in die Noord-Kaap is bemoedig dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Menseregtekommissie (SAMRK) ons pleidooi om hulp met die voortslepende skending van Kimberley inwoners se reg op water deur ‘n onverskillige en swygende Sol Plaatje-munisipaliteit aangehoor het.

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Christopher Phiri, DA-koukusleier en raadslid van die Sol Plaatje-munisipaliteit, sê: “My mede-raadslid van die DA, Ockert Fourie, het aanvanklik in Februarie ‘n klag by die SAMRK ingedien en was van toe af met die kommissie in verbinding.  Gister het die DA nog ‘n oproep van die saakondersoeker ontvang wat daarop dui dat verdere ondersoek binnekort sal plaasvind.”

“Die Kimberley-waterkrisis duur al jare lank, wat telkens vererger, en al hoe meer mense raak. Terselfdertyd is daar minder en minder eerlike kommunikasie met inwoners van die munisipaliteit.”

Selfs die Sol Plaatje-raadslede word in die duister gelaat, sê Phiri.

“Gister het ek die Riverton-watersuiweringsaanleg en die Newton-reservoir saam met DA-raadslede Fourie en Norman Maditse besoek. Alhoewel ons ‘n aantal kommerwekkende kwessies waargeneem het, moet ons verdere tegniese leiding by onafhanklike kundiges soek. Dit is onregverdig, nie net vir ons nie, maar ook vir al die inwoners van Kimberley, wie dringend na ons kyk vir antwoorde omdat hul krane droog bly.”

“Burgemeester Patrick Mabilo en die hele span van die burgemeesterskomitee het ál die inwoners van Kimberley in die steek gelaat.”

“Ons hoop dat die SAMRK sy ondersoek sal versnel, Sol Plaatje aanspreeklik sal hou vir hul mislukkings en vinnig met bindende aanbevelings sal kom wat ons kan gebruik om hulle verantwoordelik te hou.”

“Die munisipaliteit het al voorheen goeie advies geïgnoreer en selfs ons eie pogings om probleme in verband met die rioolstelsel op te los, van die hand gewys. Hierdie keer moet hulle nie toegelaat word om instruksies, wat sal help om die stad se waterstelsel reg te stel, te ignoreer nie. Menseregte hang daarvan af,” sluit Phiri af.


Kimberley residents’ water rights must be protected

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is encouraged that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has heard our plea for help, as Kimberley residents’ right to water continues to be violated by an uncaring and uncommunicative Sol Plaatje municipality.

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Christopher Phiri, DA Caucus Leader and a councillor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, says: “While fellow DA councillor, Ockert Fourie, initially submitted a complaint to the SAHRC in February, after the earlier water shutdown catastrophe, the party has been in communication with the commission. Yesterday, we also received a phone call from the case investigator, indicating that further investigations would soon take place.”

“The Kimberley water crisis has been going on for years already, each time worsening, with more people affected for longer timeframes. At the same time, there is less and less honest communication forthcoming from the municipality.”

Even the Sol Plaatje councillors are left in the dark, says Phiri.

“Just yesterday, I visited the Riverton Water Purification Plant and the Newton Reservoir with DA councillors Fourie and Norman Maditse. While we observed a number of worrying issues, we are forced to rather seek further technical guidance from independent experts. This is unfair, not only to us but to all the residents of Kimberley, who look to us for urgent answers, as their taps remain dry.”

“Mayor Patrick Mabilo, and the whole of his MAYCO team have let all the people of Kimberley down. We hope that the SAHRC will expedite its investigation, hold Sol Plaatje accountable for their failures and quickly come with binding recommendations which we use to hold them accountable.”

“The municipality has previously chosen to turn its back on good advice, and even decline our own offers to assist in resolving issues related to the sewerage system. This time round, they must not be allowed to ignore instruction that will assist in fixing the city’s water system. People’s rights depend on it.”

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