Earlier in the day the North Gauteng High Court ordered the municipality to provide potable water to residents on a temporary basis.

Given the battle which activists have endured to get the municipality to look after the residents’ water needs, we don’t blame them for being sceptical about these well-timed test results.

Separate, independent tests should be carried out on a continuous basis before any relaxation of the court order is even contemplated.

As we have commented after the Gauteng e-toll judgment and other cases, it is remarkable how many times government at any level has to be dragged to court in order simply to do its job and look after the interests of ordinary people.

Of course, taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money is used to defend these indefensible official positions, which itself  is an injustice.

Hats off to the  Federation for Sustainable Environment and fellow activists for  their victory so far.