Die burgerregte organisasie, AfriForum, het Dinsdag sy teleurstelling uitgespreek nadat hy nie Maandag kon slaag met ’n dringende hofaansoek teen die Ngwathe Munisipaliteit oor Parys se drinkwater nie. Die organisasie wou met ‘n dringende hofbevel die munisipaliteit dwing om onmiddellike aandag aan die swak gehalte van kraanwater te gee. Die regter het egter nie die aansoek toegestaan nie.
AfriForum het in ‘n verklaring gesê hy is teleurgesteld omdat die hof Parys se waterkwessie en inwoners se welstand klaarblyklik nie as dringend beskou nie, maar het bygevoeg dat hy nie sal ophou om druk op die munisipaliteit te plaas oor die gehalte van Parys se drinkwater nie. “Elke inwoner het die reg tot skoon drinkwater en dit is immers die munisipaliteit se plig om dit te verskaf.”
Met verwysing na die voortslepende waterkwessie het AfriForum gesê dat met sy tweede brief aan die munsipaliteit, laasgenoemde Afriforum wel versoek het om met hulle te vergader, maar dat die hofproses toe reeds aan die gang was.
Volgens Alta Pretorius, AfriForum se distriks- koördineerder vir Mooirivier, sal die organisasie steeds met die munisipaliteit vergader omdat die saak oor veilige water vir die gemeenskap gaan, en AfriForum bereid is om saam met die munisipaliteit na oplossings te soek.
Die plaaslike AfriForum-tak het intussen ’n watertenk by die NG Parys-Suid gemeente opgerig, waar boorgatwater vir die publiek beskikbaar is. ’n Monster van dié water word tans by ’n laborato- rium getoets om seker te maak dat dit vir menslike gebruik geskik is. Die publiek sal oor die uitslag in kennis gestel word. Daar is ook waterpunte in Sasolburg en Vanderbijlpark, waar plaaslike AfriForum-takke water insamel om dit in Parys te versprei.
Sy sê inwoners kla al vir ‘n geruime tyd oor die onaanvaarbare groen en bruin kleur van drinkwater wat uit krane kom, die stank van die water, en selfs rooiwurms wat glo in die water gekry is. Op sosiale media word foto’s van die drinkwater gereeld gedeel.
Die groep wou met sy aansoek die munisipaliteit dwing om binne ‘n maand toetsuitslae aan AfriForum beskikbaar te stel om te wys watter stappe gedoen is om die water te behandel.

Ngwathe Municipal Manager, Mr Bruce Kannemeyer replies:
In answer to AfriForum’s court action, Ngwathe Municipal Manager, Mr Bruce Kannemeyer said that municipality regard the water issues as extremely urgent and that the municipality share residents’ concern that the challenges with water quality and supply must come to an end.
He said that municipality is bringing in as many experts as possible to help, and to work together in a constructive way to find solutions.
He said that AfriForum’s action was very unfortunate, seeing that municipality welcomed their concern and action after their first letter sent to municipality in October. He also referred to a letter from AfriForum on 4 November where it was stated that their latest test results did show improvement in the condition of Parys’ drinking water, although it was not yet up to standard.
He also stated that municipality on 5 November responded to Afriforum saying that they are busy with investigations on the water problem and agreed to avail the recent test results. “We are also willing to do combined testing. The Municipality also view AfriForum as a potentional partner in this matter”, the letter stated.
He said that although AfriForum requested in their second letter a meeting with municipality to discuss concerns, they were to their surprise informed that AfriForum was taking the legal route when trying to set a date for the meeting.
He stressed that Ngwathe is doing tests on the drinking water on a daily basis, with a full analysis done weekly by independant laboratories.
He said that high Manganese levels probably in the water network is causing the discolouration of the water, and that, although it is no excuse, Parys is faced with huge challenges being downstream from industrial areas and sewer spill from other municipalities which has made media headlines earlier on.
He said that as water was the main concern at recent IDP meetings in all Ngwathe wards, it is top priority for the municipality to find solutions. Therefore Cogta, De Beers and Rand Water among others, came aboard.
He also mentioned the establishment of a Mayoral Task Team to oversee that urgent action is taken to address the water issues and to communicate more effectively than in the past, with the public. He said that the municipality still want to meet with AfriForum because they have skills and capacity that can help find solutions for the water problems. He asked residents to please add addresses and dates when taking photos of drinking water so that issues can be addressed more effectively, and that municipality will act where it is found that employees don’t adhere to what is expected from them.