EFF disrupts budget speech over Hammanskraal cholera
“Cilliers Brink said the water doesn’t have cholera, we brought it here today, and he must drink it. We won’t allow these proceedings until our people get justice,” EFF regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu said.
The EFF has disrupted the Tshwane budget speech seating to demand Hammanskraal water problem be resolved first.
Party regional chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu told council that there won’t be any speech until the problem is resolved.
“Cilliers Brink said the water doesn’t have cholera, we brought it here today, and he must drink it. We won’t allow these proceedings until our people get justice,” Ramabodu said.
♦️Media Update♦️
Despite promises by the municipality to address the issue, reports of contaminated water continued to surface, and today we are sitting with 17 people who died after consuming contaminated water supplied by the municipality.#BrinkMustDrinktheHammanskraalWater pic.twitter.com/Pcc75khC3f
— EFF Tshwane Region (@TshwaneEff) May 24, 2023
The metro recently claimed that running water in Hammanskraal had tested negative for cholera yet the diarrhoeal infection had as of Wednesday far claimed 17 lives in Hammanskraal.
The north of Pretoria has been riddled with poor sanitation and water issues for years, becoming a hub for the bacterial disease to spread.
According to reports, both social development and health departments are said to be on the ground, educating communities about preventative measures amid the cholera outbreak.
A local councillor however believes that the number of the deceased has likely increased to 20 – instead of the 17 as reported.
ANC EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THE CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN HAMMANSKRAAL
The ANC also expressed concern over the outbreak which continued to ravage communities of Hammanskraal.
The party said it was outraged by the DA’s actions, “which continued to trample on the dignity of the people of Hammanskraal”.
“The ANC commends the decisive interventions by the Department of Water and Sanitation and Gauteng health department to curb the spread of cholera and prevent further loss of life,” the party said in a statement.
The DA in Tshwane hit back at the ANC for accusing it of “typical defensive, buck-passing and finger-pointing exercises without accepting any responsibility”.
Tshwane DA caucus leader Jacqui Uys said it was disconcerting that, amid a rapidly developing public health situation with all facts not yet known, the ANC was playing political games and shifting blame for the challenges at the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant, rather than focusing on finding solutions.
The seating was adjourned as the Speaker called a meeting of all political party chief whips.
At had not resumed at the time of publication.
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