Ugu water woes: Human Rights Commission conducts investigations
Ugu council should be held accountable for water provision issues, Dave Watson
Following countless complaints over the years from residents in the Ugu District, the South African Human Rights Commission has decided to conduct an investigation which has now been handed over to the court of law for ruling.
Dave Watson believes Ugu should be held accountable for water provisions issues.
The former councillor and community activist represented the region at the hearings.
He shared the many, vast and wide-ranging challenges and side effects of the plight the people in the Ugu region faced with regards to water supply.
According to SAHRC, the Commission was requested to conduct investigations – since 2015.
However, at the time the issues were resolved quickly as the complaints were from individuals.
SAHRC acting provincial manager, Pavershree Padayachee, said the Commission again received an influx of complaints in 2017 and 2018 and thereafter made a decision to investigate the matter under its own name, in order to address this systemic challenge or violation.
Padayachee said the Commission conducted inspections and engaged with Ugu District through correspondence and meetings.
“During 2019 we issued a notice to appear to the Municipal Manager and an inquiry was held as part of our investigation. The Commission further engaged with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) through the office of our commissioner responsible for water and sanitation,” she said.
“Certain challenges were addressed and we noted a decline in the complaints for the periods 2020 and 2021. We continued to monitor the matter, and at the beginning of 2022 we again saw an increase in the complaints.”
Padayachee explained that during March 2022 the Commission conducted an inspection in the entire district.
Having noted that the water challenges were affecting all districts in the province, the Commission has since resolved to hold a provincial inquiry into the shortage of water in the province.
The recent April and May floods, which damaged infrastructure, had further severely contributed to this challenge.
In the week of August 15 to 19, the Commission held a provincial inquiry on access to water wherein it heard various evidence from the municipalities, water service providers, government and non-governmental organisations and complainants.
Padayachee said as a resolution from the inquiry, the Commission decided to conduct more investigations, however, these cannot be published.
She confirmed that proceedings were ongoing.
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