A letter to the editor in the Herald on March 6 from the provincial coordinator of AfriForum, Eugene van Aswegen, describes the water supply issue to the Ugu District Council region.
I believe he speaks on behalf of the entire South Coast community, as all have had to endure ongoing water problems year after year. This has become a human rights issue.
Without going into detail on the rights of the community and the obligations of the hopeless Ugu council to provide water, the spokesperson, France Zama, has shown his inability to express himself without having to revert to racism.
Van Aswegen has been polite, objective and accurate by not only himself but the observations of thousands of community members on the South Coast.
In addition to the duty of care to supply water for basic hygiene and livelihood, I would remind him (Zama) that the supply of water to built-up areas on the South Coast does not meet the minimum pressure and flow requirements for fire-fighting for the protection of life and property, as required by national and international standards.
Recent fires have suggested this, and insurers and loss adjustors should be mindful of the inability of emergency services to provide any meaningful prevention and protection.
ROBERT JOHN BIDGOOD
(MSc MIFireE NDipSAM CMIOSH. MIAAI)
Port Shepstone
Note: The letter has been sent to Ugu District Municipality for response, but none has been received.
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