ActionSA ‘plans’ to take Ugu to court

Political party ActionSA said it is in talks with its legal representative as it plans to take Ugu District Municipality to court for violating residents’ constitutional right to basic water.

The party’s national chairperson, Michael Beaumont, said after engaging with Port Edward residents recently and on going through the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) water inquiry report on KZN, they want the courts to compel Ugu and the provincial government to fulfil people’s constitutional right to water in their taps.

Beaumont spoke at a community engagement session in Port Edward, where he was accompanied by the ActionSA KZN Premier candidate, Zwakele Mncwango.

“We are in Port Edwards to listen to the crisis that is affecting the community. We presented the ActionSA plan to address the water crisis in South Africa, but here in Port Edward, I heard from residents that some of them have not had water coming out of their taps for years. It is a travesty, it is a disgrace and it is an offence to a Constitution that promises every citizen of this country free and safe water,” said Beaumont, adding that they are working with their legal team to take the district municipality to court.

Mncwango said the objective of the visit was to get insight into the challenges faced by Port Edwards residents.

He said a recurring concern raised was the lack of access to clean and drinkable water.

He said Ugu’s failure to provide clean, drinkable water presents a severe violation of their basic constitutional rights, saying that access to clean water is not just a necessity but a fundamental human right outlined in the South African Constitution.

Mncwango said the neglect has subjected residents to unacceptable living conditions and health risks, adding that the lack of access to clean water compromises the well-being of residents and undermines their dignity.

“Last year, the SAHRC released a water inquiry report which exposed concerning realities of water accessibility in the province. The distressing challenges encountered by residents of Ugu are particularly disturbing. The report highlights that the residents of the district believe that municipal officials are in denial of the water crisis, also highlighting that a home for the elderly and orphaned have made attempts since 2017 to address the crisis as it left them unable to fulfil their services, however, promises were made by officials to provide water tankers but were never fulfilled,” he said.

He added that one of the key issues outlined by the SAHRC was the lack of accountability in performances by municipalities to their constitutional obligations to provide clean running water to community members.

Mncwango said this was among the reasons why they want to take the district municipality to court.

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