Uncaring ANC stops DA from providing Masilonyana residents with water

18 July 2016

The obviously threatened ANC-run Masilonyana Municipality in the Free State has today filed an interdict attempting to stop the DA from providing residents of this municipality with water they have been without for time which is directly attributable to the municipality’s failure to do so despite repeated calls by the DA for it to act swiftly in this regard.

That the ANC-run municipality wishes to file this interdict thereby precluding these residents from getting access to the water they desperately need is indicative of just how uncaring the ANC is. They would rather the residents of Masilonyana suffer further for the purposes of political point-scoring instead of welcoming the DA’s assistance.

This comes after the ANC has failed to provide residents, businesses and the agricultural sector with clean and safe water. The DA, with the support of civil society, stepped in to assist residents by providing them with much-needed water. The current water crisis has been ongoing for a number of years and Masilonyana failed to come up with a strategy to prevent or solve this crisis.

Access to a sustainable and safe water supply is a basic human right, enshrined in our Constitution. The DA reported the matter to the SAHRC in 2013. The Municipality was found guilty and failed to implement the commission’s recommendations. 

The DA then marched with the residents of Brandfort to hand over a memorandum to the Municipality. Unsurprisingly no one from the Municipality was there to receive the memorandum, a further sign of an uncaring government. 

A lack of sufficient infrastructure and proper maintenance as well as a shortage of skills due to cadre deployment, are some of the main reasons for the water crisis this community is facing. The blame cannot be solely placed on the drought. 

We will continue to deliver water to this community and will not be intimidated by an uncaring, embarrassed ANC. 

Where the DA governs water provision is of utmost importance, hence the continued maintenance of water infrastructure and hiring of capable technicians. A DA government in the Free State would have foreseen this disaster, and would have ensured that there are measures in place to assist our people in times of crisis.  

On 3 August the residents of Masilonyana can vote for change that delivers better quality services and moves the community forward again. 

Issued by Patricia Kopane, DA Free State Leader, 18 July 2016