Open toilets still exist in Moqhaka as DA leads protest

The DA has led the Rammulotsi community in a protest march to the Moqhaka Municipality for failing to build toilet facilities and enclose open toilets for residents in Viljoenskroon despite a Human Rights Commission order.

Open toilets built in Rammulotsi have still not been enclosed one year after the DA last visited the area.

We first laid a complaint with the HRC in May 2011, and again in March 2012. Last week we demanded the subpoena Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and MEC Olly Mlamleni to appear in Parliament.

In addition, new houses are now being built in the Northleigh section of the community without any connection to sanitation.

Around 750 shacks have also been erected in the area on the promise of VIP toilets that were never installed.

Two orders from the HRC to respect the dignity of residents and build proper toilets are being ignored by the municipality.

As a result, residents make use of bucket-system sanitation, which is another human right violation by Moqhaka Municipality.

The memorandum delivered by the DA on behalf of the community today demands that the municipality provide proper toilets to residents and enclose open toilets immediately.

The mayor must hold a community forum to answer all questions and concerns in the interim.

We are also demanding that officials be held accountable for the ongoing neglect of residents human rights. 

A report must be tabled in a special meeting of the municipal council within 14 days on how the specific officials will be held accountable and how this situation will be prevented in the future.

Statement issued by Patricia Kopane, DA Free State Provincial Leader, April 5 2013

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