Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement nothing more than desperate ANC thuggery in disguise

The Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement is run by ANC Youth League members and expelled City of Cape Town Councillors Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla. They are not a civil society movement but an ANC organisation that is encouraged in its lawlessness by top leaders, most recently Minister Angie Motshekga and a few weeks ago by Bheki Cele (see Cape Argus report).

Portable flush toilets (PFTs) are a service provided over and above other sanitation types. PFTs have been voluntarily accepted by over 20 400 residents across the city and the overwhelming feedback the City gets from residents is positive. The PFT is a hygienic, safe and dignified sanitation option that is fully flushable and serviced three times a week or as per agreement with the community. The City of Cape Town, according to National Government, has the best sanitation in the country

The Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement has been responsible for numerous illegal marches, looting, vandalism and prevention of service delivery - with the biggest victims being some of our poorest communities, who they claim to represent. Many communities live in fear of them and suffer as a result. The only areas where City contractors have difficulty in servicing areas are where their membership is strong. Despite this, the City has made interim plans to service the areas themselves.

In recent weeks, the Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement has been encouraged by ANC National Leaders Bheki Cele and Angie Motshekga to continue as they are; they have even been commended.

Since the DA took over in 2006, the toilet provision to informal settlements has increased from 14 500 to 44 800. This is an increase of 300%.  By the end of this financial year, there will be approximately 10 500 taps in informal settlements across the city, with around 2 000 being installed in the past and current financial year. In the same period, the budget for water and sanitation provision to informal settlements has increased by over 185%.

The National Department of Water Affairs reports that Cape Town has 100% access to sanitation in informal settlements. The Census of 2011 also indicated that Cape Town has the best access to sanitation in informal settlements. This is despite the population growing by 30% in 10 years.

So far in this financial year the City has provided over 8 100 toilets of various types. The City has to date provided over 20 400 portable flush toilets and 5 800 of these have been provided across the city since July 2013. The portable flush toilet is provided on a purely voluntary basis, i.e. upon a request from the individual beneficiary. 

The Water and Sanitation Department's Informal Settlements Unit plans to build around 1 300 full flush toilets in this financial year. This will cost around R14,3 million and will be in areas across the city including Imizamo Yethu, Overcome Heights, Masiphumelele, Freedom Park, Burundi, Polile, Rasta Kamp, SST Section, Enkanini, and Lansdowne Road.

Full flush toilets cannot be installed on privately-owned property, on old landfill sites, on road reserves, under power lines and in water bodies, amongst others.  To do so would be in contravention of National Government legislation and considered wasteful expenditure by the Auditor General.  In total, 82% of informal settlements are either fully or partially affected by such constraints. For example, in:

Europe/Kanana/Barcelona: 15 000 dwellings. This informal settlement is on an old landfill site.

Block 6 Philippi: 800 dwellings. This informal settlement is on a portion in road reserve and wetland.

RR section: 3 154 dwellings. This informal settlement is partly on road reserve and under power lines

Despite these legal and physical constraints, the City still provides the highest level of service possible through alternative sanitation types.

Statement issued by Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg, Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, City of Cape Town, April 29 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter