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Chris Hani Water and Sanitation Crisis

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DA lays criminal charges against Chris Hani District Municipality

Dear MyPE

The inability of the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) to address the water and sanitation crisis across the district is criminal and will now be investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS)

On Wednesday, 11 March 2020, I was joined by DA Enoch Mgijima Constituency Leader, Jane Cowley, MPL, in laying criminal charges against the Municipal Manager of the CHDM, Mr Gcobani Mashiyi , at the Komani Police Station with regards to this crisis. The charges relate to Section 151 (1) of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.

This water crisis is caused by a lack of sufficient capital budget to replace ageing infrastructure or build new infrastructure, a shortage of sufficient human resources to deal with daily supply interruptions and a lack of capacity to deal with emergency situations.

The CHDM provides water and sanitation services to six local municipalities namely: Inxuba Yethemba, Enoch Mgijima, Intiska Yethu, Emalahleni, Engcobo, and Sakhisizwe. All of these municipalities have been affected by almost daily water interruptions and in some instances areas have been left without water for months on end.

There is currently not a single Waste Water Treatment Plant under control of the municipality that is not totally dysfunctional or dealing with serious malfunctions.

Raw sewage is flowing into large water resources such as the Great Fish River and Great Kei River and this can have a negative impact on the economy and health of the people of the Eastern Cape.

I recently wrote to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, and called on her to establish a Water Services Committee in terms of Section 51 of the Water Services Act in order for it to take over the provision of water and sanitation from the CHDM. In spite of the escalating crisis I have not received a reply from Minister Sisulu.

The DA has been conducting water and sanitation oversight inspections across the CHDM and have recorded video footage and taken pictures of how the municipality is failing in its duties. These recording and pictures will be added to a dossier, which will include affidavits by myself and MPL Cowley, and sent to Minister Sisulu.

The failure of the Municipal Manager to take suitable action in order to prevent the pollution and contamination of our natural resources, puts him in contravention of Section 151(1) and (2) of the National Water Act 36 of 1998. If he is found guilty he can face either up to 10 years imprisonment, a substantial fine or both. It is high time that negligent and irresponsible municipal officials are held criminally accountable for the destruction of our natural water resources.

The DA is committed to fight for a clean and healthy environment to ensure people are not poisoned by failing infrastructure. This collapsing ANC government, along with its officials, must be held fully accountable.

Regards

Retief Odendaal MPL
EC Midlands Constituency Leader

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