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Imagine a Council Meeting in Prison!

By

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against the Executive Mayor and Acting City Manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The charges follow after it came to light that the Metro knowingly provided residents with contaminated drinking water over a period of at least four months.

Today, 3 March 2022, I was joined by DA NMB Spokesperson for Public Health, Cllr Georgen Miggels, and DA Cllr Annette Lovemore in laying charges in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act at the Humewood Police Station in Port Elizabeth.

Section 9 of the Act deals with “General duties of employers and self-employed persons to persons other than their employees”. Section 9(1) states: “Every employer shall conduct his undertaking in such a manner as to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable that persons other than those in his employment who may be directly affected by his activities are not thereby exposed to hazards to their health or safety”.

During today’s meeting of the Public Health Committee, a report was tabled that gave feedback on the bacteriological and chemical status of drinking water in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for the months of October, November and December 2021.

It is clear from the report that water testing found that the Metro’s water quality was showing a steady decline in October, November and December of last year. No action was taken by the Municipality and this can only be construed as negligence.

Discoloured water started flowing from taps in January 2022, but the Metro insisted that the water was fit for human consumption. The DA submitted PAIA applications to the Municipality to legally force them to make public the results of water testing. Only after we submitted our second applications on 21 February, did the Metro come clean and informed people that the water was contaminated and should be boiled before consumption.

The Municipality has not conducted its undertaking as described in Section 9 of the Act when it was reasonably practicable to do so. In so doing, hazards to the health and safety of persons other than Metro employees has been caused.

The DA calls on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to act with speed to ensure that those responsible for endangering the health and safety of our people, face the full might of the law.

Regards

Cllr Dries van der Westhuyzen
Ward 1 Councillor and DA NMB Spokesperson for Infrastructure and Engineering

Ward 1 Nelson Mandlea Bay Councillor - Dries van der Westhuyzen
Cllr Dries van der Westhuyzen laying criminal charges at Humewood Police Station.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.