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While Hondeklip Bay residents – and particularly guesthouses – are on their knees from crippling water shortages during flower season, Kamiesberg municipality has chosen to hit them when they are down. This comes as the municipality wants to impose water meters on residents of the waterless town, without even attempting to address the causes of the actual water crisis.

Residents are angry. Water is off more than it is on. In fact, there are some places that have not had any water for a month and counting. Introducing water meters now is a case of putting the cart before the horse.

It is increasingly clear that Kamiesberg municipality has its own agenda, which does not include looking out for the best interests of residents.

The municipality has failed dismally to put contingency plans in place to assist all residents without water. It has even failed to accept offers of water assistance, denying the severity of the problem.

The DA wants answers regarding the true state of water affairs in Hondeklip Bay, from technical water experts – not from the ANC government.

We have reported our further concerns to the South African Human Rights Commission, which is already busy investigating the matter, based on past submissions by myself.

I will also request the Department of Water and Sanitation to come and assess the situation.

Residents deserve to know whether the water shortages are due to lack of water, technical problems, municipal incompetence or even sabotage.

Water is a basic human right and should be accessible to all and manipulated by none, least of all the failing ANC municipality.

Issued by DA Northern Cape Constituency Head of Kamiesberg, Veronica van Dyk MP