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Many representatives of the DA in Gauteng have been receiving calls from residents expressing grave concerns about the interruption of water supply for several days at a time in the Benoni area. This situation is unacceptable and requires immediate attention.

During a recent oversight visit to Rand Water reservoirs in the City of Ekurhuleni, it was observed that the generator at Cloverdene remains non-operational despite repeated efforts by the DA to urge action on the issue. Furthermore, there is no generator at Slatterville to ensure function during loadshedding and the new reservoir at Vlakfontein is yet to be operational.

In response to a parliamentary query I submitted to the Minister of Water and Sanitation regarding the steps taken by Rand Water to ensure a stable supply of water, it was highlighted that Rand Water is implementing strategies towards an energy-efficient approach, one of which includes the installation of generators to mitigate energy supply issues. This is what the DA has been calling for with government simply failing to deliver.

To further drive the issue towards a solution, the DA has submitted a petition to the Portfolio Committee of Water and Sanitation to investigate why Rand Water has not provided generators at their reservoirs and all water lines and water feeding systems. The lack of these generators is resulting in households and businesses being without water for days.

Furthermore, the DA has submitted questions to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, the Minister of Electricity, and the Minister of COGTA, requesting that Rand Water reservoirs and all water pump stations/systems that are providing water to all reservoirs be exempt from load shedding. Water is a Constitutional right and its supply should not be compromised.

I was pleased to receive assurances from the Minister of Water and Sanitation that Rand Water has ringfenced R42 billion to rehabilitate and augment their infrastructure. The DA will do whatever we can to oversee and scrutinise the spending of this vast amount of public money so that it goes where it is needed: to make life better for the people of Gauteng.

The right of access to sufficient water is accorded to everyone in Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water. This right is further reinforced in Chapter 2 of the Constitution of South Africa, which provides that: “Everyone has the right to have access to sufficient food and water.”

I call on Rand Water to join our DA representatives on-site to witness first-hand the non-delivery or implementation of their mitigation plans. The negligence of not having these generators operational is hampering the Constitutional right of provision of water to households.

The DA will continue to highlight the plight of residents and fight for their rights at all spheres of government until the supply of water has been restored to residents.

Issued by Haseena Ismail MP - DA Benoni Constituency Head