Note to Editors: Please find photos of the event here and here
Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni has handed over a memorandum to the Emfuleni Local Municipality stipulating the community’s demands for their basic needs and right to water.
There has been a serious disconnect between the residents’ needs, and what the municipality is willing to supply.
The DA demands:
- Immediate Resolution: We demand that the municipality takes swift and effective action to resolve the water crisis. This includes identifying the root causes of the crisis, allocating necessary resources, and implementing a comprehensive plan to restore regular water supply to all affected areas.
- Transparent Communication: We require regular and transparent communication regarding the progress made in resolving the crisis.
- Accountability: We insist on accountability for any mismanagement or negligence that has contributed to the water crisis.
- Long-Term Solutions: The municipality must commit to developing and implementing long-term solutions to prevent the recurrence of such a crisis. This includes investing in infrastructure, improving water management practices, and addressing any underlying issues that have contributed to the crisis.
- A detailed plan on how the municipality intends to deal with the water losses.
- Community Involvement: We demand active involvement of the community in the decision-making and planning processes related to water supply and management.
It is unacceptable that residents must take to the streets to make local government heed the call of desperate. Some residents in Emfuleni go weeks without water. The municipality is failing in its mandate to uphold the constitutional rights of its community.
The DA will not stand by and watch residents’ rights be violated. The Mayor of Emfuleni has seven days to respond to our demands.