Note to Editors: Please find a soundbite by Cllr Nicole van Dyk here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg is deeply concerned with the continued failures in governance by the City of Johannesburg, the latest being its failure to release funds meant for Joburg Water on time causing a serious situation developing this afternoon.
The DA understands that the City executive failed to release Joburg Water’s funds on time, who have in turn been unable to pay their security contractors, who have downed tools to strike.
Subsequently, Joburg Water, as well as every single resident impacted by the forced closure of Joburg Water depots and sites, must ask the question – how and why did this happen?
The DA understands that Joburg Water contacted the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), who were deployed to defuse the situation but ended with the officers on site siding with the security guards. Therefore, the situation has remained unchanged and strike is ongoing.
This matter is serious: The sites that have been indefinitely shut down by this strike, also house spare parts, and vehicles essential for Joburg Water to keep (its limited) supply of water going. The City of Joburg’s political executive has failed – by not doing what they need to do, we will see more and more dry taps tonight, tomorrow and into the week. We will see serious leaks go unattended, sewerage will flow unattended,and again residents left neglected. All because security has downed their tools due to non payment.
This could not have come at a worse time, as the city is already staring down the barrel of a water crisis created by cadres, as well as having an inept executive.
Next week, the DA in Johannesburg is taking the fight for water to the City. We will protest the executive’s failures and demand the dissolution of Johannesburg Water’s board.
The DA will continue to fight for every single resident in Johannesburg and will hold a failing municipality to account.