The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Merafong has officially submitted a formal complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), calling for urgent intervention in the municipality’s ongoing water crisis.
The submission includes 560 affidavits from affected residents, survey data and supporting evidence documenting the severe and sustained violation of basic human rights.
For months, the high-lying areas have been without a stable water supply, with some places’ taps being dry for over three months. This is a clear violation of our residents’ human rights.
The DA’s submission to the SAHRC highlights the following key concerns:
• The right of access to sufficient water (Section 27 of the Constitution) is being violated.
• Residents in wards with payment compliance rates exceeding 90% are the worst affected.
• Water throttling by Rand Water and the municipality’s failure to manage infrastructure have resulted in a disproportionate impact on certain wards.
• There is a lack of transparency regarding daily flow rates and water distribution patterns.
The DA has been actively working on multiple fronts to address the crisis:
• Parliamentary colleagues are applying pressure on Rand Water.
• In the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), the DA continues to hold the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) accountable.
• A resident-driven survey has been launched to track water outages.
• The National Treasury has been petitioned for intervention on the municipality’s outstanding debt.
The affidavit campaign remains open as new residents come forward, and their testimonies will be added to the submission. The docket continues to grow as the crisis deepens.
The DA Gauteng has made it clear that this is not a partisan issue but about dignity, life, and basic human rights.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial government would ensure that the department responsible for local government makes sure that every resident in Merafong has fair and consistent access to water.
Residents are encouraged to continue sharing their experiences by completing the water affidavit and survey. The campaign remains open.