The DA in Limpopo will request the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, to intervene in Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Mopani District municipalities’ failure to provide water.
Section 139(7) of The Constitution mandates the national executive to intervene if the provincial executive is incapable or does not adequately exercise over municipalities to maintain essential national standards.
It is clear that MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu’s interventions are inadequate to turn-around our distressed municipalities and specifically the district municipalities who continuously fail to meet their constitutional obligation to provide water; the department needs to do more than their current quarterly assessments.
According to Stats SA, Limpopo has the highest number of households with no access to piped water at 20.5% (against a country average of 8,7%).
A year ago, the South African Human Rights Commission presented its Limpopo Water Enquiry to COGHSTA: not one of the 5 district municipalities fully comply with the Water Services Act or Section 27 Of the Constitution.
Recommendations to ensure that the constitutional right to sufficient water is adhered to by government, but there is no tangible evidence of change at grassroots level.
MEC Makamu lacklustre political leadership over local governance is sustaining the water crisis.
The MEC is aware of the dodgy and unprocedural appointments at Sekhukhune district, billions wasted on incomplete water projects, the water capture by syndicates which is causing tremendous hardship to the residents and 13 water supply systems in Sekhukhune that are under risk, and despite this, the district is yet to be place under administration.
MEC Makamu’s efforts to place Mopani District under administration after a rapid assessment report that focused on the state of affairs on key performance areas last year, was thwarted by Mayor Pule Shayi.
Vhembe District has an unfunded budget and has been struggling to provide sufficient water to communities for well over a decade.
The right to sufficient water is inseparable from several human rights and is an enabling right for the enjoyment of other human rights like dignity, health, food and education.
We call on Minister Hlabisa’s intervention to afford the people of Limpopo these rights as it is clear that MEC Makamu is not up to the job.