THE right of access to enough water is accorded to everyone in S27(1)(b) of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to have sufficient water.
Section 27(2) requires the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of the right.
I am Zukile Liwani, a resident of Ward 4, Extension 14. I am a layman at Hydrology and I know a thing or two about water. I speak only for myself.
The government keeps on saying South Africa has a water crisis, global warming this, climate change that. To us the downtrodden, that is expensive and big English. All we want is access to water as it is stipulated in the Constitution.
In South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation has set the minimum quantity at 25 litres per person per day and a minimum cartage distance at 200 metres.
Ward 4 has never been without water for more than 5 consecutive days but under your leadership, Comrade Mayor, we are subjected to day zero. Could this be by default or by design?
I am asking this question because there is no clear plan on how to arrive at a long-lasting solution to what seems to be a manmade water crisis.
What upsets me most is to hear rumours that during the water crisis there are still those that benefit.
They may be incorrect, but they say the water carts belong to those that are close to leadership, so one way or the other leadership benefits.
The big question is how much does it cost per day to travel from Komani to Cala to fetch water?
How long is Chris Hani District Municipality planning to hire water carts?
Does CHDM have water experts?
I will never ask about money or lack thereof because you are duty bound to avail water to us.
In the event of resource constraints, which limit the ability of the State to fulfil its obligations, the State is still obliged to provide a plan of action that demonstrates that the full realisation of the right shall be achieved over time.
Ward 4 is surrounded by Tsomo River stream. Ward 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 is where Tsomo River passes.
Millions of litres of water pass these areas and part of that water goes to Intsika Yethu Municipality and the rest goes to the Indian Ocean.
If this information is factual, do we still have a water crisis in Sakhisizwe or it is just a manmade crisis?
There is only one catchment area at Tsomo River that I know of. It was created in 2001 when the population was not like it is today.
I am yet to buy the story of Elnino but not anytime soon.
I was shocked to see very clean tap water coming from a communal tap at the Cala Pass.
The pressure of the water shows that the water crisis that we are told about is selective.
Everywhere I go I keep on saying that the ANC-led government can never be out of ideas on providing a long-lasting solution to this water problem.
Water is one of the basic rights.
The lack of water and sanitation is a public health crisis and deprives people of their right to live in dignity.
Given a chance I would submit the following recommendations:
1. Provide more information about the lack of water.
2. Provide hydrology, specifically in Ward 4 because this ward services many people.
3. Remove silt that negatively affects water levels at our dams.
4. Educate on water conservation.
5. Avail resources for boreholes and for the catchment area at Tsomo River.
6. A massive 30-year project that will make sure that 25 litres per person per day should be available at a 200m distance. This project should be preceded by research.
7. Chris Hani District must learn from other places on how to use, conserve and reuse water. For example, in Israel the rainfall percentage is far lower than in South Africa, but they are leading the farming industry.
8. Stop water carts from fetching water outside of Sakhisizwe with immediate effect because Xonxa’s dam levels are drastically dropping and the drivers of water carts’ lives are at risk when they fetch water. At times the community prevents them from fetching water and are told that they are depleting their water.
9. Take this letter with a positive spirit and see to it that Ward 4 does not experience water shortage again.
Zukile Liwani
