SAHRC meeting to discuss Durban water ‘step in right direction’

The Verulam Water Crisis Committee and the Tongaat Civic Association met with the Commission as well as eThekwini Municipality on Tuesday afternoon.

They discussed the impact of constant and prolonged supply outages and ways to bring them to an end.

The commission has decided that the city and bulk supplier uMngeni-uThukela Water will meet twice a week to discuss efforts to deal with the crisis. 

Verulam committee member Roshan Lil-Ruthan says processes will now be properly monitored.

"All meetings are now going to be covered under the SAHRC banner, and they will have a permanent representative together with eThekwini water services and ourselves, the Verulam Water Crisis Services."

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu was also in the meeting. 

Lil-Ruthan says he was particularly scathing against the city.

"He said eThekwini is actually putting a bandage on open wounds. He didn't hold punches back. He is now proposing through legislations that he says already exists, similar to that agency that functions in Johannesburg."   

Don Perumal from the Tongaat Civic Association says he testified at the SAHRC's inquiry on access to water two years ago.

ALSO READ: SAHRC meets eThekwini municipality to discuss water crisis

The commission has noted that the same issues from that probe persist.

"We pleaded with the minister. I basically highlighted four issues, specifically to Tongaat,” says Perumal.

“One is the expansion of the Tongaat Waterworks. There's a budget out, and it needs to be implemented immediately. The bulk services leaving the Tongaat Waterworks coming into our main reservoirs all those pipes have been damaged in the previous floods and seem to have endless bursts. They all need to be replaced immediately. My third request to Umngeni Water, which is transporting water through Tongaat and feeding areas of Ballito, Zimbali, but they are not transferring water into any reservoirs in Tongaat."