DA Calls Upon International Bodies on Ugu Water Woes

By: Zilungile Mkhize

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has written to several international advocacy groups to raise human rights and constitutional issues relating to the ongoing lack of water supply to residents within the Ugu District, south of the province.

The party says the decision comes after the provincial government failed to meet the 14-day deadline to respond to their requests for a meeting on the water challenges.

It says the request was made in writing to both Premier, Sihle Zikalala and Co-operative Governance MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, as well as National CoGTA Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The DA’s Chris Pappas says they do not believe that either the provincial or national government are taking this problem as seriously as they should be.

“These groups include the World Bank, the United Nations and the World Water Centre. This is to highlight the increasingly difficult situation faced by Ugu residents when it comes to water and sanitation,” explains Pappas.

He adds that this issue has a ripple effect as it not only affects the community’s general living conditions but also their businesses.