The ANC in Ekurhuleni has accused the City of Ekurhuleni of human rights violation for its decision to cut water to households that are unable to pay their rates and services.
The party laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in a bid to force the metro to reinstate supply to affected households on Thursday. ANC Deputy Regional Chairperson Jongizizwe Dlabathi said the DA-led coalition government’s credit control policy allowing for water cuts amounts to a human right violation.
“They [municipality] cut water when the customer is unable to pay the account and we strongly feel as the caucus of the ANC, a legitimate concern, that we can’t have such a policy that disconnects water completely because water is life.
“You can imagine a person living without water…and we are here at South African Human Rights Commission to appeal to them to make a determination whether or not this policy that has a provision for the disconnection by the City of Ekurhuleni is not in contravention of the supreme law of the country which is the Constitution,” he said. Water cuts came into effect in May when the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance and Economic Development Graham Gersbach tabled the credit control policy which provides for the closing of water for defaulting households in the City.
Gersbach has since resigned. The Commission’s Acting Provincial Head, Zamantungwa Mbeki said she will investigate the matter. “Based on the submission that was made today and the complaint that was submitted today, we are going to register it for an investigation by the Gauteng provincial office of the SAHRC.”
Mbeki, however, couldn’t give timelines on when the investigation will be finalised. “In terms of the timeframes of when we are going to conclude, we’ve outlined the process to the chief whip and we’ve been given contacts of all the relevant people we need to discuss with,” she said.
The city’s spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini didn’t respond to follow-up questions on whether the metro has adopted this policy. The municipality has been rocked by instability with the ANC consistently pushing to oust the DA-led coalition currently in charge. Mayor Tania Campbell was re-elected on Tuesday after her removal during a motion of no confidence on the 26 of October.
