AfriForum invited to meet with Minister of Water and Sanitation in Parys

AfriForum received an exclusive invitation to attend a meeting on 28 June which was led by Senzo Mchunu, the Minister of Water and Sanitation. A delegation from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Ngwathe Local Municipality led by Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni, the mayor, also attended the meeting.

The minister gave each party the opportunity to present their involvement with the water issue in Parys. The representatives of AfriForum, Jaco Grobbelaar, Head of the Central Region, Alta Pretorius, District Coordinator for the Mooi River and Schalk Burger, Chairperson of the Parys branch, detailed AfriForum’s involvement with the water situation, especially in the past three years. Pretorius pointed out that the municipality had already signed an agreement with AfriForum in September 2021 in which it was agreed that AfriForum would have specialist reports done on the waterworks and the sewerage works, which were immediately done by AfriForum and the reports were delivered to the municipality with costing included. In light of load shedding and the extra power outages that prevail in Parys, the fact that a generator must be obtained is underlined. Concerns were expressed that none of the recommendations on the reports had been implemented, including the generator. Grobbelaar gave background on the court cases while Burger objected to the drilling of boreholes because the soil formation shows that no water will be found. Nine dry holes have already been drilled at a cost of R500 000. Burger also pointed out that the pipe that the municipality is laying does not meet the necessary requirements and therefore will not be able to function properly.

The municipality highlighted the water situation and the challenges surrounding water supply. Risimati Mathye, the Deputy Director-General of the DWS, then presented an intervention report to the meeting in which solutions are indicated with timelines.

In his summary, the minister insisted that the municipality must immediately acquire and use a generator to keep the waterworks functioning during power outages. Because the municipality highlighted vandalism, he also insisted that there should be proper security. The key positions of municipal manager, CFO and directors must be filled with competent people as soon as possible. On AfriForum’s question who will be held responsible if the promises are not fulfilled, the minister named himself and the mayor as the responsible persons. He also instructed the mayor that a forum for water matters should be established in Parys on which stakeholders should have representation. The minister asked AfriForum to reconsider the court case and give the municipality an opportunity to do their work.

“It was good to be able to attend the meeting. However, it would have been better if not only ANC councillors were present, but if community organisations from all the communities were also invited. As for the court case, we cannot give any undertaking. It’s time for the municipality to provide evidence of their promises. AfriForum is prepared to help, but we are going to ensure that the municipality and the minister keep their promises,” says Pretorius.

According to Burger, it was a very good opportunity to face the water crisis in Parys. “I completely agree with the minister who says that we should not waste time and money drilling boreholes, because we have the perennial Vaal River. We must purify and use that water,” concludes Burger.

If you want to get involved in this AfriForum branch, contact Burger on 082 653 4281.