Members of the Verulam Water Crisis Committee believe that they have been left with no choice but to demand an urgent meeting with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the eThekwini Municipality after water restoration agreements to some parts of the community have broken down as far back as last month.
In a letter addressed to both structures, the spokesperson of the committee, Roshan Lil-Ruthan, said that he is writing with great urgency and concern regarding the ongoing challenges that have had a severe impact on the communities.
He wrote, “We demand that a war room meeting be held on Wednesday, without any further delays or excuses, regardless of the challenges or strikes that may currently exist. The constant backtracking and untruth from management are not only unacceptable but also deplorable. The deliberate suffering imposed upon our communities by their actions, inactions, omissions, and general inefficiency is causing undue hardship and will not be tolerated any longer. Hence, we urge the SAHRC to take immediate action and address these issues with the seriousness they deserve.”
The community has been hard hit without water for months on end with no reprieve in sight.
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“Furthermore, it is disheartening to inform you that our community is currently facing a critical shortage of drinking water. The management has attempted to shift the blame solely onto the strike action, despite the mayor previously assuring us that the strike had been called off. This blatant lie has only intensified our concerns and mistrust in the management’s ability to address the situation effectively. Additionally, we have heard reports of intimidation surrounding the strike and we demand that proof of such incidents be provided to us. We kindly request that management provide police case numbers related to these alleged acts of intimidation,” added Lil-Ruthan.
The committee has also demanded contingency arrangements that have been made with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and security to ensure that water distribution operators (WDOs) can perform their duties effectively.
“It is with deep frustration and disappointment that I reiterate our belief that the SAHRC has failed our communities in addressing these critical issues. We implore you to rectify this failure and provide us with the assurance that Human Rights Day will not witness another disappointment, but rather the robust defense of our constitutional rights,” he concluded.
Tags: Verulam Crisis Committee demands urgent war room meeting
