Media Alert: SAHRC Gauteng Provincial Office to visit Hammanskraal and Jubilee District Hospital following allegations of supply of contaminated water to residents & poor service delivery at the hospital.

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

16 July 2018

The South Africa Human Rights Commission Gauteng Provincial Office, will visit Hammanskraal tomorrow, this after residents complained that the water in the area could be contaminated with cholera and poor health care services at Jubilee District Hospital. The residents allege that the City of Tshwane and Jubilee Hospital have violated their right to human dignity, clean environment, access to water, health and access to information by its failure to provide them with clean water and to administer measures aimed at ensuring that their right to water and healthcare is realised.

The purpose of the visit is to conduct interviews with residents and establish the veracity of these allegations. The Commission is concerned at allegations that the water in this area may be contaminated with cholera and pose other health risks to residents. The Commission is of the view that the above places at risk the rights of Hammanskraal residents to water and sanitation, bodily integrity and to an environment that is not harmful to their health, among others.

In light of the above, the Commission has written a letter to the City of Tshwane and the Provincial Department of Water and Sanitation inviting them to appear before the Commission on Thursday, 19 July 2018, with a view to determining the causes of the recent violent protest action, steps taken by the City and the department in relation to allegations of contaminated water.

Details of the inspection in loco are as follows:

Date: 17 July 2018

Time: 10:30

Details of the meeting are as follows:

Date: 19 July 2018

Time: 11:00

Venue: SAHRC Boardroom, Braamfontein, Braampark Offices

For further information contact the Gauteng Provincial Office of the South African Human Rights Commission: Buang Jones, Provincial Manager, T: 011 877 3752 / C: 078 617 0476; E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Philip Molekoa: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 011 877 3754 / 083 731 0662

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