In recent years the KZN PO has been inundated with complaints relating to challenges with access to water in various districts in the Province.  This issue of poor or no access to water remains a current day-to-day challenge for many residents, communities, schools, businesses, and other organisations across the Province and these challenges have been highlighted to a great extent by various media reports. Most Municipalities responses to the complaint’s are inadequate in that they are unable to provide appropriate and sustainable redress to the affected communities. As such these complaints amount to a prima facie violation of the basic human right to have access to sufficient clean water and given its far-reaching impact on all affected communities, there is a need for a strategic intervention to address these challenges in the short, medium and long term.

The Inquiry will be presided over by the Panel who will comprise:

•    The Chairperson of the Panel – Commissioner Philile Ntuli
•    The Deputy Chairperson of the Panel – Commissioner Chris Nissen
•    External experts co-opted/appointed by the Panel if so required

The Inquiry will inquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations and/or directives concerning the following broad and overarching issues for investigation:

•    The extent of the challenges experiences by the communities in KwaZulu-Natal relating to access to clean drinking water;
•    The systemic nature of the violations;
•    The extent to which the organs of state have respected, protected, promoted, and fulfilled the right to sufficient water;
•    The reasonableness of measures including legislation, by-laws, policies, and programmes adopted by organs of state to ensure the realisation of the right to sufficient water
•    Ultimately the aim of the Inquiry will be to determine whether the water service authorities within the KwaZulu-Natal Province have violated residents’ rights to access clean drinking water, as provided for in national legislation as well as in the Constitution.  

The Commission hereby invites submissions from those who have information that can assist in this investigation. It will accept both written and oral submissions from identified government departments, state entities, business chambers, communities and other interested parties for the purposes of the inquiry.

Interested parties who wish to make submissions, may do so by no later than 15 July 2022:
•    By emailing their submissions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
•    Writing to the Kwa-Zulu Natal Provincial Office
o    PO Box 1456
Durban
4000

The Inquiry will be live streamed on the Commission’s website, Facebook and Youtube pages.
Ends

For further information contact SAHRC KZN Acting Provincial Manager, Ms. Pavershree Padayachee on Tel: 031 304 7323, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.