POLOKWANE – Issues such as water shortages in Polokwane, as well as the smelly discharge coming from the wastewater treatment plant on the Dendron Road were just the tip of the iceberg noted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Advocates Jonas Sibanyoni and Mohamed Ameermia expressed their shock about pollution taking place in the province after conducting a week-long visit to Limpopo.

Areas visited included the Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) where a seried of meetings were conducted to address complaints and potential human rights violations regarding the right to water, sanitation, housing and land (socio-economic rights) in the province. “The water and sanitation crisis in the province had us, as the SAHRC, worried. Having been in the province since Monday, we are not very happy about what we have seen,” Ameermia said. South African Human Rights Commissioners Victor Mavhidula (provincial head) and Advocates Mohamed Ameermia and Jonas Sibanyoni.Last Tuesday, Ameermia amd Sibanyoni met with CDM Mayor, John Mpe, and intended to also meet the Polokwane Mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng, who could not attend the meeting. “Water is Polokwane’s biggest problem.

They plan and plan and plan, but that does not bring water to our people to solve their immediate needs.” Another eyesore was the smelly discharge of the wastewater treatment plant on the Dendron road. “People are threatening to sell their houses that side due to the smell.” They still intend to meet the mayor to ask what the municipality is doing in the meantime until the new regional waste water treatment plant has been finalised and to supply an official response to other questions. “The fact that she was not available to meet with them was described as a ‘concern’ as “the rights of the people have been violated.”

Other issues included the water treatment plant in Mokopane where spillage of sewage has overflown into RDP houses, with municipal officials not aware of what was going on. Sibanyoni said the SAHRC is a quasi-legal entity and assess and dispense justice without fear or favour. “People have rights, and it should not be violated.”

He said people will be subpoenad if necessary, as they have found “gross violations of human rights. It is a travesty of justice that 1,3 million people do not have water,” he said.

Source: Review Online