According to Anthony Wyngaard, senior legal officer of the SAHRC, they have received responses from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Sol Plaatje Municipality.

Wyngaard further tells OFM News that they will first share these responses with complainants and thereafter make a decision on a rights violation. In a statement, the commission says they are concerned about the impact the water shortages have on the residents and more specifically on older persons, persons with disabilities, health facilities, and women and children.

In a statement, the commission says that they are investigating the matter and has written to the mayor of Sol Plaatje, requesting reasons for the water shortages, as well as a contingency plan on how they seek to resolve the issue. The commission further adds that as part of their broader investigation into systemic service delivery complaints, the Commission requested submissions from the Department of Water and Sanitation and more specifically the Water and Sanitation Development Plan.

Wyngaard further adds that the commission will also consider how the responses from the Sol Plaatje Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation will influence the systemic complaints of access to water and management of sewerage.

They further conclude by calling on the Sol Plaatje Municipality to cooperate with the Commission to ensure that services are restored to the residents of Kimberley in a dignified manner.


OFM News