AfriForum tests confirm that Parys water is still unfit for human consumption

A second set of water tests that AfriForum’s Parys branch had done in this Free State town within just two weeks, confirms that the water here is still unfit for human consumption. This while the Ngwathe Local Municipality and the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) were already informed about the serious problems with the quality of Parys’ water earlier this month, following the first test results.

AfriForum took the first water samples for testing on 16 January this year after receiving numerous complaints about the water quality. The second round of tests was conducted on 28 January and the results were received today. An accredited laboratory conducted both tests.

The results of the first tests forced AfriForum to send an urgent letter to the Ngwathe Local Municipality to inform them about the dire state of drinking water in Parys. To date, no reply has been received.

The letter and test results were then also sent to CoGTA, but they also did not respond to AfriForum’s communication.

Meanwhile, AfriForum is still waiting for a verdict in a court application about this crisis. In December last year, the civil rights organisation submitted an urgent application to the Bloemfontein High Court, in which an intervention was requested in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution. Accordingly, a provincial executive authority can step in and place the municipality under administration when it does not fulfil its duties.

Even though AfriForum obtained an interdict last year that states that access to the waterworks may not be denied, no one is allowed on the waterworks. However, municipal officials, who do not want their names mentioned, informed AfriForum that there are currently no chemicals at the Parys waterworks and that the filters are also out of order. This suggests that the potable water residents receive is actually just river water.

According to Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River, these problems and shortcomings at the waterworks may be the reason why AfriForum is denied access to the waterworks. “It seems like there’s a lot to hide,” she explains.

In addition to the poor water quality, the waterworks also face challenges with power supply and water here cannot be pumped properly. AfriForum advised the municipality on the installation of an ideal generator, but this advice was disregarded and a much smaller – and therefore ineffective – generator was decided upon and installed.

“For all practical purposes, the Ngwathe Local Municipality has collapsed. The apparent reluctance of the provincial authorities to intervene is also disappointing and leaves the residents at their own mercy,” says Pretorius.

Pretorius strongly encourages residents to boil water before use.

According to Schalk Burger, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Parys branch, it is shocking that the water that is offered to residents as potable repeatedly tests so badly. He also condemns the municipality’s limited communication on this urgent matter.

“What makes it even worse is that many knowledgeable people in our country could solve these problems, but they are not allowed to do so. We are disappointed that officials feel nothing for the very residents who pay their salaries,” concludes Burger.

Corné Cronjé, AfriForum’s Manager of Community Affairs, emphasises that urgent intervention is now essential. “These water tests show that little has changed since we informed the municipality of the extremely poor quality of the water. Urgent action must now be taken to resolve this crisis and ensure the delivery of clean drinking water to the community.”