Contaminated water flows through Parys despite AfriForum’s court case regarding crisis

The AfriForum branch in Parys once again pointed out to the Ngwathe Local Municipality that the municipal water in the area is not suitable for human consumption. The civil rights organisation conducted tests last week after receiving numerous complaints about the poor water quality. The tests, carried out by an accredited laboratory, revealed that the water contains faecal coliform bacteria that can cause diseases such as enteric fever (also known as typhoid fever). In addition, the water does not meet the national standard for drinking water, so it must not be used by people.

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

Meanwhile, the Ngwathe Municipality refuses anyone access to the town’s water works, despite an interdict obtained earlier by AfriForum, which states that access to the water works may not be denied. The Municipality was supposed to complete the first phase of upgrades to the waterworks last year, but AfriForum has been kept away from the works for months, which makes it impossible to confirm whether the upgrades have indeed been done.

“If the Municipality did succeed in completing the upgrades, it clearly makes no significant difference. This level of incompetence is extremely worrying,” says Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River.

The water situation is further aggravated by the frequent power outages in town. Days sometimes pass before residents’ power supply is restored. During this time, water cannot be pumped to even flush toilets. Since 1 January there have been multiple power outages already.

Parys faces the same problems again and again, without workable solutions being implemented, therefore AfriForum requested that the Municipality outline detailed steps on how both of these crises will be tackled. If the Municipality fails to provide feedback on this within 48 hours, AfriForum reserves the right to take further action against it.

“Time and time again, the Ngwathe Municipality has turned down the help of AfriForum and other community organisations such as Save Ngwathe. In the meantime, the community suffers,” says Pretorius.

According to Schalk Burger, Chairman of the AfriForum branch in Parys, this situation highlights the fact that the Municipality in no way has the residents’ best interests at heart. “Part of the problem is that incompetence prevails in the Municipality while allegations of corruption and sabotage makes the rounds. Many officials do not even live in Parys and are therefore out of touch with what residents go through on a daily basis,” concludes Burger.

Corné Cronjé, AfriForum’s Manager of Community Affairs, is concerned that the Municipality’s inability to manage basic infrastructure has a negative effect on businesses, and by extension the community. “It’s clear that real intervention must take place to improve services. Quick action to curb sabotage and theft is necessary and must be done in collaboration with the police, neighbourhood watches and security companies.”