Parys water crisis: Ngwathe Municipality and community organisations reach cooperation agreement

The seriousness of the water problems in Parys and surrounding communities was intensively discussed between the Ngwathe Local Municipality, AfriForum, Save Ngwathe, Metsi Pompong and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on Friday. This follows a march held on Thursday in Parys where residents expressed their frustration regarding the water issues affecting Parys, Tumahole and Schonkenville.

Among other things, the parties decided to collaborate their efforts and focus on delivering safe drinking water to the residents urgently. Additionally, AfriForum has agreed to settle certain pending lawsuits with the municipality, on the condition of cooperation. However, AfriForum has indicated it is ready to proceed with legal action should cooperation fail.

The meeting ended with the new Municipal Manager, Dr F.P. Mothamaha, welcoming the invitation to collaborate. AfriForum’s lawyers will now enter into negotiations on the settlement.

“The outcome of this meeting is a win in the interest of the Parys, Tumahole and Schonkenville communities and now creates the space for cooperation between the authorities and communities to work together on the solution. However, the real victory will come when residents can once again drink the water from Parys’ taps without hesitation or fear. We will not stop working until this victory is achieved,” explains Morné Mostert, AfriForum’s Manager of Local Government Affairs.

An engineer’s report handed over to the Municipal Manager will now serve as the starting point for the parties’ cooperation in restoring the water treatment plant.