4 September 2020

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Free State Province is worried by the deliberate water cuts by Bloemwater to areas within Mangaung, Letsemeng and Mantsopa Municipalities affecting residents, businesses, schools, health facilities and other functions. The SACP in the province views the timing of Bloemwater board’s decision to cut water supply due to municipal debt during this period of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) as inconsiderate of societal and government efforts to fight the virus and restore economic activities.

The SACP in the province detests this move because it is intended to arm-wrestle owing municipalities without regard to the fact that the water cuts inevitably place the lives of people, particularly the working class and poor, at risk of exposure to Covid-19 and also indiscriminately affect normal societal activities critical to human life. The SACP believes water is life and provision of water supply is a constitutional obligation and therefore calls for the immediate uninterrupted restoration of water supply to all areas.

The SACP in the Free State accepts that municipalities have an obligation to pay for bulk services but rejects the risking of human lives by Bloemwater in an intergovernmental bargain for debt repayment by other government entities.

The call for immediate resumption of water supply is thus not intended to condone the failure of municipalities to pay for bulk water services received from Bloemwater. The SACP has on numerous occasions implored municipalities to honour their contractual and financial obligations, such as paying for bulk services and has called on relevant authorities to act against financial mismanagement and corruption.

The SACP in the province calls for direct and immediate intervention by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Provincial Treasury and Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs to resolve this impasse with binding commitments. The relevant stakeholders must strive for uninterrupted provision of water to communities and payment of bulk water services received from Bloemwater. The SACP also calls on communities to pay for municipal services without fail and to use water sparingly.

ISSUED BY THE SACP FREE STATE

Contact:

Bhekie Stofile
SACP Free State Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 071 600 4899

Phillip Kganyago
SACP Free State Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 071 896 0157