ActionSA Requests Theewaterskloof Municipality to Provide Residents with Basic Water and Sanitation, or Face Legal Action
Michelle Wasserman
ActionSA Western Cape Provincial Chairperson
ActionSA in the Western Cape has written to the Executive Mayor and Municipal Manager of Theewaterskloof Municipality, requesting that the Municipality provide basic water and sanitation to the community residing on Knoflokkraal Farm 335, Charleskloof Farm 336 and Has Vlakte Farm 445 in Grabouw in the Western Cape.
There are currently approximately 4000 people living permanently on these three tracts of land. A further approximately 3000 people are transient residents who work in Cape Town and come home to this land over weekends. This population has been occupying the property for the past 3 years, when they were forced to settle there after the Covid 19 pandemic devastated their lives and financial situations.
Despite numerous attempts by community leaders to obtain the minimum level of water and sanitation, this community still does not have any access to basic sanitation, and there is only one tap providing water to the entire area. This one tap is kilometres away from many dwellings, many of which are occupied by elderly and infirm people. The situation is dire, and the Municipality has simply turned a blind eye.
Access to basic water and sanitation is a human right guaranteed by our Constitution. South Africans living without access to basic water and sanitation experience a daily violation of their human rights which cannot be accepted or tolerated.
ActionSA has therefore requested Theewaterskloof Municipality to provide this community with sufficient basic water and sanitation services, in the form of water tanks and chemical toilets, by 1 August 2023, failing which ActionSA will take the necessary legal action to compel the Municipality to comply with their constitutional and legislative duty.
ActionSA will continue to fight for the poor, marginalized and forgotten people of the Western Cape.
ActionSA Requests Theewaterskloof Municipality to Provide Residents with Basic Water and Sanitation, or Face Legal Action
ActionSA in the Western Cape has written to the Executive Mayor and Municipal Manager of Theewaterskloof Municipality, requesting that the Municipality provide basic water and sanitation to the community residing on Knoflokkraal Farm 335, Charleskloof Farm 336 and Has Vlakte Farm 445 in Grabouw in the Western Cape.
There are currently approximately 4000 people living permanently on these three tracts of land. A further approximately 3000 people are transient residents who work in Cape Town and come home to this land over weekends. This population has been occupying the property for the past 3 years, when they were forced to settle there after the Covid 19 pandemic devastated their lives and financial situations.
Despite numerous attempts by community leaders to obtain the minimum level of water and sanitation, this community still does not have any access to basic sanitation, and there is only one tap providing water to the entire area. This one tap is kilometres away from many dwellings, many of which are occupied by elderly and infirm people. The situation is dire, and the Municipality has simply turned a blind eye.
Access to basic water and sanitation is a human right guaranteed by our Constitution. South Africans living without access to basic water and sanitation experience a daily violation of their human rights which cannot be accepted or tolerated.
ActionSA has therefore requested Theewaterskloof Municipality to provide this community with sufficient basic water and sanitation services, in the form of water tanks and chemical toilets, by 1 August 2023, failing which ActionSA will take the necessary legal action to compel the Municipality to comply with their constitutional and legislative duty.
ActionSA will continue to fight for the poor, marginalized and forgotten people of the Western Cape.