People in KwaZulu-Natal denied their right to clean water

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Wed 20 Sep   For some time now, KwaZulu-Natal’s water situation has been a disaster. Complaints about beaches being closed because of high E coli levels, limited wastewater services and a shortage of clean water date back to before 2020. Lyse Comins’ latest [story]( has the South African Human Rights Commission condemning leaders and water authorities for their failure to provide clean water to people. The report acknowledged challenges in the form of looting in 2021 and flooding in 2022. But the commission’s report found that there was a major disparity in how people were affected with the poor and vulnerable affected the worst. The report is quite scathing and found that the city’s crucial infrastructure is failing because of “rampant neglect, lack of investment, corruption and a lack of skills and capacity to maintain it”. One of the worst findings is that the provision of water in tankers is corrupt. There have been allegations of a water tanker mafia damaging the supply of water so they can provide water in tankers for exorbitant prices. The report was also clear that people’s right to clean water was violated and that leaders made excuses for denying people this right when in front of a panel looking into the situation. The municipality and water authorities were chiefly responsible for “poor planning and management of resources, particularly in relation to non-revenue water and maintenance of infrastructure, a reluctance to deal with corruption and non-performance, and an inability to plan and budget for future needs and expenditure”, Lyse reported. The report issued recommendations, chief of which include proper monitoring by the relevant departments, as well as a plan and effective management of water by the relevant parties involved. Sign up to the Green Guardian, our [environmental newsletter]( that goes out every Wednesday. You’ll find our climate and environment news and a fun weekly quiz. Ozayr Patel | Climate & Environment Editor [@Ozayr8]( ADVERTISEMENT Premium [ANC accuses treasury of attempting to usurp president’s powers]( The ruling party’s economic transformation committee head, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the treasury’s proposals were ‘unfortunate’, ‘illegal’ and a ‘tick-box exercise’ [// Read more]( [ANCYL wants its deputy president to be a minister]( The league’s national spokesperson said it will agitate for all its provincial chairpersons to be appointed as MECs [// Read more]( [Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has intervened in the health crisis in the Eastern Cape.]( [Panel to lead electoral reforms not yet appointed, says home affairs minister]( Aaron Motsoaledi dismissed accusations that his office lacked the political will for electoral reform [// Read more]( ADVERTISEMENT Recommended Reads [Range Rover Sport a blend of style and performance]( The latest version of the Range Rover Sport has refinement in spades [// Read more]( [Eskom’s newly licenced NTCSA expected to boost energy security]( Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says all critical elements for creating a more dynamic, responsive and competitive electricity industry are in place [// Read more]( [Ramaphosa goes on charm offensive during US visit]( The president has sought to clinch an early extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act during his New York visit [// Read more]( [Report finds KZN water rights marred by corruption, inequality and neglect]( The South African Human Rights Commission also details how officials show ‘contempt’ for citizens with water complaints [// Read more]( [Is R14 000 for pills to thwart long Covid worth it?]( Up to one in five people can get long Covid — a condition in which someone feels ill for months after their initial symptoms have cleared up [// Read more]( [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa