Bronkhorstspruit water crisis described as human rights violation

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has described the recent gastrointestinal illness outbreak in Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng as a serious violation of basic human rights.

The commission says municipalities and water services authorities are among the biggest culprits in failing to provide adequate water and sanitation services.

City of Tshwane has since handed over the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant to bulk water utility Rand Water.

This follows an outbreak that saw more than 400 people treated for gastrointestinal illness.

SAHRC Commissioner Dr Henk Boshoff says the crisis reflects years of neglect and financial mismanagement by municipalities and water services authorities.

“The majority of municipalities have simply neglected the maintenance of their infrastructure.

Now, when that infrastructure is inadequate or begins to fail, they blame the infrastructure.

Municipalities and water services authorities have over a long period spent or mismanaged funds that should have been directed towards maintaining essential infrastructure, instead allocating them to less important matters.” Meanwhile, residents have since welocmed the decision to hand over the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant to Rand Water.

Residents are calling for urgent alternative water supplies, saying they cannot afford bottled water.

More details in the report below: