The United Progressive People Alliance (UPPA) is deeply concerned about the manner in which the ongoing water crisis in Hammanskraal has been handled, after residents endured almost two weeks without a reliable water supply.

What makes the situation even more concerning is that water has reportedly returned to parts of Hammanskraal coinciding with the visit of the President of the African National Congress (ANC).

For nearly two weeks, residents have been forced to endure the indignity of living without one of the most basic necessities of life. Families have struggled to cook, clean, wash and maintain basic hygiene, while elderly residents, children, schools and businesses have carried the burden of the crisis.

Yet, when a high-profile political visit takes place, the water supply suddenly appears to return.

Hammanskraal residents deserve better than political miracles. They deserve a functioning government every single day.

UPPA believes that access to clean, reliable water is not a privilege that should depend on the arrival of a political leader. It is a constitutional and basic service obligation that must be delivered consistently, regardless of whether cameras, politicians or elections are present.

The timing raises serious questions that the City of Tshwane and the relevant authorities must answer:

● Why were residents left without water for almost two weeks?

● What intervention was made to restore the supply?

● Why did it take the intervention or presence of a senior political leader for action to be taken?

● What measures are being implemented to ensure that residents are not subjected to another prolonged water outage?

● How much emergency expenditure was incurred to restore the water supply?

UPPA calls on the City of Tshwane to provide residents with a full and transparent explanation of the causes of the water crisis and the steps being taken to prevent a recurrence.

This is precisely why UPPA has made reliable basic services one of the central pillars of its programme to rebuild Tshwane.

Hammanskraal cannot continue to be treated as a political football. Its residents are taxpayers, voters and citizens who deserve dignity, clean water and responsive government.

We welcome the restoration of the water supply, but we reject the idea that residents should have to wait for a political visit before government does its job.

UPPA will continue to demand water, accountability and competent local government for Hammanskraal and every community across Tshwane.

A well-run Tshwane must deliver services to ALL residents, every day, not only when politicians arrive.

Issued by: United Progressive People Alliance (UPPA) Communications

ENDS

Media enquiries

Abel Tau

Tshwane Mayoral Candidate and Campaign spokesperson

071 265 5040