Gauteng DA: Sanitation crisis at Ramaphosa informal settlement a violation of human rights
The party visited the community on Tuesday, after EWN exposed that worms have infested mobile toilets in the community.
Some informal settlements in Emfuleni Local Municipality are reeling from the collapse of service delivery, as they mark four months without their portable toilets being cleaned. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has condemned the sanitation crisis at the Ramaphosa informal settlement in Emfuleni, calling it a violation of human rights.
The party visited the community on Tuesday, after EWN exposed that worms have infested mobile toilets in the community.
ALSO READ:
- Gauteng DA disturbed by Ramaphosa informal settlement’s degrading sanitary conditions
- Ramaphosa informal settlement residents forced to use buckets and pit latrines
Portable toilets in the informal settlements haven’t been cleaned for months due to the provincial and municipal government’s reluctance to continue funding the sanitation programme.
Although Premier Panyaza Lesufi claimed he reprimanded officials in the Department of Human Settlements over the issue, the DA said that this is not enough.
DA spokesperson for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota, said residents are not being treated with dignity.
“These conditions are multiplying themselves, and we find the continual lack of involvement by the provincial government to ensure there is a consistent and repetitive process of giving proper sanitation on a regular basis is concerning. We will take this up with the premier and MEC Tanseem Motara. This is unacceptable, and something needs to be done very quickly.”