In response to the dual announcements by President Cyril Ramaphosa this week of additional funding to municipalities for, among other things, the provision of emergency water supplies, and the lockdown conditions being slightly reduced, Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, said:
“R20 billion towards emergency water supplies and support for the homeless is a welcome step. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for access to adequate housing and safe and sufficient water and sanitation for all.
With the lockdown conditions only slightly reduced and most stringent regulations remaining in place, the deep impact on people’s lives continues. Now is the time for government to work on long-term plans to guarantee that sufficient resources are allocated to ensure that all human rights are upheld for the remainder of the lockdown as well as beyond the pandemic.
The government must have a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and the mismanagement of funds. It’s National Water and Sanitation Master Plan notes that high levels of corruption have impacted on service delivery in several municipalities. It is therefore critical that the most stringent measures must be put in place to ensure that every Rand is accounted for and its impact measured. Every cent must go to the communities that need it most.
Amnesty International South Africa’s Right To Water: Turn on the TAP campaign calls on the government to be:
- Transparent with communication and information regarding which communities water is being delivered to, the distance needed to travel to access water, and how much water is being distributed per household;
- Accountable to its commitments, including ensuring municipalities monitor water levels, so that individuals have access to sufficient, safe and reliable water each day, and are able to regularly wash hands with soap;
- Progressive, so that equitable access to sufficient, safe and reliable water becomes a reality for all, even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
On Tuesday, 21 April 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation in South Africa on further economic and social measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic.
This included “additional funding of R20 billion will therefore be made available to municipalities for the provision of emergency water supply, increased sanitisation of public transport and facilities, and providing food and shelter for the homeless”.
On Thursday, 23 April 2020, he addressed the nation again and announced that the lockdown conditions would be slightly reduced but that many regulations will remain in place.
The South African government is obligated by national and international laws and standards to deliver on the right to water and adequate housing.
Take action here and call on the South African Government to Turn On The Tap.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Digital Content Officer, Amnesty International South Africa: +27 64 890 9224; mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
