AfriForum directed a letter to Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, on 27 March 2020 in which it urgently requests the Department to attend to various water issues that communities are subjected to during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter follows after complaints from communities about water shortages and water boards that lowered water pressure due to non-payment by municipalities.
Communities affected include Sundra, Brits, Bloemfontein, QwaQwa, Kamieskroon and Klippunt.
“AfriForum requested the water boards to increase water pressure to non-paying municipalities so that South Africans may have access to water during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Lambert de Klerk, Manager of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.
AfriForum also expressed its concern about the importance of communities having access to water in these times.
“AfriForum is willing to support the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation where possible, and will also report any other problems that are brought to the organisation’s attention.”