AfriForum calls for water crisis in Parys to be declared a state of disaster

Yesterday, AfriForum’s Parys branch requested the provincial and national Disaster Management that the water crisis in Parys be declared a local disaster because the state of Parys’ water meets the definition of a disaster. The cause of the disaster is man-made and can give rise to or lead to death, injury, illness, damage to property, infrastructure, the environment, and disruption of a community. If the situation is declared a disaster, specific funds, resources, and contingency plans can be put in place to improve the situation.

The application stems from the fact that the drinking water in Parys is contaminated with E. Coli, and the municipality is not making a concerted effort to reverse the situation. In addition to the fact that the water is unfit for human consumption, there are parts of Parys where people have not had water in their taps for five years. The water treatment plants are not up to standard, and phase six load shedding does not improve the situation either.

“If the state of Parys’ water is declared a disaster, the funds, resources, and contingency plans that must then be put in place can be used to provide the residents with clean drinking water. We just want all the residents of greater Parys to have access to clean drinking water in their taps because it is their constitutional right. The march that the residents of Tumahole held the day before yesterday also clearly showed that they no longer want water from a tanker now and again but want to turn on a tap and draw clean water from it. The rumours of irregularities concerning the tankers reinforce this feeling,” says Alta Pretorius, District Coordinator for Mooi River.