Water Crisis At Moshupa Sub Council Described As 'Inhumane'

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday November 5, 2018 15:31

In a telephone interview with The Monitor recently, the Union’s general secretary Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said they have uncovered a horrendous state of water crisis at the Moshupa Sub Council, which has been on-going for quite some time.

Motshegwa said they realised that the council staff have been forced to continue with their normal work even though there is no water for drinking and sanitation. He stated that although they have been told that President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are aware of the situation, nothing has been done to rectify the situation. He said they have written to the senior assistant council secretary about the issue.

“Recently, the Central Executive Committee of BLAHWU addressed Branch general meeting of Moshupa and at that meeting we learnt of the horrendous state which employees are subjected to, due to unavailability of water,” said Motshegwa.

“We found out that there is no water for drinking and sanitation, a happening that is uncivilised, cruel and unheard of in a country of this level of development,” he added.

Motshegwa stated that what is happening in Moshupa Sub District is very disturbing, inhuman, barbaric, and horrific where employees are denied water and expected to continue working.

“This is indicative that the government does not have utmost interest for the welfare of employees, but rather just interested in production and service deliver. Workers need to have proper consciousness, unite and stand up for their rights and welfare,” he added.

He said the right to water and sanitation was recognised as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly on July 28, 2010. Motshegwa highlighted that the human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.

He said the right to dignified life could never be achieved unless the right to water is addressed, more so that the right to water has a bearing on other rights. For quite some time, Moshupa has been one of the villages facing dire challenges of water supply with a daily deficit of 1 518m3.

However, Motshegwa said if the issue is not addressed immediately they would mobilise workers to petition and call for the closure of the sub council.

Efforts to get a comment from the Moshupa Sub Council authorities were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.