Local political organisations and government departments celebrated Human Rights Day in different ways in and around Grahamstown last weekend. The DA took it upon themselves to address a long-standing sewage problem which according to the DA has plagued Grahamstown East residents for close to two decades.
Local political organisations and government departments celebrated Human Rights Day in different ways in and around Grahamstown last weekend. The DA took it upon themselves to address a long-standing sewage problem which according to the DA has plagued Grahamstown East residents for close to two decades.
Party members councillors Xolani Madyo, Brian Jackson, Marcelle Booysen, Lena May and constituency operations manager Estie Van Vuuren visited the source of a long-running sewage spill between Phumlani and KwaThatha in Joza on Saturday.
Booysen said they had been reporting the problem to the municipality because residents of her ward had been complaining about it for years.
May also called the Makana Municipality's Engineering Department to report the problem while at the venue and explained where it was.
The sewage, according to the councillors, runs past Phaphamani, Zolani and Scott's Farm into Belmont Valley causing an intolerable stink.
The councillors said solving such problems from the source go a long way towards ensuring that people enjoy their human rights.
Van Vuuren said they were also going to other areas to talk to citizens about the importance of saving water, as part of celebrating water week.
The DA told residents what it would do to address the current electricity crisis if it were in power, and put figures to the problems faced by Eskom.
In another event, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development celebrated Human Rights Day on Friday at Noluthando Hall,where scores of elderly people had packed the hall to capacity.
The Department, in conjunction with various government departments such as Social Development the South African Social Security Agency, the South African Police Service, the Health Department, Correctional Services, Makana Municipality and more took turns to address the elderly people.
Church leaders were also present at the event to provide spiritual support and guidance.
There was lots of singing and entertainment planned for the event and the elderly people were educated about their rights as stipulated in the Older Person's Act 13 of 2006.
This states that the government has the responsibility
"to deal effectively with the plight of older persons by establishing a framework aimed at the empowerment and protection of older persons and at the promotion and maintenance of their status, rights, well-being, safety and security; and to provide for matters connected therewith."
The ANC organised a rally to celebrate Human Rights Day in Vukani on Sunday.
The main speaker was councillor Paul Notyawa.
He spoke at length about the significance of the day and the importance of acknowledging its meaning and history.
The event was hosted in a tent in an open field in Vukani.
anele@grocotts.co.za
