By Staff Reporter
The Democratic Alliance caucus in the Eastern Cape Legislature yesterday (Thursday) donated a water tank to residents of eNkanini informal settlement in Joza to provide much-needed access to water and alleviate the community’s suffering.
“Water is life and we donated this water tank as a gesture towards restoring dignity to this community. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Makana Brick for generously sponsoring the bricks used to construct the platform for the water tank,” said DA leader in the legislature, Dr Vicky Knoetze in a statement.
Knoetze said residents of the eNkanini informal settlement face a daily struggle to access one of their most basic human rights: sufficient water. “This entails walking great distances, a tedious and exhausting part of their daily lives.”
The Makana Municipality, which encompasses Makhanda, has been plagued by a devastating water crisis that has intensified over the years, severely impacting residents.
“The situation in eNkanini is particularly dire. Residents lack access to running water, and municipal water tankers infrequently visit the area. Furthermore, only a select few can afford to purchase their own water tanks.”
Knoetze stressed that access to water is not only a basic human right, but also a vital component of dignity. “Regrettably, in the Eastern Cape, many of our citizens still lack access to water, 31 years into our democracy. Similarly, in municipalities such as Makana, where there is access to water, residents face the dire consequences of crumbling infrastructure and service delivery collapse, also limiting their access.”
The party pledges to continue fighting for the people of the province, ensuring they live a meaningful life of hope, dignity, and access to their basic human rights.
