Our water is dirty and we have no electricity, Hammanskraal residents tell Ramaphosa

Hammanskraal residents have dismissed suggestions by President Cyril Ramaphosa that if they simply wash their hands and boil their drinking water – then they would be able to prevent the spread of cholera.

Ramaphosa visited the area today, with community members pushing him to address their poor water quality concerns.

It follows the death of 29 people in the area due to the deadly cholera outbreak that has claimed 31 lives countrywide.

President Ramaphosa was handed a box of documents, containing the signatures of more than 8 000 residents, demanding an end to their service delivery woes.

Hammanskraal residents also clapped back at the President’s suggestions that washing their hands with boiled water will keep cholera at bay. They say their water is contaminated and they have no electricity.

Among government’s planned interventions to deliver safe water in the area is a six-month water tanker initiative. The President has ensured residents they will be provided with clean tap water after that.

President Ramaphosa has also admitted that government has failed the people of Hammanskraal.

He asked for forgiveness as he addressed the community, admitting that the Constitution clearly states that South Africans have the right to clean drinking water and they have failed to deliver.

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, and City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink, accompanied the President to the area.

The cause of the deadly water borne disease is yet to be identified.

Last month, City of Tshwane spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, said the city’s tests at several sites had detected no cholera in the piped water supply.

YNews spoke with Mayor Brink at the back of the President’s engagement.

He says no concrete timeline can be given for when the source of the deadly cholera outbreak would be uncovered. Article by Naomi Kobbie