Hammanskraal water woes due to poor governance - AG
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke says the water issues in Hammanskraal is due to poor governance and a lack of implementation in government.
Maluleke was speaking at the at the annual Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Lecture at the Wallenberg Research Centre in Stellenbosch on Monday.
The Hammanskraal water woes hit the headlines earlier this year when more than 29 people died from the water-borne disease following an outbreak.
In 2019, the Human Rights Commission found that the water in Hammanskraal was unsuitable for human consumption.
The problematic Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant, and its dysfunctionality has been cause for water issues in Hammanskraaal for more than a decade.
She says there is a need for the office to push swift action when dealing with implementation of recommendations.
"As the audit office we have been reporting on concerns around the quality and the state of the wastewater treatment plant at Rooiwal, and we have raised audit findings and given recommendations on how that plant ought be fixed.
"We have also raised insights around the impact on water quality given to resident arising from this dysfunctional plant.
"There was very little traction in terms of implementing the recommendations by people leading the institution, and sadly people lost their lives, for us as the office it was a moment of yes sadness it has come to this, true disappointment but also reflection on how we can get better at influencing swifter action at things we have identified," she added.
Maluleke also lamented the lack of leadership in public institutions.
"The lesson is let us make sure that our institutions are run by people who are competent, professionals of good ethical posture, individuals who are responsive and responsible."
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