Cholera: Ramaphosa admits failing Hammanskraal residents as death toll hits 31

“I want to ask for your forgiveness. Our constitution gives you the right, our people have the right to clean running water. In this case, we will admit that we have failed you. We have failed the people of Hammanskraal,” the President said on Thursday. 

Ramaphosa, along with ministers Joe Phaahla, Thembi Nkadimeng, Senzo Mchunu, and Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink engaged with residents at the Temba stadium after visiting the dysfunctional Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant which is at the centre of service delivery woes in the area. 

In 2019 the South African Human Rights Commission declared the water in Hammanskraal unsuitable for human consumption after residents had complained for many years. 

The commission has described the City of Tshwane’s inability to address the lack of reliable supply of clean water to communities as a “continued violation of human rights”. 

The President has promised to give urgent attention to resolving the issue and listed immediate, mid-term, and long-term interventions. 

Ramaphosa told aggrieved residents that the municipality-sponsored water tankers will continue to deliver water as the immediate solution to the water crisis. He says plans are in place to ensure the water package plant that is to be built by Magalies water is up and running in six months. 

“In three years, the big water works at Rooiwal will also be functioning properly to give you the water.” 

Officials have estimated the bill for completing the upgrade and refurbishment of Rooiwal wastewater works at R4 billion. 

But not everyone who listened to the president’s address was sold. A woman, who said she had hoped for a more immediate but permanent solution to the problem, said she wasn’t satisfied that it took more than 20 Hammanskraal residents dying before Ramaphosa came to the area. 

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