By Nkhensani Chauke.
ActionSA has submitted follow-up questions to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after receiving insufficient responses from the City of Mbombela and Nkomazi Local Municipalities regarding violations of water access.
According to Thoko Mashiane, ActionSA Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature (MPL), the decision follows formal complaints she lodged with the SAHRC last Wednesday.
The complaints relate to persistent and longstanding water access violations in Emjindini Trust (Ward 41) and Mangweni (Ward 17) in Mpumalanga.
Ward 17 is in Mangweni, Nkomazi Local Municipality, and Ward 41 is in Emjindini Trust, City of Mbombela Municipality.
“We acknowledge receipt of the written responses from both municipalities to your office, and while we appreciate the engagement, we remain gravely concerned about the lack of clarity, urgency, and accountability reflected in both submissions,” said Mashiane.
“Our constituency oversight efforts, community engagements, and ongoing monitoring have revealed significant discrepancies between the municipalities’ official narratives and the lived realities of affected communities.”
In a letter addressed to Eric Mokonyama, the Provincial Manager of the SAHRC, Mashiane raised concerns over disputed statistics on piped water access provided by the Nkomazi Local Municipality.
She noted that the municipality claimed 97% of residents have piped water, citing outdated data from the 2011 census.
However, Mashiane pointed out that many residents still rely on water drums, private vendors, and contaminated sources for their daily needs.
Mashiane also raised an issue with a lack of transparency regarding project timelines and contractor information.
While the municipality has mentioned interventions such as tank installations and infrastructure upgrades, it has failed to provide any details on when these projects will be completed, which contractors are involved, or how progress is being monitored.
Regarding the City of Mbombela, Mashiane expressed concern that the refurbishment and upgrade project (Bid 149/2023) appears to have been halted without explanation, despite a formal community handover in January 2025.
This sudden suspension has left affected residents without communication or recourse.
The follow-up questions include a formal request for the SAHRC to investigate the continued use of outdated statistics on water access in Mangweni, the lack of transparency regarding appointed contractors, project timelines, and budget allocations, the unexplained suspension of water infrastructure projects in Emjindini Trust, the ongoing reliance on unsustainable water tanker systems in both wards, and the failure to conduct meaningful public participation processes and to implement consequence management measures for non-performance.
“We have further called on the SAHRC to conduct site visits or public hearings in the affected areas and to demand that all project-related information be made public to uphold transparency,” said Mashiane.
“ActionSA remains committed to championing the rights of all South Africans to access basic services and live in dignity. We will continue to monitor developments closely and support the Commission in holding public institutions accountable.”
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