MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Cholera Outbreak is a national crisis

Cholera Outbreak is a national crisis

Dear Editor

It has become clear in the last 24 hours that the current cholera outbreak is not exclusively a Tshwane issue, but that we are facing a possible national cholera outbreak.

Incidences of cholera have also been reported in the Free State and Limpopo, confirming that the outbreak in Tshwane is not the result of a lapse of service delivery from a municipality that has been in government for two months. It is the result of years and years of national government neglect and previous local government regimes who bankrupted Metros to the point of almost having to be placed under administration.

Fikile Mbalula, and the ANC, are deliberately trying to mislead the public with propaganda on how this crisis is directly linked to the DA-led multi-party coalition in Tshwane, carefully ignoring the history of their own neglect.

This cannot be more clearly evidenced than a parliamentary reply from the Minister of Water and Sanitation this month that revealed that water infrastructure backlogs will cost R89.9 billion per annum over 10 years, with 3 698 074 kilolitres of water lost every single day due to infrastructure failure and leakages. This costs South Africa R250 million every single year.

In 2014, the 2014 Green Drop report (the latest one available) revealed that 84% of the 824 wastewater treatment plants in the country are discharging 4200 million litres of untreated or inadequately treated sewerage illegally into 82% of our rivers every day. This is staggering. And given this situation, the current outbreak was in effect inevitable.

There have been a few more cases of cholera-like outbreaks in other municipalities and other provinces which proves that poor water quality and sanitation is not a Tshwane only problem, but one that is affecting the entire country and if national government does not come in to assist municipalities with upgrading water infrastructure, many more lives will be lost around South Africa.

The DA calls on national government, and the ANC in Gauteng, to stop cheap politicking and rather urgently devise a plan for a complete overhaul of the country’s water infrastructure, to prevent future outbreaks such as we currently see.

The DA furthermore calls on Minister Mchunu to co-operate with the City of Tshwane and the private sector to explore all options to upgrade the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant. The completion of stage 2 of the upgrades, will cost the City a staggering R2.5 billion – the City’s entire capital budget.

It is now more important than ever for the national government to work together with the Tshwane administration and urgently finalize these upgrades.

Regards

Leon Basson MP
DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fun South African Fact: It’s a holiday destination like no other! Looking for a beach holiday? South Africa has sunshine, sea and golden beaches. Seeking a safari adventure? South Africa is home to incredible wildlife and game reserves. Keen for an escape into wine country? South Africa’s Cape Winelands are waiting to be explored! On top of all of this, you can discover cosmopolitan cities and quaint seaside towns. Or, drive through breathtaking mountain passes and travel along dusty, desert roads.

  4. Thanks for this post – I have had a great time visiting your site and find myself now wanting to physically visit South Africa. Well Done!

  8. Could you perhaps tell me which political party is the ruling party in South Africa?

  9. Thanks for this post – I have had a great time visiting your site and find myself now wanting to physically visit South Africa. Well Done!