Makhado – The African People’s Convention (APC) has filed a formal complaint against the Makhado Local Municipality, demanding urgent intervention in what it describes as a “prolonged and unacceptable” water crisis that has persisted for three years.
In a letter of demand addressed to the Executive Mayor and the Municipal Manager, the APC said it was acting in the public interest on behalf of residents, businesses, and communities affected by the ongoing lack of reliable water supply.
The party stressed that access to sufficient water is a fundamental human right under Section 27 of the Constitution, and that the municipality has a legal obligation to deliver this essential service consistently.
According to the APC, the crisis has had severe consequences, including the infringement of residents’ constitutional rights, disruption of businesses, financial losses, threats to employment, negative impacts on public health and sanitation, and a decline in investor confidence.
The party added that public dissatisfaction and loss of confidence in the municipality’s ability to fulfil its mandate have grown sharply.
The APC has requested a written response within seven days addressing the causes of the crisis, measures taken over the past three years, the status of water infrastructure projects, timelines for restoring uninterrupted services, and contingency plans to ensure access to water in the interim.
Should the municipality fail to respond adequately, the APC said it would escalate the matter to oversight and regulatory institutions, including the Limpopo MEC for Cooperative Governance, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the South African Human Rights Commission, the Public Protector, and Parliament.
