Media Invite: North West Water and Sanitation Hearing

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

The South African Human Rights Commission invites members of the media to the second round of its provincial water and sanitation hearings which will be held in the North West Province.

DATE:      Thursday, 27 September 2012
VENUE:   Bataung Ba Hlalele Community Hall in Maboloka (Brits)
TIME:      09h00 - 16h35.

The hearings are scheduled to run until November 2012, and will culminate in a National Hearing in March next year where the Commission’s findings will be presented to Parliament and the people of South Africa.

These hearings are located within the Commission’s poverty and inequality strategy and would be led by the SAHRC Commissioners.
 
The hearings are as a result of the large number of complaints the Commission receives and the Commission’s recent investigations and findings in respect of widespread complaints on the right to sanitation by the poor.
 
Not long ago residents of Makhaza lodged a complaint with the Commission after the City of Cape Town installed unenclosed toilets in their area. The Commission found that the provision of unenclosed toilets was not only contrary to the guidelines of the National Housing Code but a violation of their right to dignity. A Similar finding was made on the erection of unenclosed toilets in the Rammolutsi Township, Viljoenskroon, Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Free State.

The Commission linked these two local-level complaints to the generic right to water and sanitation across South Africa and consequently decided to convene the hearings. The hearings will be attended by other Chapter Nine institutions and relevant State and Non-State organs that can be held to account by the communities during the proceedings.

END

ISSUED BY:
Isaac Mangena
South African Human Rights Commission
Head: Communications
+27118776303
2771884 8273
imangena@sahrc.org.za