The Democratic Alliance (DA) recently noted the ongoing water challenges in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. They noted that it represents a severe threat to the dignity and quality of life of residents. Thee crisis is marked by frequent shortages, infrastructure failures, unclean water and community protests with residents demanding solutions from BCM and Amatola Water due to unreliable supply, impacting daily life and dignity, exacerbated by ageing systems and service delivery issues.
The Azania Movement has written a formal letter to the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Councillor Princess Faku, regarding the ongoing water crisis affecting residents across the Metro.
Communities in Ward 31 and Ward 32, including Ncerha and Chalumna, have been without consistent water supply for months, relying on insufficient rainwater. Privately owned boreholes are running dry, and municipal reservoirs are empty. In they letter they stipulated that water is a constitutional right.
“Section 27(1)(b) guarantees sufficient water, and Section 10 guarantees human dignity. The failure of the municipality to provide water constitutes inhumane living conditions and poses serious public health risks. In our letter, the Azania Movement demand Immediate emergency water across all affected areas, including tankering and accessible points. A written report detailing the crisis, its causes, measures in place, and restoration timelines. Contingency measures to protect water infrastructure, including backup power solutions and a long-term water security plan, publicly available, to prevent future crises.”
The municipality has been given seven (7) days to respond and take immediate action.
“Failure to act will force the Azania Movement to escalate the matter to Chapter 9 institutions and pursue legal and civic remedies. Water is not a privilege—it is a constitutional right,” the letter stated.
