Today is day 2 of the Human Rights Commission Vaal River Inquiry at Stonehaven, Vanderbjlpark

Community Alerts/Mdududzi Tshabalala/VEJA-Vaal/26/09/2018

 

The inquiry started yesterday morning with testimonials, and presentations came from CBO’s/ NGO’s, and SAVE the Vaal River presented about the processes of their court interdict with Metsi a Lekoa, SAVE anticipates that Gauteng Premier together with COGTA will resolve through court proceedings.

New Horizon is a community-based organization which gave testimonies about overflowing sewerage from many of the manholes around Emfuleni townships, focusing more in Boipatong New Horizon talked about challenges faced by Lebohang Secondary School with Soup kitchen having to close sown after several relocations due to the manhole situated within the school premises.

VEJA presented about the Water Quality campaign and the work done within the Vaal Barrage Catchment, where most of the marginalized and vulnerable groups like Traditional Health Practitioners and Spiritual Water Users have been compromised of their Human Rights as water users.
The Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality gave his testimonies as he welcomed the inquiry and acknowledging the maladministration that had occurred in the municipality, and that as he took over the office late 2017 he ordered an independent forensic audit, which was compromised in February 2018 before the council could adopt it, whereby a new forensic audit was procured instead of moving with the 1st audit.

The commission of inquiry continues today with the DWS National; Provincial and Local representatives to give testimonies. By Mdudzi Tshabalala