Tunatazama - Community Monitors

DEPRIVATION OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HOUSING AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

Tshepo Tsie

DEPRIVATION OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE HOUSING AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT

 

Residents of Riverside in Nyakallong have been deprived of their rights to shelter due to the Voelpan

dam. When the dam is full, residents experience flooding which affects the streets and the people’s houses, also the crops, livestock, and environment are mostly affected due to toxic chemicals from the dam.

 

During the days of Anglo American, the dam was maintained and monitored. The problem occurred

When Harmony Target One took over the operation of the mine. The most painful part is the kind of

arrogance displayed by harmony, the company is refusing to take responsibility for what they have created and have to care for.

 

The rights of the people of Riverside to shelter were violated, according to Chapter 2 of the Bill of

rights. The bill states in no uncertain terms that “everyone has a right to live in a clean environment,

that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing, prevent pollution, and ecological degradation, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations, through

reasonable legislation”.

 

The right of the Riverside residents to clean the environment is violated due to the toxic chemicals that are contained in the dam. It is a known fact that most of the residents of Riverside are elderly people who used their lifetime savings to buy properties in the area. They stand a high risk of being affected by high levels of toxins such as arsenic, copper, lead, silicon, and uranium.

 

Section 26 states that, “Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing”, unfortunately for

the residents of Riverside their rights have been violated. The residents cannot live in such

conditions, where water is flowing into and flooding their houses. The water is also stinking and

there are lots of mosquitoes in summer. The government managed to provide alternative accommodation to people who are affected, however, this is only temporary until they find a lasting solution to this problem. Other residents could not go because they had lots of equipment and furniture, while others did not feel comfortable leaving their properties.

 

The only solution is to drain the water from the dam. We should remediate the soil by planting

sunflower and other plants that can extract heavy metals from the soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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