THE water crisis in Tshwane has angered DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga.
He took on Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu while addressing DA members during a protest in Tshwane on Wednesday, 15 November.
Msimanga said the minister was lying as he is aware of a water crisis in the province.
"The minister says there is no water problem, it's a lie. In Soshanguve there is no water and that is a direct supply of Rand Water. Municipalities are saying they are not getting enough water from Rand Water," he said.
He said the DA is not lying, but the minister is. He said people can't live without water, but people can live without electricity.
"Mchunu is aware that we have written to the minister before and engaged with him and the CEO of Rand Water, Sipho Mosai. We were promised interventions two years ago, there are areas in Gauteng without water even today," he said.
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Msimanga said residents are frustrated because of a lack of water. He said the DA will not allow Rand Water to become another Eskom.
"The infrastructure has been allowed to be dilapidated both on Rand Water and municipalities side. We need to make sure there is an infrastructure master plan," he said.
He said Gauteng has been plunged into a water crisis for many years because of a lack of planning. He said reservoirs under Rand Water are dry. Furthermore, he said the residents of Gauteng deserve better.
"We demand immediate and transparent interventions to rectify the problems. Residents are left without water for months. We demand immediate measures to be taken to restore uninterrupted access to clean water and safe for all residents of Gauteng," he said.
DA Tshwane spokesman, Kwena Moloto said: "There is a massive water crisis in Tshwane. Water is a basic right. We are requesting Mchunu to remove the Rand Water CEO. The only way to solve these issues is to remove the ANC in 2024 and bring a DA-led government in Gauteng."
Mchunu said: "There is no municipality that has registered a problem of the nature that Msimanga was talking about. We work together with all mayors from time to time."
