The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC/Commission) has called for a human rights centric approach in dealing with the debt owed by municipalities to water boards.
This follows allegations of water supply shortages supposedly resulting in Rand Water’s reduction to the municipality due to its failure to settle a R27 million debt.
Residents of Ratanda, south of Heidelberg in Gauteng, took to the streets to demand water, on the 01st of July.
This led to a clash between residents and police, which claimed two lives.
The SAHRC is therefore, calling for relevant authorities, such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, to investigate the conduct of police during this incident.
The Commission also said it is concerned about ballooning debt owed by municipalities to water boards, which is estimated to be around R28 billion nationally.
But objects to the implementation of water supply reduction on owing municipalities.
The Commission also vowed to monitor this matter.
Picture: Supplied