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- This underlines the importance of ensuring that local governments use the money available to them for the supply of free and safe water Minister Casrils said. It also points to the critical challenge for the newly elected local governments to develop the capacity in operating and maintaining water delivery systems. Casrils analysis of the connection between the recent outbreaks of cholera and poverty are not far-fetched. Not doubting the epidemiological fact that bacteria are the cause of outbreak, his explanation derived from another fact, that cholera can be prevented by investments in infrastructure prohibiting the spread of the disease - most spread through drinking water contaminated by faeces. President Mbeki's statements on AIDS and poverty, however, lack this easily identifiable link. An inter-ministerial committee comprising the Minister of Provinsial Affairs and Local Government, the Minister of Finance and Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry is discussing the implementation of delivering free water to the poor. - In view of the urgency of the matter, highlighted by the cholera outbreak, the process of policy development and consultation will be speeded up, Casrils stated. "I will shortly be calling on local governments, through their organisation, the South African Local Government Association (Salga), as well as provincial MEC's, the NGO Coalition (Sangoco) and organised labour to consider ways in which we can implement the President's announcement." The recent Constitutional Court ruling ordering a Western Cape Municipality to provide basic services had added to the urgency. - I have been warned for some time about the health perils of a lack of access to safe water. The supply of a basic amount of free water to the poor as well as the need for more infrastructure investment in water systems will go a long way to avoiding outbreaks such as these, Casrils said. An investigation by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry had shown that none of the water systems in the Eshowe area have been affected by cholera but the sources clearly from contaminated rivers and streams. However, the department remained very concerned about the situation. "We believe that this is a classic problem that happens when there is no access to adequate safe water services," Casrils stated. At the time of the first signs of the outbreak, the department checked boreholes and windmills to ensure that they continued to provide safe drinking water. In the short-term, the department has supplied portable water tanks and three water tankers to ensure that the communities in the area have access to safe and clean drinking water. Casril will himself be visiting the Eshowe area this week. In the longer term, increased budget for capital investments in water supplies would help, Casrils claimed. But, unless this is accompanied by a determined effort at local government level to ensure that funds are available to operate services, such investments will be fruitless. Source:
Based on the S.A. Ministry of Water Affairs and Forestry
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