By OBAKENG MAJE
12 March 2026- The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) in North West said the ongoing water crisis in Taung that is tormenting the communities is inhumane and unacceptable. EFF said for over a year, the people of Dryharts and other villages have been forced to survive without a reliable supply of running water.
The EFF Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Amogelang Matuane said families, elderly school children and small businesses, have been subjected to depending on water tanks as their only source of water. Matuane said these tanks are irregularly filled, often arrive late and in many instances, do not meet the basic needs of the growing community.
She further said this is not merely an inconvenience, it is a gross violation of the constitutional right to access sufficient quality water and a direct insult to the dignity of our people. Matuane added that water is not a luxury, but a basic human right.
“The continued failure of the Greater Taung Local Municipality and the North West Provincial Government to provide consistent water supply to Dryharts, exposes the deep levels of incompetence, poor planning, and collapse of infrastructure under the ANC-led administration. For almost a year, there has been no sustainable intervention, no clear turnaround strategy, and no accountability for those responsible for this crisis.
“The most disturbing aspect of this matter is that when the residents of Dryharts exercise their democratic right to protest and demand basic service delivery, they are met with police brutality. Instead of water supply being dispatched urgently, what is dispatched is law enforcement armed to suppress frustrated and thirsty residents. Instead of leadership engaging the community with solutions, the state responds with intimidation and force,” she said.
Matuane said this is a cruel response to a community that is simply asking for water to drink, cook, bathe, and live. She said a government that responds to legitimate service delivery protests with violence is a government that has failed its people.
“The people of Dryharts are not criminals. They are victims of municipal collapse. They are not asking for favours, but demanding what is rightfully theirs. The EFF calls for an urgent, transparent report from the Greater Taung Local Municipality and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs detailing the root causes of the prolonged water crisis, the status of water infrastructure in Dryharts, the budget allocated for water services, and the immediate timelines for the restoration of consistent water supply.
“Furthermore, there must be an independent investigation into allegations of police brutality against residents who have been protesting for basic services. The people of Dryharts cannot continue to live like refugees in their own Province. The EFF stands firmly with the community and will fight until there is a permanent, reliable water solution and accountability for both service delivery failures and the repression of residents,” she said.
Picture: Community members grappling with water challenges/SABC
The Guardian 