By REGINALD KANYANE
30 August 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the oversight inspections conducted in Douglas with its Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, shone the spotlight on the government’s failure to ensure dignified services to the communities of Bucklands, Selfbou and New Park. The DA said all three of these communities have been forgotten and do not have access to clean, piped water or proper sanitation facilities.
The DA Constituency Head of Diamond South and Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Delmaine Christians said in Mandelaplaas in Bucklands, a borehole that is serving 60 shanties, is not working. Christians said residents make use of untreated canal water, which is not according to South African National Standards (SANS).
“This is unsafe and places residents at risk of illness. We appreciate Seitlholo’s commitment to ensure that the borehole is reconnected. This will go a long way to restoring residents’ water rights.
“In Selfbou and New Park in Riemvasmaak, residents are dependent on Jo-Jo tanks erected by the DA, for water. Tragically, one of these Jo-Jo tanks, which were still full of water, was purposefully pushed off its stand during the past week, causing it to shatter,” she said.
Christians further said the DA condemns the sabotage of water infrastructure that will rob people of access to water. She added that they have donated an additional Jo-Jo tank to both Selfbou and New Park.
“We will also continue to seek cooperation from the municipality to enable us to lay a water pipeline from the Jo-Jos, to expand access to water.
“That these areas are also without any kind of toilet facilities, and that people use the bush to relieve themselves, is a gross service failure and violation of people’s constitutional rights,” said Christians.
She said they will continue to put pressure on all three spheres of government, to ensure that addressing this sanitation shortfall is prioritised. Christians said the government must be held accountable for ensuring that basic services are delivered to all communities.
The Guardian 