During the launch, community members were encouraged to demand accountability, resist the privatisation of water services, and assert water as a basic right rather than a commodity.
Committee chairperson Dumisani Makhanya said the launch highlights the organisation’s commitment to defending the rights of ordinary citizens. He stressed that access to clean water is enshrined in the Constitution and must be protected.
He added that the committee will work with similar structures in other areas, including Makhaza and Elsies River, to empower communities with knowledge about their water rights. Part of their advocacy will include challenging government policies that result in residents being taxed for water.
“This is not about fighting the government,” Mr Makhanya said.
“It is about educating our people to save water and helping them understand the dangers of communal water sources. We will test communal tap water and compare it with water from affluent areas to determine whether residents in the Cape Flats and townships are receiving safe, consumable water.”
Mr Makhanya also raised concerns about aging water infrastructure in townships, saying burst pipes, recycled water systems, and deteriorating networks often lead to high bills that unfairly burden low-income households.
