Nyanga's Water Action Committee fights for clean and free water rights

The Water Action Committee was officially launched on Friday, November 14, at the Nyanga Arts Development Centre, marking a significant step in the community’s efforts to advocate for clean, free, and accessible water for all.

The initiative aims to educate residents about responsible water usage, the importance of saving water, and their constitutional right to both clean and free water.

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.

Committee member Malusi Xhego urged Nyanga residents, street committees, and ward committees to support the project, emphasising that it exists to serve the community and not political interests.

Faeza Meyer, chairperson of the African Water Commons Collective and guest speaker at the launch, said it is long overdue for Nyanga to confront its water challenges. Having campaigned for water rights for over a decade, she welcomed Nyanga’s involvement in the broader struggle.

“This is just the beginning for Nyanga,” she said.

“Water is a crisis. It is becoming the new ‘blue gold’ because it is treated as a commercial product, yet it is essential for life. We can survive without many things, but we cannot survive without water. People in poor communities are already suffering - we cannot grow food, and we do not always know if the water we drink is safe.”

Ms Meyer noted that affluent areas seldom face the same water challenges. With summer approaching, she warned that children in underserved communities may face increased health risks, including diarrhoea, due to poor water quality.

Nyanga resident Simphiwe Mbiko welcomed the formation of the committee, saying it was long overdue.

“Water is life. Here we drink water that we are not sure is clean, but we have no choice. I am concerned about what we consume in the townships,” he said.

The committee hopes the launch marks the start of stronger community mobilisation and improved access to clean, safe water for all Nyanga residents.