Page 19 - Notes from LRC's Housing Conference

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4.2.4.
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4.3.
Their action plan must indicate how they intend to provide all those in their jurisdiction with access to services and set measurable deadlines for progress.
Implementation of the judgement
LRC filed an application in terms of s 18 (3) of the Superior Courts Act for the initial order to operate, pending appeal processes – this order was granted.
The LRC and AFRA organised dialogues and workshops with municipalities on the judgement.
Concerned Residents of Flag Boshielo West
The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) represented communities from five villages in Sekhukhuni, Limpopo. The com- munities were accessing water from communal taps between 1980 and 2008. However, in trying to upgrade the areas, the municipalities fell short of regular provision of water to their clients. The municipalities rotated the provisioning of water across the five villages, and on some days, some villages did not receive any water. In 2009 the villages formed a Water Crisis Committee and started engaging with the state, but to no avail. They then approached CALS, and in 2015 CALS litigated against the municipality.
4.3.1. Court application
• PART A: urgent application for the municipality to address the water crisis by putting in place short-term solutions.
• PART B: long-term solution to address the systemic relief, which included upgrading the water purification system.
The municipality did not comply with the court order. The application sought to address the client’s right to access water. It highlighted the repercussions of the violation of one right on other constitutional rights, such as the right to basic sanitation.
4.3.2. The impact on the clients’ lives
• They had to walk 10km to the river to collect water.
• The safety of women and girls was contravened, especially with there being crocodiles in the river.
• The vulnerability of women, girls, the elderly, and people with disabilities was exacerbated.
• Children went to school without taking a bath, and girls sometimes skipped school when they were on their periods.
• It affected the social life of communities.
• It affected the environment.
SUMMARY NOTES FROM THE HOUSING CONFERENCE
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