As families in Polokwane mourn the deaths of four children amid a deepening water contamination crisis, ActionSA has accused the city’s leadership of abandoning residents at their most vulnerable, vowing to escalate the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Public Protector. The condemnation follows an urgent oversight visit by ActionSA to the Polokwane Municipality on Monday, 5 January, where the party said it was met with a complete absence of leadership as residents grappled with fears over unsafe water. Malebo Kobe, an ActionSA Member of Parliament, said the party was shocked to find both the mayor and the municipal manager on leave at the height of the crisis.
“Upon arriving at the municipality, we were surprised to find both the mayor and municipal manager on leave, leaving residents to endure a deepening emergency without guidance or support,” Kobe said. She added that it took ActionSA’s visit for the mayor to finally take action, with his first step being a planned inspection of the Seshego Water Treatment Plant. “This comes despite the mayor previously dismissing these concerns, claiming that water quality and access were unrelated to the tragic loss of lives,” she said. Kobe further criticised the city’s leadership, stating that residents were left without answers when they needed them most.
