The Democratic Alliance (DA) staged a protest in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, on Human Rights Day to highlight the ongoing water crisis and oppose the continued reliance on water tankers in the area.
The march, led by DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, focused attention on what the party describes as a denial of residents’ basic human right to access clean drinking water. The demonstration took place in Hammanskraal, where water supply challenges have persisted for years, forcing many residents to depend on water tankers rather than piped water from their taps.
Speaking during the event, DA representative Themba Fosi addressed criticisms that the protest was primarily a political campaign rather than a genuine effort to resolve the crisis. He attributed the problems to failures by ANC-led municipalities, emphasizing that the situation in Hammanskraal represents a broader pattern of service delivery shortcomings, including unemployment, theft, and corruption under ANC administration.
Fosi highlighted that during a previous DA-led administration in the area, efforts were made to partner with the Department of Water and Sanitation to restore proper water provision and make tanker dependency a thing of the past. He noted that those initiatives were disrupted, allowing water tankers to remain prevalent. He pointed out that drivers in the area frequently encounter water tankers on the roads, describing the situation as unsustainable and undignified, particularly for vulnerable residents such as elderly individuals who must collect water manually from extraction points.
On proposed solutions, Fosi outlined that the DA would prioritize reducing water losses—currently estimated at 40% in the city through leaks and inefficiencies—and redirect those resources to proper infrastructure. He stressed the need to clamp down on losses to ensure water reaches intended areas, especially underserved communities like Hammanskraal.
Regarding allegations of “water tanker mafias” influencing the system, Fosi claimed evidence exists from past experiences, including invoices submitted without corresponding purchase orders and rejected proposals for trackers on tankers to enable monitoring. He referenced spending figures, stating that R777 million has been allocated to water tankers in recent times, even in areas with reticulated houses rather than informal settlements. He contrasted this with earlier budgets under DA oversight, such as R54 million allocated for tankers, and argued that such funds could instead repair infrastructure and eliminate the need for tankers. Fosi described the ongoing reliance on tankers as a self-imposed crisis benefiting certain parties, including references to findings from related commissions of inquiry.
The protest underscored the DA’s position that access to clean water is a constitutional right being violated by governance failures, with residents continuing to face dry taps despite available water resources in the province. The party used the occasion to call for accountability and lasting fixes over temporary tanker solutions.