By Anita Dangazele
Complaints about human rights violations and lack of service delivery are on the rise in the Eastern Cape, yet the ANC-led provincial government says it has successfully executed its 2019 mandate.
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in the Eastern Cape is flooded with complaints about the lack of basic services, including access to clean water, proper sanitation and decent roads. There are also significant challenges in providing healthcare and education.
The SAHRC’s Eastern Cape manager, Dr Eileen Carter, said the province’s two major metros, Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela, have the highest number of complaints received.
She said the commission had received 667 cases in the past financial year.
Carter said appeals from the poor about malnutrition, sharing water with animals and a lack of proper sanitation are problems that need urgent intervention.
“Children going hungry is not only a human rights issue, it’s a moral issue. Sharing water with animals is not only a violation of human rights, it’s a human dignity issue,” she said.
While thousands of people in the province are in dire straits, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane praised his government for a job well done.
“Indeed, we have executed the electoral mandate of 2019 without fail,” he said.
He was speaking at the ANC’s provincial executive committee conference held in Gqeberha on Monday.
Mabuyane tasked his provincial executives with ensuring quick service delivery wins in the months leading up to the election.
“In the coming four months, we are going to consolidate all the quick wins and ensure that there is rapid implementation,” Mabuyane said.
He highlighted the importance of a rapid response to water and sanitation issues along with entrepreneurial support as the areas of focus.
“The above directives are derived from the 2019 electoral mandate and we shall respond to all of them with speed,” he said.
Pictured above: Poor living conditions is the norm for NMB’s Kariega community.
Image source: Supplied
