PROVISION OF WATER TANKS AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO EMALAHLENI COMMUNITIES AS A MATTER OF URGENCY

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has petitioned Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to urgently provide water tanks and tankers to communities in eMalahleni, including Extension 11, Empumelelweni, Extension 14, and Coronation. These areas have lacked reliable water supply since September 2019, forcing residents to rely on contaminated streams polluted by coal mines and industry. The CER argues that this lack of water violates constitutional rights and severely hinders COVID-19 prevention efforts, as residents cannot perform essential handwashing. The letter calls for immediate government intervention to provide both emergency relief and sustainable long-term water access.

• Several communities in and around eMalahleni, specifically Extension 11, Empumelelweni, Extension 14, and Coronation, have lacked access to a reliable water supply since September 2019.
• Water quality in the eMalahleni area is degraded by heavy industry, power stations, and coal mines, with the Olifants River Catchment identified as one of the most stressed catchments in South Africa regarding both quantity and quality.
• Due to the lack of reliable supply, residents are forced to use contaminated streams that are shared with livestock and receive runoff from industrial facilities and coal mines.
• The absence of clean water prevents residents from following COVID-19 preventative measures, specifically handwashing with soap and water, which exacerbates existing health inequalities caused by chronic air pollution.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2020). PROVISION OF WATER TANKS AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO EMALAHLENI COMMUNITIES AS A MATTER OF URGENCY. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CER-letter_Urgent-water-supply-to-eMalahleni-communities_9-April-2020.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. PROVISION OF WATER TANKS AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO EMALAHLENI COMMUNITIES AS A MATTER OF URGENCY. 2020. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CER-letter_Urgent-water-supply-to-eMalahleni-communities_9-April-2020.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=PROVISION OF WATER TANKS AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO EMALAHLENI COMMUNITIES AS A MATTER OF URGENCY |date=9 April 2020 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CER-letter_Urgent-water-supply-to-eMalahleni-communities_9-April-2020.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2020provision, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{PROVISION OF WATER TANKS AND RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO EMALAHLENI COMMUNITIES AS A MATTER OF URGENCY}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2020}, month = apr, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CER-letter_Urgent-water-supply-to-eMalahleni-communities_9-April-2020.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }