ActionSA's Mashaba dismisses claims party is taking credit for resolving Hammanskraal water crisis
After two decades of contending with undrinkable tap water, parts of Hammanskraal now have access to clean drinking water as of last week.
Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya takes a sip of water after the first phase of the portable Magalies Klipdrift water treatment plant was successfully installed. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has dismissed claims that his party is taking credit for victories it did not achieve to supply clean drinking water to Hammanskraal.
After two decades of contending with undrinkable tap water, parts of Hammanskraal now have access to clean drinking water as of last week.
This follows installing a temporary water purification system that processes small amounts of water.
The community has been battling with contaminated water due to the city's failure to upgrade the mega plant meant to purify water supplied to households in Hammanskraal.
Just four months after ActionSA councillor Nasiphi Moya was elected mayor, clean drinking water was restored to parts of Hammanskraal.
READ: Some Hammanskraal residents hope to do away with buying clean water
ActionSA celebrated this achievement, but some political parties accused it of claiming credit for victories accomplished by others.
But Mashaba insists it’s not true that Moya and ActionSA had no role in restoring clean drinking water in Hammanskraal.
"When DA [Democratic Alliance] took over in 2016, a party that always claims that when they govern they govern well but at the same time give people water that kills them. now today they are saying they are the ones that started the project. I think it’s an insult to our intelligence as people. So anyone who believes that, you honestly have to be a fool."
Mashaba said the water issue in the township is close to his heart – as it is where he spent his childhood.