Residents, community leaders, activists and stakeholders recently gathered in Orange Farm for a dialogue on the ongoing water crisis affecting communities across the area.
The dialogue was organised by InTouch Youth Development and Community Justice, a non-profit organisation operating in Orange Farm since 2016. The event brought together representatives from different provinces, community organisations and water advocacy groups to discuss the growing impact of water shortages and explore possible solutions and collective demands.
Speaking during the dialogue, Dr Ronnie Kapaso, Founder and Managing Director of InTouch Youth Development and Community Justice, highlighted the devastating effects that water shortages are having on communities.
“Water has become a national crisis because many communities are experiencing severe shortages. The situation is affecting early childhood development centres, primary schools, secondary schools, and businesses. In some cases, learners are sent home early because there is no water available,” said Dr Kapaso.
He further explained that the lack of water is creating additional social challenges within communities.
“When water tankers arrive, residents often compete for access to water. Some families collect 10 or 20 litres while others receive only five litres. This creates conflict among community memebers and can even lead to incidents of gender-based violence as people struggle to access water. These are some of the critical issues we are discussing during this dialogue,” he said.
Dr Kapaso emphasised the importance of bringing together communities, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the water crisis and to ensure that the voices of affected residents are heard.
Among the guests was Bafana Hlatshwayo from Mpumalanga, representing the South African Water Caucus (SAWC). Hlatshwayo called on political parties campaigning ahead of elections to prioritise water issues affecting communities.
“As political parties continue campaigning for votes, we want them to make firm commitments to address the dirty water and water shortage challenges affecting our communities. Access to clean and safe water is a basic human right, and residents deserve practical solutions rather than promises,” said Hlatshwayo.
The dialogue provided a platform for participants from various provinces to share experiences, discuss challenges and propose strategies aimed at improving access to clean and reliable water. Organisers hope the discussions will contribute to greater accountability from authorities and help drive action towards resolving the water crisis affecting Orange Farm and other communities across the country.
Organisers hope that the discussions and recommendations emerging from the dialogue will strengthen accountability among authorities and help drive meaningful action towards resolving the water crisis affecting Orange Farm and many other communities across South Africa.
The gathering reaffirmed the importance of community participation, solidarity, and collective action in protecting the constitutional right to clean and safe water for all.
