Cathkin residents deny water extortion claims

Hazel Allies-Husselman

hazel.allies@acm.co.za

Cathkin Village informal settlement residents say nobody is being charged for water. 

This after mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Dr Zahid Badroodien, issued a statement last week saying his department has been made aware that "taps and toilets are being locked by extortionists who demand that residents pay for basic services."

Resident Farinaas Lackay said they lock the taps at night to prevent them from being stolen.

"We lock the taps at 7pm and open it at 7am. A few taps have already been stolen and this is our way of protecting it. Nobody in Cathkin Village is being asked to pay money for water," Ms Lackay said.

Another resident, Samantha van der Rheede, agrees with Ms Lackay. She said the City of Cape Town installed three taps outside the fenced-off informal settlement.

"There is a tap between the containers, a tap outside the small gate and a tap outside the main entrance. We decided to only use the one tap, as some families have moved from here. The tap we use is outside the main entrance of the 'camp'. The reason we are locking the taps is to prevent unnecessary water wastage. There was a time it was locked during the day because we found that children who walk home from school, would open the taps and leave the water running. As the taps are outside, it is accessible to anybody. However, if the taps are locked during the day, all the residents in Cathkin Village are well aware of where they can get the key to unlock the taps. It is accessible to all the residents. Nobody is being asked to pay for water. We feel this false allegation is so unfair towards us."

Ms Van Der Rheede also pointed out that the residents there use portable toilets, hence there are no toilets that are being locked. 

Community activist, Vanessa Adriaanse, echoed that no one is paying for water.

"Everybody at Cathkin Village lives there for free. If anybody says they are made to pay, then they must come forward and show their proof," Ms Adriaanse said.

Ward councillor Anthony Moses said he received reports about residents who do not receive water unless they pay.

"I brought this to the attention of the City's Informal Settlement Unit, who went there to assess the situation. I was made aware that the tap is always closed, even during the day.

When the Athlone News informed Dr Badroodien that residents say there is no extortion happening, he said he disagreed with them. 

"I am aware that some community leaders suggested that there is no extortion taking place. However, from discussions I have had with the councillor, officials and residents, who have sent me photos of the locked tap and confirmed that they have to pay between R100 and R500 − I would disagree with these community leaders.

"The threat of extortion is a serious one and enough reason to shine a spotlight on this growing crisis in our city. I pointed out to the community leaders that we did not single out any individual or informal settlement," Dr Badroodien said.

He added: "Note that it is not realistic to expect any single resident to come out and speak out against this issue as they will become a target in their very own community."

Manenberg SAPS spokesperson, Captain Ian Bennett, said no extortion cases had been opened at the police station.