Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Marié la Cock.
For the past week, the residents of Parys have been subjected to an inconsistent and, at times, non-existent water supply. This situation has left households, schools, businesses, and essential services in distress, with no clarity on when stability will be restored.
What makes this crisis even more unacceptable is the lack of accurate and transparent communication from the municipality. The explanations provided so far do not align with the lived reality of our residents, nor do they reflect the actual state of the water supply network. Council members themselves have not been furnished with transparent or credible updates.
The DA in Parys finds it wholly unacceptable that in 2025, residents are forced to live without reliable access to water. Water is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right and the cornerstone of dignity and health.
We are therefore:
- Demanding immediate, truthful and comprehensive feedback from the municipal leadership on the causes of this crisis, the steps being taken, and clear timelines for complete restoration of supply.
- Escalating this matter to the provincial level so that urgent interventions can be made and accountability can be enforced.
- Insisting on a transparent communication plan to keep residents informed adequately as the crisis unfolds.
The people of Parys cannot and should not continue to suffer in silence. The DA will continue to stand with our residents and fight to ensure that this most basic right is protected and delivered.