Important appeal hearing set in South African case
23 February 2009
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In a groundbreaking judgment on 30 April 2008, the Johannesburg High Court declared prepaid water meters unconstitutional and ordered the City of Johannesburg to provide an increase in free basic water allocation. Next week an appeal will be heard to determine if this crucial decision will be protected.
The Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF), a War on Want partner organisation, has been campaigning since 2001 for adequate access to basic services for South Africans. Working as part of the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP), the APF has been instrumental in supporting a group of residents from Phiri, Soweto, an area of Johannesburg, who challenged the constitutionality of the installation of pre-paid water meters by the city.
As part of the decision the limitation of free basic water allocation of 6 kilolitres per household per month was set aside and the city was ordered to provide 50 litres per person, per day.
Amos Masondo, the mayor or Johannesburg, and the Johannesburg Water and the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF) have appealed the judgement. The appeal hearing will take place in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, South Africa from 23-25 February 2009.
Fifteen years after the end of Apartheid millions of South Africans continue to face problems in accessing adequate and affordable basic public services. Today over 20% of South Africans, more than 9.5 million people, do not have access to basic public services such as water.
Having working with the APF since 2001, War on Want fully supports the APF's campaign for access to water and welcomes the April 2008 High Court decision. While we hope that the Supreme Court of Appeal will uphold the Johannesburg High Court ruling of April 2008, War on Want supports CAWP's plans to pursue the legal case to the Constitutional Court if necessary.
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