The debate ahead of Human Rights Day, held on Tuesday (17/3) at the Mmabatho legislature, saw parties including the DA, EFF, and MKP express deep frustration that constitutional promises of dignity, equality, and access to basic services remain unrealised for many South Africans.

DA MPL Freddy Sonakile delivered a scathing critique, arguing persistent service delivery failures amount to ongoing human rights violations more than three decades into democracy. “Let me be clear, apartheid was evil.

“It was a brutal system that denied people their dignity and their humanity. But no one ever imagined the ANC that fought for freedom, those who fought for one of the most progressive constitutions in the world … would turn to undermine and urinate on the very same constitution they helped to create.

“Thirty-two years is a long time … for rights to become reality rather than promises because a true test of a constitution is not how beautiful it is written but … whether promises are felt in the daily lives of ordinary people. Despite the Constitution’s guarantees, for many South Africans, those rights remain beautiful words … and after 32 years of democracy, that should trouble all of us,” Sonakile said.

The debate drew heavily on findings by the South African Human Rights Commission, which has repeatedly warned of systemic failures in the province. In its 2025 state of municipal service delivery report, the commission investigated 84 complaints across North West. It found failures in water provision, sanitation, electricity supply, waste management, and road infrastructure were directly undermining residents’ basic human rights.

Communities reported prolonged water shortages, unsafe drinking water, raw sewage flowing through streets and homes, illegal dumping, collapsing roads, and widespread infrastructure decay.

Sonakile cited several affected areas in Orkney, where sewage spills regularly flood streets and homes; in Alabama, residents face similar conditions; in Ventersdorp and Taung, discoloured and unsafe water flows from taps; in Ganyesa, residents travel long distances pushing wheelbarrows to fetch water; and in Lichtenburg, households have endured weeks without running water.

“These are not opposition talking points but rather documented complaints documented by the SAHRC. This is a human rights crisis.” He accused ANC representatives of defending the indefensible. “You will find in this house an ANC member who lives in luxury wanting to defend this nonsense and violation of human rights.

“This crisis is not confined to one municipality. It is happening across districts, across towns, across villages, and the entire province, and the tired excuse we hear every time is the same: apartheid.

“Yes, apartheid destroyed humanity. Yes, apartheid created inequality. Yes, apartheid left deep scars in our society, but apartheid ended more than three decades ago. A child born in 1994 is now 32 years old, he’s an adult and able to make (his) own decision,” he added.

Sonakile also invoked remarks by former ANC leader Tokyo Sexwale, referencing a warning delivered at a memorial service of former liberation movement leader Mosioua ‘Terror’ Lekota in Bloemfontein.

“He spoke about the Russian revolution, where the rallying cry of the people became bread. He warned his party if it doesn’t wake up from (its) slumber and heed advice, the new revolution in South Africa will be that of water, and I agree with him because … when taps run dry in Lebaleng, sewage spills in Orkney, residents drink brown water and families have to buy water to survive, the issue is no longer politics, it is a human rights crisis.”

According to Statistics South Africa, North West ranks fourth nationally in reported human rights violations, behind Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape – an alarming position for a province with just over four million residents.

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm