COSATU will approach the provincial government and the minister of water affairs as part of a campaign on water and corruption.

According to COSATU, it has resolved to take up this campaign following a debate on the challenges that workers and members of the community are facing on a daily basis. The trade union says it has learned that there is an element of corruption among some councillors, senior politicians and municipal officials, resulting in some municipalities being unable to provide a service.

“It is the federation’s view that yes, we do have a water challenges but in some areas we have people who have no interest in the poor communities. They do not care about the challenges facing our communities. What they care about is if I take one truck of water how much will get in my pocket,” COSATU said in a statement.

“The water crisis is a national question that must be dealt with by both national and provincial government and the private sector,” COSATU said. It believes that the water struggle in some communities is a crisis that needs a strong campaign that will “stop people from using the water crisis to get rich.”

The union said, “Our members are dying in the municipalities due to poor conditions of service and money is taken to a few people after making sure that they get the tender. Municipalities are not able to provide protective cloths to workers due to corruption that is taking place in almost all of our North West municipalities.”

The trade union will take up issues that affect workers and communities who had challenges during and before the national elections. It warns that the campaign will take the trade union to the streets if it finds that the crisis is caused by corrupt activities in the municipalities.