Minister Issues Warning on Water for Sex Claims - Department of ...

Date: 28 August 2013
MINISTER ISSUES WARNING ON WATER FOR SEX CLAIMS
<strong>Minister</strong> of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs Edna Molewa has warned anyone
abusing their position to solicit sexual favours from women, that tough action will be
taken against them. This is in response to an article in the Sowetan newspaper (Sex
for water scandal probe 28 August) where it claimed a councillor in the Limpopo
province is demanding sex from poor women in the Makhaduthamaga local
municipality in Jane Furse in exchange for connection to water services.
“I am deeply disturbed by these allegations and wish to express my disgust that 19
years into our democracy women are subjected to such indignity as to the asked for
sexual favours in exchange to being connected to water services. While the
councillor in question has not been found guilty the Department is encouraged that
an investigation into the allegations is underway.
The Department of Water Affairs as custodian of water resources in the country
assists municipalities to deliver water to communities. In the last three years, the
department has spent about R12.6 million in water purification projects in the area.
<strong>Minister</strong> Molewa also visited the district in 2011 and pledged further water schemes
to increase access for the communities. It is therefore unthinkable that communities’
especially vulnerable women should be made to pay with their bodies for services
that government renders, as alleged in this instance.
<strong>Minister</strong> Molewa who is also an executive member of the ANC Women’s League
added, “as National Women’s Month draws to a close, I urge all women to come
forward and report abuse of this nature to the authorities”. Anyone who is found
guilty of such behaviour must be dealt with harshly”.
In the matter concerning the women in the villages around the Makhaduthamaga
local municipality, the minister will engage the municipality with a view to establishing
the facts around this matter in order to ensure that appropriate steps are taken. She
also called on the municipality to ensure the safety and well being of the women who
have come forward and to prevent victimisation and reprisals from the alleged culprit
against them.
Ends-