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Water is Ours
By: uusc4all
Posted: Sep 8 09
Witnessed: 1044 times
Regions: South Africa
Issues: Sustainable development, Water
Tags: article 31, consitution, justice, privatization, south africa, udhr, water, water rights
Thanks to frictionfilms.blip.tv for making this film!
On September 2 and 3, 2009, the Constitutional Court of South Africa will hear the final appeal in a case brought by five Soweto residents challenging Johannesburgs discriminatory prepaid water meter system. Their six-year legal battle would reaffirm the constitutional right to water for all South Africans.
Low-income communities in Johannesburg's townships do not have sufficient water resources and do not receive the same water services as residents in wealthier, often white, suburbs. Yet, the Bill of Rights of South Africa guarantees everyones right to have access to sufficient water.
Diverse forces have come together in this powerful peoples movement - from community mobilization to self-organized water services to legal action. Together, they have already won a historic High Court victory and empowered people to remove prepaid water meters and reconnect to free water, despite threats of criminalization.
In this spirit, Amanzi Ngawethu (Water Is Ours) brings together protest songs, photos, and video from people and organizations who are working in solidarity to reclaim human dignity and human rights.
When the hearing starts, local residents, along with their legal team, supporters, and millions of people in South Africa and across the world, will be watching. Whatever the outcome of this legal case, the struggle to ensure accessible, adequate, and affordable water for all will continue.
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