Media Statement Issued by: Department of Health Date: 27 June 2013 Motsoaledi condemns Cape Town Faeces Protest Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has today broke his silence in condemning the dumping of human waste at public places in the Western Cape. The Minister wants to reiterate that the department of health regards issues of sanitation, sewerage and clean running water as an integral to good public health. In fact these are regarded by the World Health Organization as social determinants of health. Hence the Minister would like to call upon the relevant departments and the municipality to look into these issues as a matter of urgency. However, the method of protest whereby human faeces are thrown all over the place can never be condoned under any circumstances and regardless of the level of anger and frustration. What is currently happening in the Western Cape defies all manner of logic and it is outright inhumane. Human faeces contain deadly micro-organisms like viruses, bacteria and or larvae of parasites that can cause serious outbreak of diseases such as but not limited to Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery, Parasitic diseases and even just simple Diarhoea on a wide scale. All these can put whole populations at risk. The type of action going on in the Western Cape can no longer be considered as a protest against those who are responsible for not providing services, but is a direct attack against the whole population and will affect even the innocent people in whose name the actions are undertaken. We know from experience that any disease outbreak which this action can trigger will always affect the poorest more than those who are well to do. For this reason we call upon the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against those involved, without any compromise because the whole population must be protected against possible health hazards that may emanate from these irresponsible actions. Enquiries: Joe Maila Ministry of Health: Spokesperson Cell: 082 887 3581 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @mjmaila.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:41:15 +0000