This week, community leaders in Warrenton notified the ACDP that they have lost hope that the crisis will be resolved due to failure by the municipality to indicate progress on the water pipeline.

The ACDP calls on government to consider a mandatory minimum life sentence for child rapists in South Africa.

It is time for our government to place the needs of our people above its senseless point scoring and narrow political posturing, and to focus on the plight and urgent needs of those without access to clean water.

The severe floods that have impacted the Komaggas, Buffelsrivier, and Kleinsee communities have already caused immense suffering, and it is disheartening to see that the very department responsible for providing aid is further exacerbating the hardships faced by these individuals.

The ACDP remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of all affected by the floods. We will continue to engage with the relevant authorities, demanding immediate action to rectify the situation, and provide the necessary support to the affected communities.

The ACDP is setting up a Relief Fund and sent out a letter to our support base, for us to send care packages to desperate families in need. The public can contribute by making donations to the ACDP Relief Fund for KleinZee.

The finding by the acting Public Protector, that there was no conflict of interest, no abuse of power, and that the President received no remuneration from the farm, can be viewed as sweeping the evidence under the carpet.

Overall, the fundamental flaw in the BELA Bill is that the State wants to take power away from parents and communities, and this is the main reason why a broad cross-section of society is opposed to the Bill. The other big reason is that the BELA Bill is focussed primarily on administration.

We have been notified of an approved allocation of R5 145 435 by the Municipal Disaster Response Grant, situated in the Department of Cooperative Governance, for flood intervention measures in Warrenton.