The Impact of Basic Services Delivery on families in South Africa
“This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of South Africa’s first bill of rights. This day seeks to acknowledge the substantial progress we have made as a country in establishing a government based on equitable human rights for all,” this is what President Ramaphosa stated in in his Human Rights Day speech. It is a day to commemorate and honor those who fought for these liberties and made significant sacrifices. Yet, many South African households are still denied the right to basic services.
Families and children in destitute and impoverished areas continue to endure most of the local government failings. The absence of fundamental services violates human rights and disrupts the living circumstances and structures of many families.
Not having access to basic services means most families are unable to provide their children with the basic rights to sufficient water, adequate shelter, and health care. This disrupts family structures by keeping children separated from their families and in institutions. Children, particularly girls, are at greater risk of dropping out of school if sufficient and secure toilet facilities are not available.
Corruption as well as mismanagement have weakened service delivery quality, resulting in a shortage of funds and increasingly bad service delivery. This is at the expense of people who have a constitutional right to have their basic requirements fulfilled.
OCOF HHCSA is urging the government to prioritize the quality-of-service delivery as a foundation for all South Africans to fully appreciate their human rights. Access to basic service delivery is a fundamental human right important to sustaining community-based families. This helps to keep families together and children out of institutions. The provision of basic service delivery is a right, not a privilege.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
Busisiwe Mphapang, Social Media/Marketing Executive, One Child One Family: +27 (0) 79 180 0445; busisiwe.mphapang@hopeandhomes.co.za
Public Document
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