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Six year legal battle for water rights in South Africa reaches
Constitutional Court on 2nd Sept 2009

Amanzi Ngawethu (Water is Ours) is spreading the word about a critical
moment for water struggles in South Africa. Please forward and spread the
news far and wide!

In the next few days, on the 2nd & 3rd of September 2009, the
Constitutional Court of South Africa will hear the final appeal in a case
brought by five Soweto residents challenging prepaid water meters and
insufficient free basic water. The Bill of Rights of the South African
Constitution guarantees right of access to sufficient water.

However, poor communities in Johannesburg's townships do not have
sufficient water and do not receive the same water service as the richer
suburbs. This six year legal battle is working to secure constitutional
rights for all - water is a right not a privilege!

Diverse forces have come together - from community mobilisation to
self-organised water services to legal action - in powerful struggles
which have won an historic High Court victory and empowered people to
remove prepaid water meters and reconnect to free water, despite threats
of criminalisation. In this spirit, Amanzi Ngawethu (Water is Ours) brings
together protest songs, photos and video from people and organisations
involved in the struggle and working in solidarity.

When the hearing starts in the Constitutional Court, the residents of
Phiri along with their legal team, supporters & millions of poor people in
South Africa & across the world will be watching and listening. Whatever
the outcome of this legal case, the struggle to ensure accessible,
adequate & affordable water for all will continue.

Please spread this film far and wide and check the weblinks for updates
over the next few days as events unfold...

Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP)
Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF)
www.apf.org.za

Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)
www.law.wits.ac.za/cals