Five residents of Phiri (a section of the famed Soweto township in Johannesburg) have asked the Johannesburg High Court to declare the use of prepaid water meters unconstitutional. South African’s Constitution guarantees the right to water. The use of prepaid water meters in poor communities violates this right by denying water to those who are not able to pay up front.

Read more about the use of prepaid water meters here.

In Phiri, residents often have no means to access water for weeks at a time. In South Africa, each household is supposed to receive a basic provision of 6,000 liters per household per month. But in many cases, the poorest households do not get even this basic provision. And 6,000 liters per household per month is far from enough for large households, mainly those who are poor. Peter Gleick, a U.S. based water expert, argued for the Phiri residents that this basic provision is insufficient.

The use of prepaid water meters is a severe setback for the country that seeks the progressive realization of socio-economic rights. A previous court case led to a ruling by a higher court that local government must prioritize fulfilling these rights for those in most need. Stay tuned.

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