Judgment is expected today in an urgent application for access to clean water in Carolina, Mpumalanga.

Lawyers for Human Rights and the Legal Resources Centre, acting for the Federation for a Sustainable Environment and Silobela Concerned Community, filed an urgent application in the High Court in Pretoria when no agreement could be reached with the municipality.

The applicants want the court to force the municipality to provide Carolina with adequate temporary water complying with minimum standards.

They also want the court to direct the municipality and the government to work with the community and other roleplayers to find a way to ensure Carolina once again has clean drinking water in its taps and dams.

Residents of Carolina, Silobela and surrounding areas have not had access to drinkable water since the town’s water supply was declared unfit for human consumption six months ago.

This was the result of contamination with acid water from coal mines.

The municipality tanked in clean water, but residents complained that the supply was not consistent and accessible.

In May, Silobela residents held violent protests during which some of the water tanks were destroyed. Several residents were arrested.