In a briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements today, Minister Tokyo Sexwale revealed that he will be requesting an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the 'stink' of corruption and financial irregularities found by the Ministerial Sanitation Task Team.

I will today write to President Zuma to place on record the DA's support for an investigation into any poor performance, maladministration and financial irregularities that have affected sanitation delivery and call on him to make the necessary proclamation to initiate an SIU investigation.

We also support the call for officials guilty of misconduct to be fired and face criminal and civil charges, and for companies that failed to deliver on their contracts or that were involved in financial irregularities to be blacklisted and sued for the return of payments.

The access to quality sanitation by all people is a basic human right that is fundamentally linked to a person's dignity. This right must be vigorously protected.

Where officials and companies have contributed to delivery breakdowns, they must be held accountable.

Stevens Mokgalapa, Shadow Minister of Human Settlements