Ex-Kiir spokesman Ateny Wek calls for deportation of foreign water tanker drivers

JUBA – Former South Sudan presidential press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny has called for the immediate deportation of foreign water tanker drivers who are protesting newly imposed tariffs in the capital Juba.

The Juba City Council reduced the price of water from 5,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per drum to 2,500 SSP within Juba and 3,500 SSP in the suburbs last month. However, water tanker drivers staged a sit-down strike, disrupting water supplies to the city.

“A decision to go on strike by water-tanker owners and tanker drivers is so deadly and is pushing this country to the brink,” Ateny said.

“Our people are already living the lives of second-class citizens in their own country due to many factors,” he added.

Ateny said that the government should intervene to stop the exploitation of citizens by foreign water tanker drivers.

“We didn’t liberate this country in order to live a life of third-class citizens,” he advised.

Ateny claimed that most government officials won’t understand citizens’ anguish because the majority of government officials have their boreholes dug in their houses.

The water is sold to the tanker owner at 700 SSP per barrel (drum). Each tank capacity ranges between 50/70 drums, according to Ateny.

“So, 700 SSP multiply by 50 or 70 is equal to 35,000 SSP and 49,000 SSP per respective tanker. The tax is 2,000 SSP per tank,” he explained.

“Add to 35,000 SSP or 49,000 SSP, it is 37,000 SSP and 51,000 SSP per each tank. The fuel, ranges between 400,000 SSP or 50,000 to fill a full tank of diesel tanker,” Ateny noted.

According to the former presidential pressman, 5000 SSP per drum is equal to 250,000 SSP — more than 200,000 SSP the interest per 50 drum-tanker and 350,000 SSP per 70-drum tanker – which to him is an act of greed.

“The government must intervene to stop this exploitation. Even if, it means to withdraw licenses of the foreign drivers or even given them few days to leave the country,” he said.

“We don’t have South Sudanese citizens working in the same counties those foreigners came from.

“Hunger may kill human being in 8 days, a thirst in 2 or 3 days if the victim is confined to the room, but oxygen kills in 8 minutes. The water is next to oxygen. We must be careful,” Ateny said.