Coalition Against Water Privatization in South Africa (CAWP)

Comprised of community-based and non-governmental organizations, the Coalition Against Water Privatization (CAWP) has been organizing and advocating for South Africans' right to access adequate and affordable water in Johannesburg and Cape Town since 2003. CAWP organizers, activists and community members in urban and rural areas advocate for basic services, and CAWP is a part of the Anti-Privatization Forum.

When the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water instituted prepaid water meters in Phiri (a black suburb of Johannesburg) and limited free basic water to 25 liters per person day, CAWP led groundbreaking litigation to challenge the City's decisions and to fight for the right to access sufficient water as guaranteed to all South Africans by the country's Constitution. The lawsuit also asked that the prepaid meters be declared illegal and unconstitutional. The case was decided in South Africa's highest court in September, 2009. CAWP worked with the Centre for Applied Legal Studies of the University of Witwatersrand, who were the attorneys of record.

Rev. Bill Sinkford traveled to South Africa during his Africa pilgrimage in 2008 to meet with CAWP organizers.