Water meters lying unused behind municipal building
Despite Merafong City Local Municipality complaining that its financial problems are caused by residents not paying for services, it is not doing everything it can to collect revenue.
On 2 March, concerned community members informed the Herald about a large heap of water meters lying behind the Fochville municipal building.
The Herald made further enquiries and found out that, as far as could be determined, these water meters had been destined for Kokosi Extension 6. However, the meters were never installed and had been lying unused in the sun for years.
A quick Google search showed that the meters are listed on the website of the company Water Watch as a “Zonke meter box with a 20 mm KSM 165 mm meter”. Although no price is attached to this product, the company’s cheapest meters start at about R1,500 each.
During their march to the municipal offices on 26 January, Kokosi residents complained that even if they wanted to pay for electricity, problems within the municipality, like closed pay points, prohibited them from doing so. It now seems Merafong is also not doing its bit to ensure residents pay for water.
According to an item discussed by the council during the special council meeting on 31 January this year, the municipality owed Rand Water just under R210 million by 31 December 2022.
“Makgotamisha, the service provider appointed by Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, left those meters in the municipal offices after the community vandalized and rejected the few that was installed. The Gauteng Department of Human Settlement has allocated funds to the municipality to appoint a service provider to install the water meters in Kokosi Ext 6 and to connect the sewer lines,” the municipal spokesperson answered.
