Illegal water connections cost iLembe millions

Ongoing illegal water connections and leaks have cost iLembe district municipality R187.98 million in lost revenue in the 2018/2019 financial year.

This was revealed in the auditor general’s report presented at a council meeting held at Ilembe House on January 30.

The water losses equate to almost 18 million kilo-litres for the district municipality, sitting 60 percent higher against the national norm of 40 percent.

Illegal water connections have been an ongoing challenge in the municipality for years, however water leaks as a result of aging infrastructure, reservoir overflows and service connection leaks have also been blamed for the water losses.

While the municipality received a financially unqualified audit opinion with findings, the R74.93 million irregular expenditure incurred in the last financial year has been attributed to excessive contract extensions.

However, auditor general office senior manager Amanda Zuma commended the municipal management for coming up with an action plan to turn things around, which she said was done as early as November 2019.

Municipal manager Geoffrey Kumalo said the audit action plan has been developed with clear timelines and would be monitored with regular reports to ensure that the political leadership is able to play its oversight role.

Kumalo told council that the municipality was working on reducing the number of water losses by implementing a variety of programmes through the Water Services and Infrastructure Grants, which includes the replacement of water pipes and connecting of water meters.

“The municipality is owed an estimated R380 million and therefore urges all community members to come forward and make necessary payment arrangements. Some of our people that are expected to come forward include indigent communities.”

While the district did away with its system of providing free basic water to all households about six years ago – electing only to provide this service to registered indigent households – the cost of developing and refurbishing water infrastructure is high.

Kumalo said the issue of illegal connections was a grave concern for the municipality as it impacted negatively on the sustainability of the municipality, whose core function is to provide water and sanitation services to four local municipalities, KwaDukuza, Ndwedwe, Maphumulo and Mandeni.

DA caucus leader Madhun Sing said that irregular expenditure had gone up by R29 million from the previous year and stated that reasonable steps were not taken to prevent this including extension of security services.

“Some contracts were approved without the approval of properly delegated officials. This practice must stop immediately and there must be consequence management,” said Sing.

Sing said that if the municipality did not improve on its debt collection the fallout could be disastrous, effecting the district’s sustainability.

“That is the lifeblood of council that relies heavily on its funding from province and national government. Illegal connections must be addressed and timely repairs must be undertaken on all reported water leaks,” he said.

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