Update on Heilbron water crisis

Rand Water has given the Ngwathe Local Municipality until Wednesday June 26, to come up with a revised payment plan for the outstanding debt owed by the Municipality to Rand Water. Gazette is still awaiting respons from Rand Water and the Ngwathe Local Municipality on the outcome.

Ngwathe has been struggling to pay the water utility since 2019, and owes Rand Water R66 587 928,13 which was due on 30 March 2024, Rand Water confirmed in notices published in May. The notices informed the public of Rand Water’s intention to reduce bulk potable water supply with 20% after 30 days of the notice, should payment or an approved payment plan not be received from Ngwathe.

Heilbron is the only Ngwathe town affected by the notices as Rand Water supplies the town with water. Ngwathe’s acting municipal manager, Dr Tseko Mothamaha, confirmed that a meeting with Rand Water was held on Monday to discuss Ngwathe’s proposed payment plan and the way forward. He said although the meeting was positive, Rand Water demands full payment of Ngwathe’s monthly account of about R2,5 million, and is pressing for an agreement on how the municipality intends to pay its outstanding debt.

In light of inquiries about Ngwathe’s monthly bill from Rand Water, the water utility agreed to check and verify the monthly accounts, Dr Mothamaha said, adding that the water supplier is serious about Ngwathe having to fulfill his monthly obligation, and that the municipality must have proper credit control systems in place to address non payment. To this regard the installing of prepaid water meters was suggested.

Dr Mothamaha said Ngwathe has proposed that it will pay it’s outstanding debt to the water utility with Equitable Share Funds, and will by means of its municipal Revenue Enhancement Strategy Committee be stepping up against consumers who fail to pay for service delivery affecting municipal income negatively.
What is not clear from the water utility’s notices is whether Rand Water would be reducing water flow to Heilbron and Phiritona even further than what is currently received by the town daily, should the parties not be able to reach an agreement.

The town has been suffering from a severe water shortage since December 2023 with certain areas hardly ever having water in their taps due to low water pressure. In better days the town used to receive 8 megaliters of water per day, but not any more, says residents. Last week water flow was measured on a mere 4,7 megaliter per day.

Rand Water earlier said the municipality’s continuous failure to make payment to Rand Water for the bulk water services debt is an outright breach of the relevant provisions of the BWSC as supported by the provisions of section 33(1)(d) of the Water Service Act 108 of 1997 (“the WSA”). The water utility added that this debt threatens the functional and institutional integrity of Rand Water and places in jeopardy Rand Water’s ability to provide bulk water services supply on a financially sustainable basis.

In terms of the relevant provisions of the BWSC and section 4 of the WSA, Rand Water is authorized to reduce bulk water supply services when a municipality fails to comply with BWSC’s terms and conditions for payment, as well as fails to give sufficient evidence of its inability to pay for water services.
Rand Water published the notices after continuous efforts failed to recover the monies owed by the Municipality resulting in Rand Water notifying the Municipality of its intention to exercise its legislative and contractual powers.

Heilbron councillors on Monday also met with the Water Manager for Heilbron, Mr Rogers Mnisi, Heilbron’s area manager Frances Moeketsi, and the chairperson of Ngwathe’s Financial Committee Mr Johny Serati, to discuss the water situation in Heilbron.

At the meeting a presentation was made with short term solutions suggested to better manage the water distribution network with the help of a civil engineer, Mr Abel van Jaarsveld, who volunteered to assist the municipality with advice. Among the suggestions was the installation of valves where needed, to ensure that all areas do get water. Options will be investigated but it was clear that no guarantee can be given that these measures will bring relief for the town’s desperate water crisis.