Govan Mbeki mayor claims land invasion contributes to water shortages
Zuma said the municipality is allowed by law to have water losses of 20%, but because of those informal settlements, they exceed the required percentage.
Illegal land invasions contribute to water shortages in the Govan Mbeki Municipality. This is according to Mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma.
Zuma said some councillors are part of such activities. He pointed the finger at the Azanian Residents Party (ARP) president, John Mahlangu.
“Councillors are quick to complain that certain areas don’t have water. We have 43 informal settlements across our municipality. These people pay zero to the municipality, but we are supposed to provide water to every household, as compelled by the Constitution.
“That is why we installed the communal water taps in those informal settlements. We are losing a lot of water to those areas,” said Zuma.
Zuma said the municipality is allowed by law to have water losses of 20%, but because of those informal settlements, they exceed the required percentage.
He also said it is painful that the municipality owes Rand Water more than R600m.
“The question remains – do the people who consume that water pay for it?” asked Zuma.
