HIGHVELD – Residents might soon experience watershedding after Rand Water announced that it will be reducing water pressure in the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) due to non-payment.
According to a press release, the pressure was reduced from Monday, 20 May, after the municipality did not honour the payment agreement on the outstanding amount.
The pressure is reduced from 20 per cent to 40 per cent and the areas to be mostly affected are eMbalenhle, Bethal, Leandra and Kinross.
Political parties have lambasted the ANC led municipality and accused them of incompetence.
Ms Ciska Botha, DA Caucus leader, said it is with utter concern that the DA caucus in GMM takes note of an urgent notice allegedly issued from Rand Water threatening once again to reduce the water supply to GMM due to non-payment by the municipality.
She said a total debt of R180-million reported by the municipality is due to Rand Water and has reached an all-time high.
“It simply appears to continuously spiral the municipality into the financial hole it hasn’t been able to dig itself out of.
“The notice does not come as a surprise, however, since the municipality has not been able to pay even half of its current account towards Rand Water in April.
“Despite being placed under Section 129 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the council has not yet been able to respond to concerns raised by DA councillors with regards to the financial turnaround strategy which is often spoken of by the ANC, but never seen by others.
“This strategy was allegedly on the agenda at the Imbizo held for municipal officials and ANC leadership of the municipality at Badplaas Forever Resort.
“The response consistently given is that the MEC must sign-off before it can be considered by the council.
“What is also worrisome is that it appears that the opposition parties in the council, and equally importantly, residents of GMM are not notified by the council when these notices are issued by service providers.
“Water pressure reductions could leave residents in several areas of GMM without water for unknown durations of time when reservoir levels are too low,” Ms Botha concluded.
She said turning around the financial situation in GMM is what the ANC has been poorly attempting, with inadequate turnaround strategies and reports upon reports without progressive substance to the council.
She said it appears that the ANC executive seems to think that doing the same ill-advised things over and over would somehow one day bare fruits.
“The DA maintains that besides the hope of total change in 2021, when voters are afforded to choose a DA local government representation that would prioritise service delivery, the only option for the Govan Mbeki Municipality to survive, is for the executive mayor and her mayoral committee to step down, and for the municipality to be placed under administration.”
Mr Sibusiso Hlolweni, President of Sakhisizwe Progressive Movement (Sapromo), said it is very sad to learn that Rand Water might restrict water by in GMM.
He said it is bad for social welfare and business in the area, and seemingly the municipal council is becoming worse.
“This is a result of the lack of proper plans to service our debts and make sure our stakeholders are happy.
“It is more difficult now to encourage the community to pay because of the report of the auditor general, which suggests that there’s a lot of money that is unaccounted for.
“Sapromo is however, going to propose a quality assurance and compliance committee of council, in line with Section 79 of the Municipal Structures Act.
“The committee will assist in motivating stakeholders, ensuring accountability and fostering public and political support.
“The issue of the non-payment of both Rand Water and Eskom is mostly based on the 3 aspects, according to our judgment.
“Hence we believe that the establishment of the proposed committee will assist in closing the gaps mentioned above. Should any political party refuse the establishment of such committee, will mean that political party is not serious about turning things around in this municipal council,” Mr Hlolweni concluded.
The Ridge Times requested comment from the municipality on Thursday, 23 May and Mr Benzi Soko, GMM Chief of Staff, confirmed that he received the enquiries and promised to respond.
However, at the time of going to the press, he had not commented.
