A 20% cut in VKLM’s water supply looms
RW has also indicated that the VKLM has struggled to pay for its water since 2019. The amount owed by the VKLM on May 30 stood at more than R387m.
A Rand Water (RW) notification circulated on local WhatsApp service delivery groups in and around Delmas indicating that RW plans to cut the water supply in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM) by 20%.
According to this notification, VKLM’s continued failure to pay Rand Water for its bulk water services debt breaches the relevant provisions of the bulk water supply contract (BWSC) as supported by the provisions of section 33(1)(d) of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997.
RW clarified that according to the relevant provisions in the BWSC, the entity has authorisation to reduce bulk water supply services if a municipality does not adhere to the payment terms and fails to give sufficient evidence of its inability to pay for water services.
RW has also indicated that the VKLM has struggled to pay for its water since 2019. By the end of March this year, VKLM owed Rand Water more than R387m.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Second child also dies after eating snacks from tuckshop in eMbalenhle
Streeknews reported on many occasions in the past on the continued water woes in the towns of Sundra, Rietkol and Eloff because these towns in the VKLM had a clear history of having little to no water for weeks and months on end.
Delmas residents are also acutely aware of water scarcity because the town’s water supply has been cut every evening since April last year.
Streeknews tried to contact the municipality to get answers about its intentions regarding the outstanding debt to RW and the possible throttling of the town’s water by 20%, but at the time of going to print, no reaction was received.
“A glaring deficit of more than R120m for the 2023/2024 financial year might be the source of the possible water throttling in VKLM,” said Diane Bath, DA councillor and caucus leader in VKLM.
“Like many ANC-governed municipalities, the VKLM has followed suit and misled residents. The illogical trend of passing a budget with exorbitant amounts the municipality does not have haunts residents.
“However, the municipality displayed arrogance and disregarded this warning. This speaks volumes of the kind of public servants we have in the municipality,” said Bath.
Bath further told Streeknews that the DA began a petition calling on the municipality’s hierarchy to urgently engage with RW and find a solution.
“We will continue holding the ANC government to account. Ratepayers will not suffer because of the ANC’s incompetency.
“Residents deserve to know that appointing skilled administrators with a proven track record is one important element in sphere government.
“Trusting ANC cadres with millions in taxpayers’ money and expecting them to comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act has collapsed service delivery,” Bath concluded.
