Gautrain reaches agreement with the City for water reconnection

Water might be restored to the Sandton Gautrain Station after a three-week cut due to a new billing arrangement between the station and the City of Johannesburg.

It is reported that Bombela Concession Company reached an agreement with the City earlier this week, stating that the station will directly pay its utility bill to the City. This cuts out middle man, Cedar Park, who is the station’s landowner.

The water supply to the station was cut off in early last month by the City due to an R8 million unpaid utility bill. According to executive mayor Herman Mashaba, the City would not reconnect the water supply unless an R1 million security payment was made by Cedar Park.

It is reported that Cedar Park did, in fact, make the payment, enabling the City to commence with negotiations. The city has agreed to provide the Gautrain station with its own private water meter.

“The city has agreed to install this new meter within two days of the Bombela Concession Company paying the City R120 000 in respect of the aforementioned water connection and associated installation costs,” Mashaba said.

The Gautrain Management Agency has continually pleaded with both parties to resolve the dispute as its commuters were beginning to reap the consequences.

“Cutting off water to an innocent service-paying third party like Gautrain is not a way to solve legal matters and does not do the image of Johannesburg as a world-class African city any good,” Kesagee Nayager, Bombela marketing and communications executive said.

Relates articles:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/236744/gautrain-takes-provincial-government-to-court-over-water-cuts/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/235680/city-of-joburg-cuts-sandton-gautrain-station-water-supply/