Durban - An amount of R133 million has been “set aside” by the eThekwini Municipality for the purchase of its own new water tankers that could alleviate the water shortages that has besieged residents of the municipality.
The city plans to acquire about 50 water tankers on an urgent basis.
The city had originally planned to acquire water tankers over a two-year financial period but now said that it had become essential to procure its own tankers quicker in light of the water challenges and the cost of hiring tankers.
The municipality is spending millions of rand to hire the water tankers.
It revealed recently that it had spent about R15m in a month on water tankers to supply water to the oThongathi area.
The area was left without water after a treatment plant was destroyed in the April floods.
There have also been challenges with the supply of water using water tankers, as residents of the area have said the number of tankers supplying the area was not enough and they did not arrive consistently.
A report on the matter tabled before the executive committee revealed that about 55 water tankers were needed and would cost about R2.4m a tanker, with a total cost of R133m for the purchase.
The city has about R23m for the purchase and would have to look for savings of R110m.
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the city had decided to fast-track the purchase plan due to the urgent need to supply water and the excessive cost of hiring tankers.
DA councillor Yogis Govender said they supported the purchase in principle, but would want the specifications on the tankers to be bought, their capacity and the market-related cost.
IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said while this was a positive step, he was concerned that the city had purchased tankers before and there should be an assurance that all the tankers would be used.
“Deputy mayor Philani Mavundla had promised a report on what was happening with the tankers that the city had bought and had not utilised,” he said.
ANC councillor Nkosenhle Madlala said it was important that when the city’s tankers broke down, their repair was prioritised.
“The repair of these tankers should be prioritised by the city fleet to ensure that there is no disruption of service delivery.”
He said the water challenges in eThekwini were historic and had been worsened by the recent storms.
The EFF’s Thabane Miya said they supported the initiative, but wanted there to be a cost analysis.
“We need to know the market-related figure before we agree to procure these water tankers, we know that there is a serious need and we want these tankers to be bought as soon as possible.”
He reiterated the concerns by Govender that they should get clarity on the specifications.
Miya said this was important as there had been instances in the past where there were huge discrepancies between what the city had bought and what was received.