Johannesburg - Trouble continues for Emfuleni residents as taps run dry while the local municipality battles with Rand Water over credit control measures.
The embattled municipality’s challenges with Rand Water, listed as one of the municipality’s largest creditors, have been well documented.
In a statement, the municipality said Rand Water imposed additional water supply reductions as credit measures since February 25.
The municipality listed higher lying areas in Vereeniging, Evaton, Sebokeng, Vanderbijlpark, Bophelong, Roshnee and Rust-Ter-Vaal as the most affected areas.
The municipality confirmed that it was in talks with Rand Water, trying to find a lasting solution to the shortages.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and further encourage residents to use water sparingly at all times.”
However, Rand Water spokesperson Justice Mohale contradicted the municipality’s statement, stating that the water company had not intensified the reduction of the flow of water to the municipality.
“The technical teams for both Rand Water and the municipality are on site to investigate the circumstances that could have led to a disruption in the water supply.”
Asked if residents of Emfuleni should anticipate further water supply reductions by Rand Water, Mohale said: “Rand Water is assessing the situation, and is in continuous discussion with the leadership of the municipality on the matter in order to reach an amicable solution.
“Any other decision will be communicated to the municipality.”
Emfuleni was placed under administration in 2018 after it incurred irregular expenditure. The municipality has also found itself at odds with Eskom over credit issues.
Gauteng Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Lebogang Maile recently indicated that the team appointed to run the municipality’s affairs showed little progress and had to be replaced.
“The municipality’s debt currently stands at a whopping R4.6 billion, with the notable large creditors being Eskom – R3.2bn as at end of January 2021, of which R2.7bn is older than 90 days; Rand Water – R1.3 billion, of which R880million is older than 90 days; Red Ants – R35.7m.”
Maile said an agreement was reached with Rand Water, as the water company indicated that the municipality should pay its current account and ensure that it is up to date.
Mohale echoed Maile’s sentiments and confirmed that a payment agreement was reached between the two parties in December last year.
Maile stated that Rand Water was willing to negotiate with the municipality over the arrears. He also revealed that the municipality’s meeting with Eskom had been fruitful as the municipality was advised to pay its current account and negotiate the issue of recurring arrears at a later date.
Maile added that his department was keeping tabs on the municipality to ensure that those involved in the delegation of the municipality were held accountable.
The DA’s Kingsol Chabalala said the party was deeply concerned that the residents of Emfuleni were currently experiencing water shortages.
“It is worrying that water shortages in Emfuleni have been an ongoing issue without a lasting solution between Rand Water and the municipality. The residents are now suffering as they have to walk long distances to fetch water for household purposes and are unable to use the ablution facilities.”
Chabalala said Emfuleni residents were finding it difficult to adhere to Covid-19 health protocols because of the municipality’s shortcomings.
“The country is experiencing the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and a third wave is anticipated and one of the ways in which the spread of this virus is curbed is by regularly washing of hands. How can Emfuleni residents adhere to the health protocol of regularly washing hands when they are experiencing water shortages?”
Chabalala said despite the fact that Emfuleni had been placed under administration, the water challenges had still not been resolved.
The Star