ADM says it will cart water if supply is cut

THE Amathole District Municipality is planning to cart water to its affected areas if the national Department of Water and Sanitation goes ahead with its threatened water cuts, while also exploring “urgent legal intervention”.

This comes after Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Minister Nomvula Mokonyane threatened on Monday that all municipalities owing the department a total of R10.7-billion across the country would have their water supply cut off “should they fail to pay their water debts due to the department and water boards by December 8”.

According to the department’s list of non-paying customers, ADM owes the department R50.6-million.

ADM spokeswoman Noni Vuso said much of the debt dated back to before ADM became the water service provider to its six local municipalities on July 1 2006.

The municipality services Mbhashe, Mnquma, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi, Great Kei and Ngqushwa local municipalities.

Asked about the municipality’s plans to ensure water supply if the department went ahead with the water cuts, Vuso said: “If need be, the ADM will resort to carting water to affected areas, while urgent legal intervention is explored.

“DWS has been unable to adequately reconcile what has been paid and what they say is outstanding, despite the intervention of at least two consultants appointed by DWS to perform such a reconciliation.

“Without a clear account of what has been paid and what is outstanding, it would be reckless of the municipality to merely make payment on demand.

“Going forward, the ADM hopes the DWS will not cut off water as it has threatened to do, but will rather provide the ADM with a credible account of payments made against invoices outstanding that will entitle the ADM to make payment.”

She added that ADM was awaiting the requested reconciliation and was adamant that it should not be liable for debt incurred by municipalities before it took over.

However, Mokonyane’s spokesman Mlimandlela Ndamase said the ADM had become the successor of those local municipalities in the eyes of the law, and therefore it had to take over their liabilities.

“They are aware of this and became responsible for the debts arising from the municipalities.

“We have not received any response from them since the notice was sent to them on Friday as far as I know,” Ndamase said.

“They are not even servicing the current debt.

“The department is satisfied that the debt owed is the correct amount based on all the reconciliation that has been done and processes of consultation followed.

“They have an opportunity to respond but we are going ahead with the water cuts if there is no response from them by December 8.

“The Minister will consider further actions.” —