Municipalities face water cuts

issues as well as unscheduled water cuts which left the town with try taps for several days.

The Department of Water and Sanitation, which is owed R10.7 billion in outstanding water bills by various municipalities, last week indicated that the water cuts would begin on December 8.

Department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, indicated that this sanction was a last resort by the department in an attempt to recover its debts.

“The department will restrict or suspend the flow of water to defaulting municipalities. The department is engaging with national Treasury to withhold the equitable share of grant funding that is to be paid to municipalities due to the persistent breach of the Municipal Finance Management Act,” said Ratau.

“In trying to recover the outstanding debt the department initiated stakeholder consultations and it has also embarked on a legal process.

“These processes were initiated about two years ago and to this end, six court judgments have been issued in favour of the department.”

Meanwhile, Eskom has issued notices of the disconnection of bulk electricity at the Gamagara Local Municipality and Phokwane Municipality as from January 12 next year due to millions of rands in outstanding debts.

It stated that the Gamagara Municipality owed it in excess of R55 million, while the Phokwane Municipality had an outstanding bill of R40 million.

Eskom also intends to interrupt the electricity supply at the Dikgatlong and Magareng municipalities as from January 12.

Submissions, comments and requests for further information should be submitted to Eskom customer services by December 15.