Water tankers claim they are owed millions

"We have not been paid, but the municipality still expects us to operate as usual”

MBOMBELA - The City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) allegedly owes private water tanker providers millions for services rendered since December.

The private water tankers employed by CMLM have alleged the municipality owes them over R7 million and still expect the providers to operate as usual without the payments.

While the municipality uses Silulumanzi to distribute water to areas within Mbombela without a formal reticulation system, the City also employs around 36 private service providers to supply water to areas Silulumanzi might not be able to reach.

Several providers contracted by CMLM have said, however, they are owed between R200 000 and

R300 000 each for services rendered.

"Some of the service providers haven't been paid since December, while others have not been paid since January this year," said a private provider, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation. "We have not been paid, but the municipality still expects us to operate as usual and travel far distances to deliver water.

"We have to deliver water seven days a week, pay our drivers, pay for diesel and maintain our vehicles while not being paid. We keep asking when we will be paid. We are told that the funds will come, but we have not seen any money owed to us. We have businesses to run, employees to pay and families to look after," said the provider.

"The municipality is killing the city. Small businesses are not being paid; the town and its people are not being looked after. It's just a mess. We are being put under a lot of pressure by the communities we service, because they want water, and they should have water, but the community doesn't know what we are dealing with in the offices."

Another private tanker confirmed they had not been paid since January this year. "Mbombela owes me R300 000. I am not sure when we will get that money."

The service providers also alleged the municipality does not prioritise payments to smaller businesses.

Lucky Maseko, a councillor of the EFF, commented that he had indeed checked that the trucks had not been paid since December. "This is despite the municipality's chief financial officer putting on a face that we as a council are able to reduce our creditors.

"The municipality has been unable to deal with the damage caused by the disaster on our streets due to nonpayment of these service providers. The situation is so concerning that communities have resorted to strikes.

"The EFF will monitor these developments very closely and will make sure that corrective measures are taken against whoever is breaking the law for non-payment of creditors within 30 days. It is against treasury regulations and someone must be held accountable for this."