Schools spared pain of massive utility bills

Amounts rose rapidly because of broken pipes

TWO Phoenix schools have had utility bills totalling nearly R500 000 written off by the KwaZulu-Natal province.

Clayhaven Primary had racked up a R190 000 water bill, whereas Stonebridge Primary accumulated R290 000 in water arrears. Clayhaven Primary had managed to raise only R20 000 before the water bill was eventually settled.

The outstanding bills, totalling R460 000, were paid by the KwaZulu-Natal department of education, said stakeholders. The writeoff came after nearly two years of campaigning by local councillor Roy Moodley.

Moodley, who crossed the floor to the ANC last year, began working to assist the schools while still with the DA.

“I was with the DA at the time when we tried to do this and it just happened now.”

Moodley said although the schools were classified as quintile five, they catered largely to underprivileged pupils. He said the nonpayment of school fees had added to the problem.

He believed the money for the write-offs had come from the department of public works.

Department spokesman Kiru Naidoo, however, denied this.

“Those services are provided by the municipalities and they attend to such requests. Councillors, community leaders and ordinary citizens often raise issues over schools and other public facilities with the department. Our role is to be responsive and be of assistance wherever possible.

“Most often we act on behalf of client departments like health and education. Budgets are sourced from departments and public works attends to repairs, renovation and construction.”

Naidoo said Moodley’s calls for assistance were “handled as we do any other”.

Clayhaven Primary principal Dave Davipersad said school management appreciated the writeoff, adding that the R190 000 water bill was the result of the constant breakdown of old water pipes.

“There was a major leak. The bill escalated to such an amount that we just couldn’t pay it.”

Stonebridge Primary’s principal did not respond to queries.

The ANC’s Stanley Moonsamy, who assisted Moodley, refused to comment about which department had footed the bill.

The eThekwini municipality said it would not divulge how the money came to be paid.

Phoenix councillor and Minority Front spokesman Patrick Pillay said many schools in the Phoenix and Chatsworth areas were under the control of governing bodies that were “undermanaging”.

The education department’s Muzi Mahlambi failed to respond to queries.