Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Elize Aucamp here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni demands that the Municipal Manager urgently answers why the agreement inked between the municipality and Rand Water has not been honoured, resulting in the attachment of the municipality’s bank accounts.
This has happened, despite the launch of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) between Rand Water and the municipality, set up to resolve the water woes the municipality has been facing.
The core of this agreement included the write-off of debt owed to Rand Water by the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Someone has either lied or made a massive mistake, however, residents will bear the brunt of this failure yet again.
The attachment of the Municipality’s bank account means that the incredibly low level of service delivery is likely to grind to a complete halt, while staff will have to go unpaid again.
While the Emfuleni Local Municipality fails to pay, they also consistently fail to tend to water leaks. At the end of March, the water losses were 57.3%, and this is an issue that the DA councillors in Emfuleni raise at every opportunity that arises. This means that more than half the water provided to the municipality is lost, and never reaches a tap.
Thus, more than half the account that is in arrears with Rand Water can be described as wasteful expenditure. It however, remains the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that its infrastructure is kept up to date, and that their bills are paid.
This is a scandal of the highest order, and an indictment against their failing leadership. We demand answers.