Withdrawal of free six kilolitres water angers Krugersdorp community
"The council refused to make provision for the retention of the free kilolitres to general residents and continues to formulate budgets which are unrealistic, non-sustainable and hostile to the community."
Residents across the length and breadth of Mogale City are up in arms at the withdrawal of six kilolitre free water, a benefit which they have enjoyed for more than 12 years.
The Mogale City Local Municipality removed the free water concession in its 2018/ 2019 budget. Only beneficiaries of the Indigent Programme would receive the free water in future.
All other categories of residents are permanently excluded from the programme as from 1 July 2018.
Also Read: Didn’t get your free 6kl water? Read here
“Their reasons for restricting the free water to only indigents (households who earn less that R3 300 per month) stem from the dire financial situation in which the council finds itself. A deficit of R645 million in its operational budget, together with a 40 per cent water loss on billed water and the renewed awareness of water scarcity across the world and specifically in South Africa, have left the council with no other choice but to withdraw the benefit,” according to a statement by the local Democratic Alliance (DA).
The DA opposed the budget, arguing that it could have been restructured to accommodate the free six kilolitres for all.
“The council refused to make provision for the retention of the free kilolitres to general residents and continues to formulate budgets which are unrealistic, non-sustainable and hostile to the community.
“The DA’s hands were tied in terms of the submission of a petition against the withdrawal of the free kilolitres as the council met constitutional muster by obtaining a majority when tabling the resolution and by-law in the July Council meeting.”
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