Letter: More than meets the eye

Former Dolphin Coast councillor Ian Coates writes:

Responding the mayor, Cllr. S Gumede of iLembe (Providing eater and sanitation services to all, April 16) re the takeover of Siza Water services in 2028:

1. Contract between iLembe-Siza Water:

The concession was “inherited” by iLembe via KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) and was not “contracted by iLembe”.

It was an entrenched legal obligation, achieved with national government’s MISU at CoGTA, prior to the formation of the iLembe DM as the water services regulator, from 2000.

2. Siza water maintains “only newly-developed infrastructure” in the old Dolphin Coast areas:

This is not correct! Siza Water took over the broken and dysfunctional infrastructures operated by the North Coast Regional Water Services Corporation. Siza Water bought the infrastructure for R12 million.

In terms of the new-build areas, suburbs and townships (both commercial and residential), the internal water-services infrastructures were installed by the land developer (whether private, municipal or government housing).

Those areas are then handed over to Siza for ongoing operation.

The level of service is therefore consequent upon the design and technical specification, as agreed between the regulating authority (iLembe) and the Dept of Water and Sanitation.

That reality determines whether each new household will receive a metered-connection, a connection to water-borne sewerage or whether the development will only be serviced with standpipes.

I do not believe Siza has much say in those planning scenarios – regulation and planning is the purvey of the services authority (i.e. iLembe, in this case).

All the “new development” area infrastructures are installed by the land-developers prior to hand-over to Siza and the municipality for operation/maintenance by Siza.

In the under-developed areas of Nkobongo etc, the tardy infrastructures would likewise have been “developed and funded” by the land developer.

Blaming Siza for that lack of consequential “societal development” is therefore somewhat misplaced, in my opinion.

3. Free basic water/sanitation services:

I believe Siza Water does incorporate a portion of free water (10 kl/ customer?) on its billing statements.

The matter of “free” water to customers who are not on the metered reticulation areas is another matter.

That service is typically funded by National Treasury.

No wonder therefore iLembe is billed by Siza for bulk water services to those minimally-serviced areas.

Yes, there are “challenges” in those under-serviced areas – however the fault lies with the design of the service levels, not with what Siza Water or iLembe may prefer.

4. Working towards the end-of-life take-over of the concession:

The mayor’s explanation is correct and while challenging, was always going to be a challenge as the concession contract draws to a close.

I wish the mayor and his team the best in this regard.

Acquiring the services as a “going concern”, including all the assets and the operational staff, provides hope for a mutually successful end-game.

5. What do we all want?:

I must assume that, ultimately, we all want the best, most affordable and efficient, effective service.

Instead of looking only at the symptoms, we ought to be taking a hard look at the underlying causes and reasons for the disparity in levels of service throughout iLembe.

Installing individual metered connections to each and every household would be an ideal objective – but would every household be able to then pay for that level of service?

An upsurge in full-time employment and income from decent jobs, for each and every household, would lead, surely, to that eventuality?