‘Questions remain over water tariff hike’

Sir
Over the past months one reads on a regular basis the “concerns” and, whatever one may call it, about the water supplied by Umzinyathi District Municipality (referred to as UDM below) (Thukela Water Board).
We have read what the Ratepayers Association, Dr. Bedassi, etc., and last week “Not fooled,” have to say on the issue. Well, to say the least, the colour of the water that we are expected to pay for, leaves much to be desired. Health-wise, they can claim that they have laboratory certificates to prove it is fit for human consumption, etc., but what comes out of the tap is what counts. It has to be used for household purposes. The old pipes that need to be maintained get blamed “as nothing was done in the past” etc., carries no weight. This maintenance cost is supposed to be built into the selling price of supply and demand. If, as a previous writer stated, UDM is paying R3.31/kl for water and they are adding an exorbitant amount to this, who is getting the profit and what is it being utilised on? As far as I am aware, the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry via promulgation in the Government Gazette, determines the category of who qualifies for 6 kl of free water as well as at what cost water is to be provided to consumers.
As a municipal entity, Umzinyathi District Municipality need to provide proof of an advertisement ” in a local newspaper ” wherein they advertised their intention of raising the water tariffs and only providing certain qualifying consumers with 6 kl of free water on a monthly basis.”
I do not recall ever seeing any advertisement to this effect.
Also, Not Fooled