Mamelodi water truck drivers ‘force’ residents to pay
The truck drivers further said R200 is not enough and they demanded R300 for water.
The Tshwane metro has noted “with great concern” allegations by Mamelodi residents that water tank truck drivers are forcing residents to buy free water for R200.
The truck drivers have been hired by metro to deliver water in 18 Skierliek informal settlement – known as Thabeng,
Tshwane metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo said they are investigating the matter.
“However, the following needs to be put on record: according to our general condition of contract and systems operating procedures, the City has appointed service providers through a tendering process to render the services to our informal settlements communities.
“They [truck drivers] are not expected to ask for anything in return as they are getting paid on a monthly basis for the service they are rendering.”
He added the service providers are supposed to render the service for a period of three years which will expire or lapse at the end of June 2021. Thereafter a new tender will be advertised and awarded to the new service providers.
“It is therefore unacceptable and a contravention of the general conditions of contract for drivers appointed by service providers to charge communities for the service the metro is already paying for,” he said.
He concluded that the matter was therefore referred to the metro’s forensic investigation unit so that the perpetrators can be brought to book.
Residents this week claimed the truck drivers demand R200 to fill up one JOJO tank.
Ben Matentshi (44) from Skierlik informal settlement said water was life, but the truck drivers wanted them to pay for it.
“We are forced to pay R200 to fill up a JOJO tank while other residents are getting water for free,” said Matentshi.
The truck drivers further said R200 is not enough and then demanded R300 for water.
He said the informal settlement don’t have enough JOJO tanks for everyone to have water and water is delivered twice a week on Tuesday and Sunday.
Some residents had no water for the past two weeks because they don’t have money to buy water.
Matentshi said the informal settlement started in 2016 and getting water was difficult since then.
“We don’t have enough tanks for everyone to get water daily. Within a day the tanks are dry,” he said.
Bennit Ramadiga (31) said the truck drivers saw the tank and they started demanding R200 to fill it up.
“I’m heartbroken because currently in my area we have been going two weeks without water because we don’t have money to pay for water,” said Ramadiga.
“Some 23 families are forced to get water from a single tank and they are forced to pay for that water.”
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