HIGHVELD – Govan Mbeki Municipality was set on paying their current water account to Rand Water on Monday afternoon to prevent a 40 per cent throttling of water pressure.
The bulk water supplier announced in a press release on Friday, 27 September, it intended to reduce the water supply pressure by another 20 per cent on Tuesday, 1 October, if GMM by then, did not pay their account.
Water was being pumped to the municipality at 80 per cent at time of going to press on Monday, 30 September. Another reduction in pressure of 20 per cent meant that Rand Water would pump water to GMM at only 60 per cent pressure.
Rand Water announced its intention to implement these credit control measures, because GMM failed to honour signed agreements to settle their outstanding amount.
Mr Justice Mohale, media relations manager at Rand Water, said these measures will hopefully compel GMM to meet their obligations to settle amounts due for water services rendered.
Rand Water said in its statement that GMM owes the institution more than R 179,5-million.
The Provincial Departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs in Mpumalanga had been informed of Rand Water’s intended action.
Mr Felani Mndebele, municipal manager of the Govan Mbeki Municipality, said on Monday afternoon that an agreement was reached between GMM and Rand Water.
“We will pay the current account, which is between R24-million and R30-million, per month, by this afternoon (Monday, 30 September). We have the assurance of Rand Water that, once proof of payment was received, the water pressure will then not be lowered,” said Mr Mndebele.
According to him, the R179-million in piled up debt, has been discussed earlier this year.
Mr Mdebele refers to this as the “historical” debt.
“The agreement was made that the historical debt will be parked for now, and once the municipality is again financially stable, will we begin the pay back of this debt.
“We are currently focusing on servicing our monthly account,” he said.
Ms Ciska Jordaan, caucus leader of the DA in GMM, said they are concerned with the inconsistent reports with which the municipal manager is allegedly supplying various stakeholders.
“His assurance that water pressure will not be reduced by Rand Water, is received with scepticism since the executive mayor avoided my request for a response to media reports about Rand Water in the extraordinary council meeting which took place on 30 September.”
Ms Jordaan said the DA was informed that the municipality had agreed with Rand Water to pay R8-million of its current account on 30 September, and another unspecified amount the following day.
“These amounts are only to service the municipality’s current (September) account.
“Along with residents in the Govan Mbeki municipal area, we are gravely concerned that the threats from Rand Water to throttle with an additional 20 per cent, resulting in 40 per cent total pressure reduction, are not empty. We fear that the access to water for several areas within Govan Mbeki Municipality, are held ransom by the municipality’s inability to pay their debts.
“We sincerely hope that the ANC-led mayoral committee will consider with care and attention the motion that was submitted to the council by the DA.
“This motions is intended to refurbish dilapidated water infrastructure that would avoid having residents without water when the municipality is not paying Rand Water,” said Ms Jordaan.
Mr Sipho Nzima from Outa said: “The municipality insisted that they have not received any formal communication from Rand Water and this notice is a press release, not official communication directed at GMM.”
Mr Nzima was trying to get hold of Rand Water at the time of going to press.
