Bethal water pressure on a low and GMM Rand Water debt on a high
Ridge Times sent a media inquiry to Rand Water and this was the response from Mr Mohale: “ It is not true that weekly payments have been made by GMM. The commitment was to pay R11-million per week and that only happened the first two weeks of November this year.”
BETHAL – Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) still owes Rand Water R271 946 724,10 (more than R271-million).
This obscene amount of debt was confirmed by Rand Water’s media relations manager, Mr Justice Mohale.
GMM has been blaming Rand Water, as well as load shedding, for water interruptions in Bethal.
Some areas were without water for a week.
DA Councillor Ms Mariaan Chamberlain and Ms Terry Lee Kleynhans, DA candidate had a meeting with the Head of Department (HOD) for Water and Sanitation in November.
According to the HOD, GMM is not receiving sufficient water supply from Rand Water.
During their meeting the HOD took the time to explain in depth how the water system works, the reservoirs, which area is supplied and by which inlet.
“He even explained the locations of valves. He showed us reservoir levels as it currently stands. I am happy to report that Bethal Rand reservoir shows a constant incline,” said Ms Kleynhans.
During this meeting, the HOD also apparently confirmed that GMM has made payments toward their Rand Water debt.
Ridge Times sent a media inquiry to Rand Water and this was the response from Mr Mohale: “ It is not true that weekly payments have been made by GMM. The commitment was to pay R11-million per week and that only happened the first two weeks of November this year.”
Rand Water is supplying GMM with sufficient water supply, but because of GMM debt, water pressure was cut by 40 percent.
Ms Kleynhans added in a WhatsApp message that Bethal has a compromised system due to the lack of maintenance of infrastructure.
“We must understand Bethal faces the first line of critical water problems if any part of the water system fails. Due to lack of finance towards upholding maintenance, this will, unfortunately, be an ongoing event for time being.”
AfriForum Bethal branch supplied water tanks that were placed in water-scarce areas.
Residents have access to the water, but it still does not solve the water crisis that is daily hovering over Bethal.
https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/146442/gmm-taps-might-run-dry-soon-due-outstanding-rand-water-debt/
