HIGHVELD – The Democratic Alliance has raised concerns about the high increases and water losses within the Govan Mbeki Municipality in August.
According to the party the municipality was losing 36.26 per cent of the water that it purchased from Rand Water and 75.03 per cent of the electricity purchased from Eskom.
The DA said these losses inevitably add to the municipality’s debt towards Eskom which is currently standing at a staggering R2,2-billion and Rand Water R311-million.
Ms Ciska Jordaan, DA Caucus, said these massive losses are attributed to a number of factors.
“While Bethal, eMzinoni and eMbalenhle have been load shedding for months on end, the municipality has not been able to generate much revenue from the sales of electricity since they have not been able to sell any electricity at its offices or any of its usual vendors, but solely through online sales. Water pipe bursts and leaks, on the other hand, are the main contributor to the water losses.”
The DA is appalled that most of the municipality’s income is lost to issues that are completely avoidable. The party alleged that instead of focusing on solutions, maintenance of infrastructure and generation of revenue, the ANC-led municipality has been keeping itself busy in recent days with appointing shoddy contractors.
“The municipality has exerted all their efforts into replacing working electricity meters, spending millions on deviations because of continuously being in damage control mode and politically attempting to divert the attention away from the failures and infighting of the ANC.”
Ms Jordaan said the DA in the province has been calling upon the MEC for CoGTA, Mr Mandla Msibi, to place the Govan Mbeki Municipality under administration since July.
“In addition to this, the DA has at national level approached the Minister of CoGTA and the Office of the Deputy President requesting intervention into this non-viable municipality. Yet we have not witnessed any political will or efforts into changing the status quo.
“Meanwhile, it is the residents of Govan Mbeki who continue to suffer at the hands of the ANC, and the municipality continues to spiral into debt. With these types of financial and material losses, it is unthinkable that the municipality continues about its day-to-day business without closing shop.
“We call upon the Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, to do the right thing for the sake of the people of Govan Mbeki Municipality and step down from her position as political leader before having to face the motion of no confidence that the DA has submitted against her this month.”
At the time of going to the press the Govan Mbeki Municipality had not commented.
