Govan Mbeki Municipality responds, but AfriForum still has questions
Chairperson touches on serious issues.

Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) finally answered after AfriForum sent them e-mails in October requesting feedback on pressing issues.
This was after a record number of residents attended the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting on October 8.
At the time, residents had dry taps for nearly two weeks.
Jan du Plessis, chairperson of AfriForum’s Secunda branch, asked many questions at the meeting. A municipal official wrote down all the questions and said the GMM would provide feedback soon.
Despite numerous emails to the municipality requesting answers, Du Plessis only received feedback in December, leaving him with even more unanswered questions.
At the IDP meeting, angry residents wanted to know why the mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, was not present as they had requested.
Some of the other issues that Du Plessis and residents brought up at the meeting were to get permission to inspect and access the damage on the reservoir in Extension 22, to get quotations to repair the damage on the reservoir, if GMM can supply enough water on the increasing demand by residents, will GMM fix all the water leaks contributing to the water shortages, that
GMM provide proof of payment to Rand Water before the 7th of each month and that councillors with municipal accounts that are in arrears, resign from council.
According to a document signed by the mayor in answer to all Du Plessis’ e-mails and requests for feedback, the councillors with municipal bills in arrears have signed acknowledgement of debt agreements with instalments deducted monthly from their salaries.
On an AfriForum question about what is being done by GMM to areas with low payments, Zuma said the GMM was finalising a review of the credit control and debt collection policies.
This review seeks to provide means and solutions on debt re-payment for GMM consumers with a low payment rate.
Measures to restrict services to non-paying customers are also being put in place as GMM is reviewing this policy.
Zuma further said: “Several initiatives have already been implemented, including the installation of smart meters and new water meters.”
On AfriForum’s request that GMM provide residents with proof of paying Rand Water and Eskom before the 7th of each month, Zuma said the item has been made public through a standing item on the council agenda. He said the community is invited to take into consideration all public council documents and hold their elected representative accountable.
“Ward councillors are expected to hold community meetings every quarter and give feedback to the communities of council work and decisions,” said Zuma.
On AfriForum’s question on why GMM is paying more than R100 for a bag of tar if the tar is available at R57 per bag, Zuma answered that the quotations are based on market-related prices.
About illegal residents at the Secunda landfill site, Zuma said they are removed from time to time, but return after the clean-up operations.
“It is a requirement that the newly appointed service provider has access control to the site to minimise illegal occupancy on site,” said Zuma.
About AfriForum’s question about the service provider at the landfill site not following legal requirements, Zuma said the contract is coming to an end and a new service provider complying with certain specifications will be appointed.
“Appointments were made in the waste section of officials responsible for monitoring the service providers on the different sites.
“The newly appointed service provider needs to have a reclaimers management plan to control reclaimers.”
The new pre-paid electricity meters were another burning issue on AfriForum’s agenda. Du Plessis raised questions about the calibration of the meters, the competence of the meter installers, COC certificates for the owners after the meters have been installed, problems with the system when loading the tokens, illegal sales of pre-paid electricity still taking place and the new meters already being corrupted by sales of ‘cheap electricity’ being advertised on social media.
Zuma responded: “The new meters are still within the required period of calibration and all SABS approved.
“The appointed service providers went through a full assessment when they were appointed and are monitored continuously to ensure compliance.
“The requirement for COC was affected when the properties were originally connected to the municipal electricity infrastructure.
“The current meter installation project does not constitute a new connection and does not require a new COC submission.
“The pre-paid vending system is fully functional. As in other systems, there could be downtimes, however, we keep this to the minimum.
“The energy pre-paid smart meter will provide full visibility of each meter from a centralised control centre.
“This will make it easier for the municipality to prevent meter tampering, bypassing, and ghost vending.”
On AfriForum’s demand that all municipal employees and councillors have to undergo skills and qualification audit, Zuma said:
“As the requirement of the Municipal Staff Regulations, the municipality is auditing the skills of its available human capital which is targeted for completion by the end of the third quarter of the financial period of 2024/25.
“The skills audit report will not be published as this will contravene the Protection of Personal Information Act and its intended purpose, which is to develop a work skills plan and personal development plans for employees.
“Councillors are elected by the community and therefore cannot be subjected to any form of skills audit, however, various training programmes and workshops are provided to capacitate them in fulfilling their responsibility towards the community.”
AfriForum sent another letter in response to more questions but has not received feedback from the municipality.