Mayor says Govan Mbeki Municipality owes billions to Eskom and Rand Water

Nhlakanipho Zuma, the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) mayor, said the municipality still owes Eskom and Rand Water significant money, despite ongoing payments and infrastructural interventions.

Addressing councillors in a meeting on January 27, Zuma said R38.5m was paid on the GMM’s Eskom account for October, leaving a balance of R6.37b.

For September, the GMM paid R41m to Rand Water, with a balance of R948.8m.

Zuma also spoke about progress on installing electricity and water meters across the GMM. At the end of last October, 39 453 prepaid electricity meters had been installed out of an estimated 44 000, leaving 4 547 meters unconverted.

Zuma said the Energy Smart Meter Project had increased municipal revenue by an estimated R100m and reduced electricity bulk purchases by about R160m.

Some 2 756 water meters were installed during the 2024/2025 financial year, against a backlog of 17 700. The total of water meters replaced to date is 4 788.

Zuma’s report drew criticism from several councillors, who accused the GMM leadership of misleading communities, particularly on meter installations and revenue collection.

EFF Clr Daniel Khoza called for a report showing where electricity and water meters were installed and how that had affected revenue collection.

“We cannot keep quiet while the Eskom and Rand Water accounts balloon monthly,” said Khoza.

Khoza raised concerns about unmetered informal settlements, “Some informal settlements residents want to pay for services, but the GMM does not provide them with water.

“Some settlements use water freely because they are unmetered. The question is: How much money is the municipality losing on unaccounted water?”

Azanian Resident Party president John Mahlangu echoed Khoza’s concerns, urging the GMM to install water meters in the Azania informal settlement.

“The municipality must provide water to Azania residents and meter them if it is serious about settling the Rand Water account. Informal settlements contribute to the escalating water debt,” said Mahlangu.

However, Speaker Fikile Magagamela accused Khoza and Mahlangu of hypocrisy.

“It is shocking because you are part of and leaders of those settlements. You invaded the land, and now pretend to want to help the municipality,” said Magagamela.

Zuma said the informal settlement issue frustrated him.

“This issue angers me because there are thugs stealing land that belongs to the community. On one hand, we are proclaiming townships so residents can receive title deeds, while on the other, we are dealing with more than 43 informal settlements created through land invasion,” said Zuma.

The municipality is busy with township establishment processes aimed at formalising some residential areas.

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