Emfuleni Local Municipality says it has not defaulted on its payments to Rand Water after the company announced it would reduce the municipality’s water supply.
The spokesperson for the municipality, Makhosonke Sangweni, told Political Analysis South Africa on Thursday, 12 April 2018 that the municipality has not defaulted on its payments to Rand Water.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding because we are servicing our current debt as agreed…So when they say we are not serving our debt, we need to understand what they meant,” he said.
“The only thing that I know that we’re not servicing is the previous debt but the current account we are servicing it,” he added.
Rand Water’s spokesperson, Justice Mohale, announced in a statement on Wednesday, 11 April 2018 that water utility company was planning to reduce water supply to Emfuleni Municipality after it failed to settle its debt of R419 million.
“Rand Water has now formally notified Emfuleni Local Municipality of its intention to commence the process of reducing its bulk water flow by 20% to the municipality,” he said.
Residents of Emfuleni, which includes areas such as Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, have recently been hit by water cuts, a situation that has led to some communities in the municipality embarking on protest action.
Sangweni said residents should not expect water cuts as yet, as discussions would still have to take place between the various stakeholders.
“Before that happens they are going to have to have an engagement with senior management as led by our mayor. Out of that discussion we will have a directive as to what will happen. They will not just impose restrictions without a discussion with the municipality,” he said.
“Out of that discussion we will know what’s what,” he added.
