Empty promises lead to empty taps and empty pockets as services in the Free State implode
26 November 2019
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that the Mangaung Metro and other municipalities face serious water and electricity supply problems due to non-payment to Bloemwater and Eskom.
During her State of the Province Address on 19 February 2019 Premier Ntombela indicated that interventions to improve local government include: “…improving planning, coordination and support within and between the three spheres of government, and professionalising local government”. Since then the combined municipal debt to Eskom increased to R9,3 billion and R4,6 billion for water by August 2019. These words appear to be as empty as the taps in many of our towns across the province.
In a letter dated 20 November 2019 the Chief Executive of Bloemwater, Dr Moorosi, informed the Manguang Metro City manager, Adv Mea, that Bloemwater will not be able to release the required water from the Rustfontein Dam to Mockes Dam due to non-payment. This has placed the residents of Mangaung in serious risk of water supply shortages.
In a media release on 25 November 2019, Eskom has indicated that electricity supply will be cut off to areas of Mangaung Metro as well as Mafube and Mantsopa Local Municipalities due the breach of payment.
Eskom has indicated that electricity will be interrupted from 06h00 to 20h00 every day of the week from 3 December 2019.
The lack of electricity to pump water and sewerage will add further burdens of poor reticulation on residents in towns in affected municipalities. The lack of water and electricity will also bring local businesses to a standstill and contribute to further job losses and poverty in the Free State.
We have raised this issue on a number of occasions in the Legislature and requested that the Premier intervene to ensure that all residents of the Free State receive the services that they pay for. Municipalities continue to collect money for services without paying this over to Eskom or the Water Board which is tantamount to fraud.
Access to reliable and safe water is not just a service, but a constitutional right.
I have written a letter to the Premier of the Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela, requesting the urgent intervention from our provincial government who, as she promised, should request national assistance in this regard.
We are aware that the issues are as much about drought as they are about poor financial, administrative and infrastructure management.
Issued by Roy Jankielsohn, DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature, 26 November 2019
