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Excessive and ongoing water losses in Dawid Kruiper municipality necessitate an urgent audit of water services.

The municipality lost approximately R16 million worth of water in the previous financial year. This situation repeats itself year after year due to the municipality’s long-term failure to look after its water reticulation system.

The pipes have largely reached the end of their lifetime and breakages occur regularly. It takes weeks and sometimes even months after breakages have been reported, for the municipality to fix leaks.

In many cases, previously repaired breakages must be repaired more than once because of poor workmanship. Effective management, as well as consequence management for what results in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, is absent.

The costs are also amplified because, in many, cases roads get damaged, requiring additional repairs.

Bulk water usage by contractors and private companies is also not recorded and charged for. The municipality’s lack of conventional meters, and use of the open stream system, which sees a levy charged according to the size of house, also gives some consumers access to unlimited water supply. This results in some consumers being undercharged while others are overcharged.

It is clear that Dawid Kruiper, which is located alongside the Orange River, is failing to properly manage its water supply and infrastructure. This is to the detriment of its bank balance and of service delivery.

Action must be taken now, before this develops into a full-blown water crisis.

The DA calls for an urgent audit of water services. It is also essential that the municipality formulates a medium and long-term plan to improve water infrastructure and the management of water resources. Our proposal will be tabled at the next council meeting, as we continue to fight for the sustainable provision of water to residents of Dawid Kruiper municipality.

Issued by Rudolph Saal, Cllr - Dawid Kruiper municipality