The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nala requested an urgent intervention of Treasury for non-payment of the Eskom bill which also resulted in the shutdown of water to several towns in the Free State goldfield.

Matjhabeng and Nala now face a risk of total service delivery collapse due the lack of adequate water supply.

The current shutdown is apparently due to a labour dispute as workers' salaries are unpaid. This was revealed to the DA by an employee of Sedibeng Water. But the water woes did not start here.

On 15 October 2021, the Chief Financial Officer of Sedibeng issued a notice of interruption in water supply to Matjhabeng Local Municipality, informing the municipality that electricity will be cut at Balkfontein due to the non-payment of the electricity account by Matjhabeng Municipality. Sedibeng also sent a number of letters of demand regarding non-payment of the water account in the past to this municipality.

In August, the DA at the Nala Municipality tabled proposals to the CFO, Mr S Busakwe, recommending that bulk supply payments should be prioritised. We also tabled proposals to address the interrelated dimensions of financial sustainability and the possible threat to the provision of bulk supply services.

Further to this, it is concerning to note that on 21 September, 2021, areas including Wesselsbron and Monyakeng, were informed that the Riebeeckstad reservoirs were very low. Not enough water would be gravitating to Wesselsbron and Monyakeng reservoirs and residents were warned that these reservoirs will run out of water later in the day.

On 26 September, the Monyakeng tower pumps have tripped due to low reservoir levels. Residents were informed that the towers will run out of water.

The DA has now tabled the following proposals to National Treasury:

Municipalities must comply with the constitutional requirement in paying Sedibeng water, therefore, the National Treasury should invoke sec 216(2) of the Constitution to stop the transfer of funds to any organ of state that commits persistent and material breach in their financial operations.

Sec 216 (1) affords Treasury the control of funds: to ensure transparency and expenditure control in any sphere of government as the financial management at the Sedibeng Water Facility has led to a myriad of problems.

An investigation should be conducted into the financial sustainability of the respective municipalities and the Financial and Operational Sustainability of the Sedibeng Water Facility.

Furthermore, forensic investigations must be launched into the financial affairs of the respective municipalities and the Sedibeng Water Facility, and

Where irregular and wasteful expenditure occurs, and corruption are identified, criminal charges must be brought against those implicated under the prevention and Combating of Corrupt activities Act (Act 12 of 2004).

Following these DA-tabled solutions, Treasury agreed to look at our proposals in curbing the possible collapse of the Matjhabeng and Nala Municipalities.

We urge Treasury to restore the water provision and the human rights of the residents in the goldfields and surrounding areas.

Only the DA can bring much needed change to the Free State and residents have this option on 1 November.

 

Issued by DA Nala Councilor, David Ross