Brink: No link between Tshwane debts, water supply woes
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink says he has been assured by Rand Water that the current water supply woes in parts of the city are not linked to the city’s debt to the utility.
The city and several other municipalities, including Emfuleni, Rand West, Merafong, Ngwathe, and Govan Mbeki local municipalities owe Rand Water some R4 billion.
While Rand Water has expressed concern about the escalating municipal debts, it has not given any indication that it would be withholding services.
Residents in parts of Tshwane say they have had to resort to opening fire hydrants for access to water as they have been without supply since the weekend.
Rand Water has blamed the lack of water supply on a series of power outages, which it says has delayed the recovery of its system.
“We specifically asked Rand Water at the weekend, are these water restrictions because you have problems or because you are taking credit action against Tshwane? They have given us the assurance that this is not a credit action. In any event, credit action needs to happen on notice. At present, there are no legal grounds for credit action to be taken against Tshwane by Rand Water,” said Brink on Tuesday.
Brink says the metro is under no illusion that it needs to get its financial house in order.
“Our number one priority in Tshwane is to get control of the capital’s finances. We’ve deliberately not hidden the fact that Tshwane has financial problems. At present, we are implementing rigorous measures to achieve financial recovery, but every time Rand Water shuts the supply to Tshwane, we are compelled to spend millions on water tankers and this money we could have been spending on the payment of creditors, including Rand Water.”
Brink said the city is set to meet with Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu to discuss the issue.
“Today, I will be consulting legal and water experts to determine what can be done to address Tshwane’s vulnerability to Rand Water. We’re also activating a joint operations centre to manage this Rand Water crisis, including the effective management of water tankers,” added Brink.
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