Emfuleni Municipality blames unemployment for water cuts
Defaulting Emfuleni Municipality has pointed the finger at the high unemployment rate in the area for leaving thousands of residents without water.
Roshnee, Palm Springs and Vanderbijlpark are the areas worst affected by Rand Water's decision to cut Emfuleni Municipality's water pressure by 40%.
This has left thousands of residents, including those whom have paid their accounts, without water since Friday.
The municipality's Lebo Mofokeng says the municipality made a payment of R150 million to Rand Water but this was not enough to restore the water pressure.
"We did pay. We did try our best to honour the agreement. But it gets so difficult because our municipality has a high rate of unemployment and honestly it's not right that we have others that are getting more [water] than the rest. Water is a basic right we need to find a balance, not by virtue you affording it or not, but you being a resident."
Mofokeng says Emfuleni mayor Simon Mofokeng is trying to secure a new payment agreement.
"We still have a shortfall of R50 million. The executive mayor went with his team to meet with the communities. They are starting willingness to pay."