Transport MEC lashes Mashaba over Gautrain water cuts
Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Road Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo, has lashed out at Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba over the water cuts at the Sandton Gautrain station.
The city cut the water supply in early September, accusing the property owner Cedar Park of failing to pay municipal rates and services since the registration of the property in its name in 2013.
Gautrain has since provided portable toilets for commuters.
Mamabolo says Mashaba has displayed extreme desperation by trying to drag Gautrain’s management and the provincial government into the dispute.
Mamabolo says at the centre of the dispute is the city demanding Cedar Park pay R8 million of the debt it owes for water, refuse, sewerage and property rates and the issue has nothing to do with Gautrain and the provincial government.
Mamabolo adds the Gautrain Management Agency has tried, to no avail, to plead with the city to reconnect the supply due to its impact on approximately 20 000 people who use the station daily.
"As the provincial government, we will after the court has spoken to this issue address residents and commuters, but at this point, we feel we should raise the concern that it borders on sheer opportunism and desperation to drag the provincial government into an issue that the city can deal with in the normal course of their business."