The Democratic Alliance said this week that the Madibeng municipality requested Tshwane to keep the water restrictions at 50% following recent threats to restrict water supply due to non-payment.

“Madibeng Municipality owes the City of Tshwane more than R243 million for water and electricity usage. The payment agreement plan proposed by Tshwane required a R10 million initial downpayment before the end of August, servicing the monthly bulk account in full, and then paying an additional R6 million every month to reduce the larger outstanding debt. Madibeng entered into the payment agreement but requested Tshwane to keep the water restrictions at 50%. This is unacceptable,” said DA councillor Jan van Rhyn.

“Attempts by the DA to discuss the matter with the Municipal Manager, Mr Noko Seanego, were unsuccessful, but we will persist in our efforts to ensure that the residents do not carry the burden of the ANC-led government’s complete incompetence. It is always the people that have to suffer the brunt of poor service delivery, while fat cat ANC politicians and senior municipal officials enjoy handsome salaries,” he said.

“The non-payment of debtors by the Madibeng Municipality is the norm rather than the exception. Both the North West Provincial Government and the municipal administration carry the blame for the collapse in governance and service delivery in Madibeng. The municipality has been under Section 139 Administration for several years due to its general dysfunctionality, but as always, provincial government interventions often collapse.” Madibeng did not respond to an enquiry.