Some municipalities are falling further and further behind on their payments to water boards,warns the Democratic Alliance
A recent written reply by Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to a parliamentary question showed the total amount owing was now well over a billion rand,DA MP Gareth Morgan said in a statement.
“Over a billion rand owed to water boards is extraordinarily high and must surely hamper the ability of many water boards to operate effectively and to make the required infrastructure investments,”he said.
Several water boards appeared to be in a perilous situation.
“Lepelle Northern Water has over R249 million owing to it,of which over R231 million is arrears. Bushbuckridge Water has over R151 million owing to it,of which R147 million is arrears,while Sedibeng has R146 million owing to it,with over R121 million being arrears,”Morgan said.
According to Sonjica’s reply,municipalities owe water boards a total of R1,262,047,056. Of this amount,R653,416,344 is current debt and R608,630,712 arrears.
By Sappa
