This, after the metro late last year sent a notice threatening to cut off the water supply to households, businesses and government departments that have not paid their bill nor made payment arrangements for more than two months. Municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, told OFM News that a number of residents and government entities have come forth and made some payments, but there is still a long way to go.

Khedama said the water cuts comes as a last resort for the municipality to collect revenue after most consumers failed to respond to the disconnection notices they have sent. He said this will enable them to pay Bloem Water for the supply of bulk water and adhere to their payment plan. Khedama has further urged members of the public to report any water leakages to the municipality as they continue losing revenue due to this. It is reported that the municipality which includes the towns of Bloemfontein and Botshabelo, amongst others, has lost over R1 billion due to water leakages in the province’s capital city alone.

OFM News previously reported that executive mayor, Olly Mlamleli, during her address at the Free State Local Government Lekgotla held in Bloemfontein, confirmed that the metro is highly indebted to Bloem Water and battles to meet some of its obligations. Mlamleli further confirmed that some of the municipality's financial issues are due to outstanding payments by government departments and that she has brought the matter before Premier Sisi Ntombela.

OFM News