This as Bloem Water will be implementing water restrictions in all areas under the Mangaung Metro Municipality due to non-payment by the municipality. The water restriction will be implemented until further notice. According to the water board, this comes as a last resort after the municipality failed to adhere to any of the resolutions that were taken before. 

Spokesperson for the water board, Kido Thoabala, says it was previously agreed during the mediation process by National Treasury that the metro would pay an outstanding debt for a period of 12 months from May 2019 and Bloem Water would write off the interest on the debt, but the municipality has even failed to comply by this. She says only 30% of the total bulk water will be supplied to the municipality.

“This situation has put Bloem Water in an untenable position, which left it with no option but to reduce the bulk water supply in accordance with Section 4(5) of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 (as amended). The ongoing non-payment by Mangaung Metro Municipality to Bloem Water has a huge negative operational expenditure impact on raw water purchases, procurement of chemicals, payment to Eskom for electricity, employees' benefits, operational projects, capital and loan obligations etcetera, which are integral to the very business of the Water Board,” explained Thoabala.

The municipality in May threatened to take legal action against Bloem Water after the water board reduced supply to the Metro over a payment dispute.

The municipality’s spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, is yet to respond to OFM News’ inquiry on the matter.

OFM News