This, after Bloem Water announced yesterday that it will be implementing water restrictions in all areas under the Mangaung Metro Municipality due to the non-payment by the municipality of its massive outstanding debt. 

The water board said this decision to restrict supply comes as a last resort after the municipality failed to adhere to any of the resolutions that were taken before. 

Spokesperson of Bloem Water, Kido Thoabala, said it was previously agreed during the mediation process by National Treasury that the metro would pay off the outstanding debt over a period of 12 months from May 2019 and Bloem Water would write off the interest of the debt, but the municipality has even failed to comply with this. Municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, says they indeed paid R29,2 million in July. He says this proves the municipality did adhere to the payment agreement, as disputed by Bloem Water. Khedama, however, does not explain whether payments were made in May and June. The court is expected to rule on this today.

Meanwhile, Thoabala in a statement highlighted that “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 etc, which are integral to the very business of the Water Board”.

Pending the outcome of the court case, residents in the areas of Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Wepener, Van Stadensrus and Dewetsdorp would meanwhile have to brace themselves for reduced water supply.

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