The municipal spokesperson, Solly Phama, tells OFM News that the municipality is in further talks with the water board over its debt which was said to be over R300 million in 2020. The municipality is one of three worst indebted municipalities with Bloem Water. 

The troubled Mangaung Metro Municipalty, which includes Bloemfontein - and also the first metro in the country to be placed under administration - was reported to have owed about R1 billion to Bloem Water. 

The two entities in a statement confirms that the local municipal council has granted approval for the municipality to enter into a five year contract with Bloem Water.

Despite a lack of details surrounding what the agreement entails, Bloem Water commit to continue to provide bulk water services to the municipality. The municipality further also committed to adhere to the payment plan.

"Subsequent to a long outstanding contractual dispute between Bloem Water and Kopanong Local Municipality the following agreement was reached.

"Kopanong Local Municipality rescinds the Council resolution, communicated in the letter dated 25 October 2019, in which the notice on contract with Bloem Water that ended on 26 January 2021 was not going to be renewed," both parties added on a statement.

OFM News