The Madibeng Municipality has been given until the end of business on Thursday to pay its outstanding debt to Tshwane.

The capital has been supplying water to Madibeng through Rand Water. However, the municipality is a total of R170 244 537,08 in the red, with backdated debt.

Subsequently in July 2021, a minimum of R40 million was requested because no payments had been received since the end of October 2020.

On Wednesday, Tshwane gave Madibeng an ultimatum to pay the R40 million on Thursday to avoid the throttling of water pressure to its residents. 

On Thursday morning, Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed that Madibeng has paid R20 million to the city, the other half was still outstanding. 

“We have written to them and informed them that they should make payment of about R40 million on or before 19 August. But just before the close of business on Wednesday, they made a payment of about R20 million. 

 “They are still R20 million short but if they don’t make the payment by close of business today, the outstanding balance of R20 million - we’ll have no choice but to restrict water flow to the Madibeng Local Municipality.” 

Jacaranda News/Sibahle Motha