Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached video here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung has received video footage and multiple complaints from residents indicating that water meters across the metro may not be read accurately, raising serious concerns about incorrect billing and the integrity of the municipality’s water revenue system.
The municipality appointed Mchiliteni Fofota Investments (Pty) Ltd to conduct water meter readings at a cost of R13.50 per reading, under a three-year contract valued at R4,299,598.46, ending in June 2026. The DA has submitted Rule 38 questions to the City Manager seeking clarity on how the accuracy of readings is verified, how contract performance is monitored, whether payments are linked to measurable outcomes, and whether Auditor-General risk findings were addressed in the contract.
These concerns are particularly serious given that the Auditor-General has repeatedly flagged unreliable water billing, estimated readings, weak contract management, revenue leakage, and poor oversight in Mangaung in previous financial years. Despite these warnings, residents continue to receive shock accounts, estimated bills, and incorrect charges, many of which remain unresolved.
The DA has received numerous complaints from residents disputing their water bills, alleging that the billed amounts do not correspond to the actual meter readings. These billing failures place households under financial strain and further erode public trust in the municipality’s ability to manage its revenue systems responsibly.
The DA will not allow public funds to be spent without accountability in a metro already under administration and struggling with service delivery and revenue collection. Residents deserve accurate billing, transparent governance, and decisive action where failures are identified.
The DA will continue to pursue this matter through Council and oversight mechanisms until accountability is enforced and residents are protected from ongoing billing failures.