Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Andries Fourie and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
– Naledi residents face decade-long water billing failures.
– Metro failed to implement approved water solutions.
– Billing crisis harms finances, property transfers, and the economy.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung has highlighted the predicament residents in the Naledi Region have faced for a decade. The saga has continued unresolved and has become a nightmare for many residents.
Since August 2016, when the former Naledi Local Municipality (NLM) was amalgamated with Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, residents of Dewetsdorp, Wepener and Van Stadensrus have been subjected to administrative neglect and abuse due to the Metro’s inability to take the necessary actions to address the matter.
Despite the Council adopting the report tabled in August 2017, which directed the administration to replace and link water meters to the correct property to ensure reliable and accurate billing, little has been done since then to resolve the issue. Residents continued to be incorrectly billed for estimated water usage rather than actual readings.
What is more concerning is that, after a decade, residents in the Naledi Region can still not apply for, or have, a municipal prepaid water meter installed, as there are no vending points available in the municipality to serve the community that does not have access to banking apps.
A surprise recently awaited several residents who had managed to navigate the administrative process to correct their accounts, only to find themselves in the same predicament again after six months due to incorrect billing. This could have been avoided if, as residents requested, prepaid meters had been installed.
To add to residents’ and businesses’ frustrations over these unresolved water meter issues, they now face challenges in completing property sales or transfers, or in winding up a deceased estate involving properties.
This matter has a significant negative impact on residents’ financial positions and the region’s economy. The maladministration of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in this matter does not foster a conducive environment for the region and its residents to prosper. The municipality is urged to consider practical solutions to resolve the matter, as the DA has already proposed, such as prepaid water meters.
The DA will continue to fight tirelessly, alongside residents, to get these never-ending billing errors corrected. Since 2017, we have lodged disputes and met face-to-face with all MMM CFOs, the GMs of the Revenue Division, all MMCs of Finance, and twice with the Public Protector, and have sought legal advice on legal recourse against Mangaung Metro.
We urge residents to register to vote for the DA in the upcoming Local Municipal elections to elect a local government that cares and has a track record of good financial governance.
Use the power of your cross! Let us work together to get the Naledi region working for all.