Latest news with #R636
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Taps run dry in Merafong after municipality defaults on bill
Rand Water cuts supply to Merafong after the municipality defaulted, worsening water shortages and affecting paying residents. Merafong local municipality is still dogged by water rationing, even cut-offs, almost a year after restrictions were imposed by the Carletonville-based council. It has emerged that the problem is that the municipality has not paid Rand Water, which has reduced water supply to the municipality. Additionally megalitres of water are wasted through leaks. Merafong owes Rand Water R1.2bn The municipality owes R1.2 billion to Rand Water and is said to have defaulted on the payment agreement in April, resulting in a 20% cut in its water supply. This adversely affected residents across the board, including loyal payers. Now DA shadow MEC for infrastructure Nico de Jager has asked Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Jacob Mamabolo to intervene. ALSO READ: Municipal water disruption affects services at Carletonville Hospital He blamed them for not taking action, though the situation has been deteriorating for some time. De Jager said the Merafong water crisis was due to incompetent leadership and widespread mismanagement of financial and material resources in the municipality. 'This cash-strapped municipality is battling to pay its creditors due to financial mismanagement and maladministration. Municipality battling to pay its creditors 'Years of neglecting its water infrastructure resulted in up to 50% water losses. The municipality also lost water through leaks and unmetered use.' He said the administrative failure had now affected hospital services and many residents who were up to date with payments, because the rationing affected everybody. 'Without tangible solutions, action and intervention, more communities will join the thirsty queue as Rand Water is faced with maintenance challenges,' De Jager said. ALSO READ: 11-hour water disruptions due to Eskom maintenance: Here are the affected areas The Merafong water crisis has affected Carltonville and its surrounds and extends as far as Fochville and nearby mines. The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has been asked to address Emfuleni local municipality. In a letter to the commission, DA Emfuleni north constituency head Kingsol Chabalala, Emfuleni said the municipality was violating residents' right to access water and sanitation as stated in the constitution. Sahcr asked to address Emfuleni 'The complaint pertains to Emfuleni's failure to provide essential services such as clean water, adequate sanitation and effective sewage management. 'This neglect has resulted in communities living in squalor.' The municipality recently returned R636 million of its Municipal Infrastructure Grant to National Treasury that was unspent despite an urgent need to repair sewer and water systems. NOW READ: Water cuts: Merafong to speak to Rand Water
The Star
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated. Sangweni reported that in the 2024/2025 financial year, the municipality received an allocation of R160 million, with 61% of that amount spent by the end of December 2024. He said this improved rate of expenditure is a positive sign, indicating potential progress in enhancing service delivery for local residents. During a recent ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team Lekgotla held over two days at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, Premier Panyaza Lesufi addressed the state of filth and decay affecting municipalities across the province, expressing deep concern over the deteriorating conditions. 'Comrades, our province and our municipalities are dirty, dirty, dirty. I attended the May rally in Sharpeville, Executive Mayor Sedibeng auwaaaaaaaaa banna (Nooooooooooo Man),' Lesufi said, in disgust. He issued a stern rebuke to ANC officials leading the Sedibeng District Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality, holding them accountable for the persistent service delivery failures and unacceptable living conditions in those areas. 'If we cannot get the basics right, we have no legitimate right to claim that our people should still have confidence in us. If we can not get the basics right, we are no longer representing our people; we are misleading them. If we can not get the basics right, then we are betraying the service delivery; (This) is deplorable,' Lesufi added. The DA has committed to closely monitoring the progress of the SAHRC investigation, expressing hope that it will lead to real, tangible change for the people of Emfuleni. The party maintains that residents cannot continue to endure the inhumane conditions they currently face and deserve urgent intervention and relief. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance has reported the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission due to service delivery failures, directly impacting residents' health and well-being. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Legislative subpoena adds to SAHRC complaint against Emfuleni municipality
The Emfuleni municipality has been accused of multiple service delivery failures and is subject to interventions under Operation Vulindlela. The Emfuleni municipality is being placed under increasing pressure by administrative forces. A complaint against the municipality has been submitted to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and officials have also drawn the ire of the Gauteng provincial legislature (GPL). Under phase two of Operation Vulindlela, Emfuleni is highlighted as one of the eight worst run municipalities in the country and is subject to national government intervention. SAHRC complaint The DA on Wednesday laid a complaint with the SAHRC, citing a violation of the right to access water and forcing residents to live in filth to due to regular sewerage spills. Emfuleni racked up R562 million in wasteful expenditure spent on overtime pay for service delivery projects that yielded little results. Additionally, the municipality returned R636 million of its municipal infrastructure grant despite its service delivery challenges. 'These failures reflect systemic corruption, mismanagement, and a disregard for residents' dignity,' stated the DA's SAHRC complaint lodged by Emfuleni North constituency head Kingsol Chabalala. 'The actions taken by the provincial government to place Emfuleni under administration, have not produced any significant advancements, and the residents still suffer due to poor governance at the provincial and local levels,' he said. Emfuleni municipality and the SAHRC were contacted for comment by The Citizen but no response had been received at the time of publication. GPL subpoena Emfuleni officials have been criticised by the GPL for not attending to service delivery requests and proposals set out by residents. The standing committee on petitions said that roughly only 12% of petitions submitted to the municipality received a formal response – some dating back to 2013. 'Alarmingly, no senior accountable officials from Emfuleni were present to respond to the remaining seven petitions or to account to the committee or the petitioners,' the GPL said on Thursday. ALSO READ: Mashatile: How national government is aiming to reform local municipalities Issues addressed in the unresolved petitions include the hijacking of properties, municipal rates disputes, relocation of informal settlement residents and a government housing project. The lack of response by the municipality has prompted the GPL to take further steps to receive answers. 'As a result, the committee has taken a firm and decisive decision. Emfuleni municipality will be subpoenaed to appear before the committee in the coming weeks. 'This is to ensure full accountability and progress on the petitions which remain unresolved to this day. The residents of Emfuleni deserve answers – not continued neglect. NOW READ: Emfuleni sewerage disaster continues despite multiple contractors being paid millions
