Emfuleni spends over R65 million on water tankers, but still NO WATER

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that thousands of residents in parts of Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) are being deprived of access to an uninterrupted water supply despite the municipality paying contractors R65 251 020,39 for water tankers.

DA HIGHLIGHTS THE EMFULENI WATER CRISIS

Kingsol Chabalala MPL, Constituency Head in Emfuleni North, said many residents claim that they go weeks without getting water from the tankers.

“This is unacceptable as access to water is a basic right, and the contractors are paid to render this service. The affected residents are now forced to either buy water or commute to neighbouring areas to fetch it.”

Chabalala

ALSO READ: Parts of SOWETO to experience NO WATER TOMORROW

THE BENEFICIARIES BUT NO RESULTS

He revealed that in the past three financial years, the following companies were hired and paid millions to distribute water with tankers to Emfuleni residents: Downtown Spares CC, Plexiphon 213 CC, and Alsandro Construction Pty.

Below are the monies paid to the contractors in the past three years:

• In 2019/2020, DWS implemented the project in Emfuleni.
• 2020/21: R12 514 656, 13
• 2021/22: R24 862 798, 26
• 2022/23: R27 873 566,00

“This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL),” he backed the allegations.

ALSO READ: Three-day unplanned WATER SHUTDOWN in these Joburg suburbs

According to MEC Khumalo, all contractors were awarded a three-year contract.

ALSO READ: Johannesburg Water urges Customers to use water sparingly

THE DA ADVISES THE MUNICIPALITY TO INSOURCE

“Emfuleni must learn from the previous DA-led multi-party coalition in Mogale City, which procured 12 water tankers instead of outsourcing.”

Chabalala

ALSO READ: WATER SHUTDOWN to plague parts of Joburg POSTPONED

He added that over R65 million is too much to be spent on outsourcing water tankers.

“The DA proposes that Emfuleni prioritises investing in fixing existing water infrastructure to ensure residents have access to an uninterrupted water supply.
“We will also table follow-up questions to MEC Khumalo to ascertain how many people have benefited from these water tankers and if the municipality has plans to procure its own tankers,” Chabalala vowed.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY SISO NAILE