Water supply to government institutions as well as businesses belonging to the Mkhanyakude District Municipality has started to be cut off following the non-payment of a debt of R25 million.
This was said yesterday by the Mayor of Mkhanyakude, Mr. Siphile Mdaka, who said that this is part of encouraging institutions that are in debt to pay their debts. Mdaka said that they did this as they were instructed by the Auditor General, to collect money for the needs of these institutions.
Among the institutions that will be affected by this are schools, clinics, police stations, community halls, libraries and others.
Elandisa Mdaka said the water cut has started in more than 30 institutions under Inkosi Mtubatuba Municipality.
“The institutions affected by this include a number of schools, a library, two community halls, a police station and other institutions,” said Mdaka.
He stated that the Mtubatuba Magistrate’s Court had also had its water cut off but it will be reopened after it has submitted proof that it has paid.
He said the municipality will not take the money earmarked for the installation of new pipes as well as for the repair of old ones and use it to cover indebted institutions.
“Every cent that is owed by government institutions and businesses is taken from the people of Mkhanyakude. We are currently ensuring that justice is done and we are protecting the delivery of needs,” he said.
He said that their action is not to punish these institutions but to ensure that residents who pay their bills on time get water in the right way,” said Mdaka.
He said the non-payment of large debts harms the municipality in being able to supply water properly and to be able to develop its infrastructure.
He confirmed that the institutions concerned will be turned on to water once they have paid their water bill in full or if it has been agreed that if they will pay less, how will they do that.
He appealed to other people who have water accounts in the municipality to look at how they stand in terms of their debts, to avoid them from falling into the trap of water being shut off.
He said that the municipality is determined to deliver the water demand as expected, and said that their customers should do the right thing.