It is an utter disgrace that the Mopani District Municipality, which already finds itself in a financial predicament, is squandering precious funds on a court case against the provincial government of Limpopo.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) intervened in terms of Section 139(1)(a) of the Constitution to address certain areas of management in the Municipality, among others, water supply to residents.
Although the FF Plus certainly does not support provincial interventions at municipalities, it was the District Municipality's failure to pay its outstanding water bill to Lepelle North Water (LNW) that resulted in the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality being slapped with a reduction in water supply.
According to a letter by the Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sean Phillips, the Mopani District Municipality owed LNW R257 million on 31 January 2023.
In an urgent letter dated 22 March to Ba-Phalaborwa's acting municipal manager, Dr Kgoshi Lucas Pilusa, the FF Plus demanded that steps must be taken at once to resolve the water crisis.
Shortly after, the water supply was restored.
Judgment in the matter between the District Municipality and COGTA will be passed on 28 July in the High Court.
No matter in whose favour the court rules, the FF Plus will see to it that the District Municipality and COGTA act responsibly and in the best interest of residents.
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