The FF Plus finds it unacceptable that the Emalahleni Local Municipality (Kriel, Ogies, Phola, Emalahleni / Witbank) has apparently still not found a feasible solution to the water crisis that has sporadically affected the Municipality over a period of several years.
The water crisis that the Municipality is currently experiencing did not appear overnight. Poor planning by the municipal manager, Sizwe Mayisela, and his predecessors is an important contributing factor seeing as infrastructure, like pipelines, dams, water purification plants and water pumps, were not properly maintained over the years.
There seems to be no experts in the field of water management in Emalahleni and the political will to act in the best interests of residents is also lacking.
It seems pointless for residents to report leaking pipes, burst pipes and faulty water meters as very little is done to address these problems.
According to information supplied by the Emalahleni city council, the Municipality loses approximately 3,66 kilolitres (3,66 billion litres) of water every quarter due to burst and leaking pipes, stolen water meters and illegal connections.
At the lowest price of R9,43 per kilolitre for people who use less than 6000 litres per month, these water losses amount to a staggering R138,2 million annually.
The loss of R138,2 million is something that can be prevented and the money could be used to replace outdated infrastructure, to do the most urgent repairs immediately and to prosecute those who benefit from illegal water connections instead.
The FF Plus has already sent critical questions about the water crisis to Mpumalanga's Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, and the party will not rest until answers are provided and a feasible water plan is put forward.
The only long-term solution to the Emalahleni Municipality's water crisis as well as the general service delivery problems is for the Municipality's residents to stand up and stand together with the FF Plus in the upcoming local government elections to demonstrate opposition to the ANC's destruction of the Municipality. The decline must be brought to an end.