Merafong residents demand mayor's resignation amid ongoing water shortages

Amid calls for the mayor of Merafong Local Municipality to resign, the municipality has revealed that it is battling to service the R1.4 billion Rand Water bill by communities and R3 billion owed by mining companies.

According to municipal spokesperson, Thabo Maloja, the municipality was only able to collect between R5 million and R7 million from the residents and businesses, which has made things worse for the embattled municipality as it cannot afford the R37 million monthly bill to the Water utility, Rand Water.

Due to the challenges, Rand Water imposed a 40% water reduction on the residents of the Kokosi township and other areas-they have spent weeks without running water.

"The mayor will not resign. Why must the mayor resign because the mayor is unable to pay Rand Water the amount that is expected, because people are not paying, which is unfair? Some of these mines are paying the municipality, but they are only paying what they have determined to pay, and not what the municipality is billing them. This is a point of dispute, and therefore, the municipality is unable to finance and pay the current bill because the residents are also not paying,'' Maloja said.

On Tuesday, desperate for a solution to their ongoing problems, residents took to the streets of Fochville on the R500 and N12 highway, where they picketed, while calling for Merafong executive mayor, Nozuko Best, to tender her resignation within 24 hours.

Speaking after handing over the memorandum to the mayor and the Premier's office, community protest leader Shimane Ramafhola gave the mayor 24 hours to restore water or resign, adding that she has failed in her mandate to act in the best interests of residents.

"What we have emphasised to the mayor is that water must be restored to the affected communities within 24 hours. Secondary to that, we have realised that we do not have leadership, and we have called on the mayor to resign, including the municipal manager, and all the officials who participated in the signing of the settlement agreement with Rand Water," he said.

Speaking to residents, the mayor promised to respond to them once she has studied the memorandum of demands.

"I accept this memorandum on behalf of the people of Merafong and commit to responding within the agreed-upon timeframe. We remain dedicated to working with all spheres of government, including Gauteng provincial government and Rand Water, to find lasting solutions to our water challenges,' she stated.

A resident from the area, Gabriel Madawe, indicated that he has been without running water for over three months.

"It has been six months without water, and the water we get from fire hydrants and water tankers is not fit for human consumption. I recently got ill after drinking this water. All we want is for the municipality to give us water. They can even take away their electricity, as water is more important than electricity," he stated.

Rand Water has revealed that it cannot negotiate with the municipality as it has failed to honour its debt owed to it, with utility spokesperson, Makenosi Maroo, stating: "The escalating Merafong Local Municipality debt has prompted Rand Water to implement the reduction of bulk potable water supply due to its failure to settle its account. After months of deliberation, the two parties could not find an amicable solution as the municipality continuously refused to honour its account with Rand Water."

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za