Dry taps, rising tariffs spark iLembe outrage
iLembe
District Mayor Thobani Shandu insists the decision to implement a 13% water
tariff increase was made with residents’ challenges in mind.
It was initially set at 13.5%, despite the dry taps in many households.
A DA-led protest last month saw frustrated ratepayers marching to the municipal offices to oppose the proposed hike.
Currently, more than 40% of homes in the district do not have access to reliable piped water.
In several wards, residents have gone weeks without running water, depending instead on tankers for supply.
READ: Power outage disrupts water supply in iLembe
"Zero increment was not possible for the municipality due to various institutional challenges and the 13% is as well, it’s not [implausible] as well," said Shandu.
"However, financial constraints are compelling the institution to request them with what uMngeni proposed for us.
"But we were able in the last financially year to remain at 9%, despite 9.5% increased by uMngeni. Actually, our intention that we had initially, we had never wished, that there were any tariffs that were increasing to be at WDJT," he added.
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Briefing the media on Wednesday, Mayor Shandu said infrastructure had been rolled out, but that delays in the bulk water supply have hindered efforts to provide running water directly to homes.
"There are projects on the ground that we're implementing practical. Ilembe with regards to infrastructure is ahead, but we don't have sufficient bulk, hence we're in constant engagement with uMngeni," he said.
"We saying to uMngeni; Can you please upgrade uMvotshana Scheme? Can you please fast track the project from Nondabula in Ndwedwe coming to this side, which will end in Ward 7 in Maphumulo.
"Those are some of the projects we have, so it's to ensure that we have sufficient bulk water."
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