Mahlobo: Ailing water infrastructure exacerbating supply woes

Mahlobo: Ailing water infrastructure exacerbating supply woes

As South Africans continue to feel the water shortage pinch, the ANC Commission on Basic Services says the loss of water due to ageing infrastructure is adding to the supply problems.

Mahlobo: Govt aware of private companies ‘sabotaging’ infrastructure
ANC

NEC member David Mahlobo was speaking during a briefing on Tuesday on the sidelines of their two-day lekgotla.

 

Mahlobo, who is also the deputy minister of water and sanitation, said large volumes of the precious resource are being wasted or siphoned off.

 

"The numbers don't look good; they range from 47 per cent, others run around 62 per cent. In other words, the water that should reach citizens does not reach citizens. It goes into the ground, but at the very same time, municipalities still have to pay for that water that they are losing on the system. 

 

"We also look at issues of illegal connections that are on the rise, but we also look at issues of the black market where water is being sold." 


READ: Water crisis in Durban North 'spiralling out of control'

 

Communities in eThekwini, the south coast and other parts of KZN have taken to the streets to vent their frustration and anger over constant or prolonged outages.

 

Mahlobo says the issue is being dealt with.

 

"Ten per cent of that money from me and the possibility of water services infrastructure grant will come into the fore. It will be in reference so we can deal with issues of water losses. 


"Those people who used to have water and the tap is not running, you can guarantee them the assurance of availability and supply, including the issues of management of the system, pressure management, and nightfall - those are the key issues that they need to be able to deal with, the billing system and the revenue management." 

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