Msunduzi schools, businesses and residents warned to pay up

Schools that hadn't paid their debts had their water supply cut.

Mayor, Mzi Thebolla says one of the schools owed the City two million rand for water, and they had to take action.

He says the school in question was given an opportunity to make payment arrangements - but didn't come forward. 

“We don’t intend in any way to disrupt the education of our children. They will be reconnected but  we also need commitment from the education department because we are obliged to provide quality services," says Thebolla. 

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But the KZN education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu this can't be allowed.

"We are not a profit generating department, we are one government and they can't charge us as if they're charging businesses and that's the discussion that we're engaging with the Department of Cogta as well as different municipalities." 

He says they're discussing the matter with the municipality and the department will look at infrastructure and the billing system. " It doesn't make any sense that is school can own up to almost 2 million in temple of water services. 

"In fact there are such a instances that we have around the province where we're complaining about to the water and electricity bills in other school electricity is being stolen by community members."

"And the charges come direct to us as a department of education and that's what we are raising with different municipalities," he says.