DA Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Leona Kleynhans, tells OFM News that following a meeting between councillors and the administrator at the municipality, the provincial government has authorised the request for two civil engineers to come to Harrismith’s rescue, as well as an electrical engineer who will oversee that electrical supply is not hindered amidst the situation. She says the engineers are expected to arrive Thursday, December 20. This as parts of the area have been left without water for weeks. She says the municipality, which has been under administration since February 2018, cannot afford to supply residents with Jojo tanks due to financial constraints at this stage.

Kleynhans says the farming community has been of great help to residents who cannot afford to buy water during this time.

The Wilge River has run dry forcing the municipality to release water from the Sterkfontein Dam, which Kleynhans says is 95% full, in an effort to get water to residents’ taps. However, the water flows from the dam to a pumping station at Nuwejaarspruit, which cannot meet the demand because it was never designed for this purpose. In addition to this, the pipeline has a major leak, meaning a large portion of the water being released from the dam is flowing into the field. Kleynhans maintains despite low reservoir levels, there is a plan in place to alleviate the effects of the dry Wilge River. She stresses that challenges will prevail until there is good rain, but they are hoping the situation will improve just before Christmas “although it’s not going to be perfect,” says Kleynhans. The municipality has released a response to OFM News’ enquiries on the situation by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Maluti-a-Phofung Water (Map Water), Mpolai Ramulondi, acknowledging the water constraints in Harrismith. Ramulondi further apologised for the inconvenience caused to residents in the area. Kleynhans estimates that close to 100 000 people have been affected by the situation. She further alludes to general lack of maintenance contributing to the situation as well.

The municipality, which is currently under administration, has long been marred by allegations of rampant corruption and poor service delivery under the watch of former Mayor, Vusi Tshabalala. Most recently four senior officers from the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, as well as a private company director, were arrested on December 11 for theft, fraud and violating the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). The five accused, who have been identified as Mokoana Robert Tsupa (46), Abraham Moratwe Mofokeng (47), Mabidikwana Wilfred Matjele (61), Nkgaudise Nelson Molefe (39), and Configen/Trading Zero Tolerance, an entity owned by Tefo Warnic Montsitsi (50), were released on bail of R10 000 each by the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on the same day of their arrest. OFM News reported previously that the accused allegedly conspired and colluded during October 2016 and awarded Zero Tolerance a tender to provide protection and security services to the Municipality without following the correct Supply Chain Management processes in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

The municipality has also been in the headlines this year over its near R3 billion debt to Eskom. The power utility’s subsequent threats to cut supply, prompted the Harrismith Business Forum and thirteen other businesses to launch a court bid against 13 government respondents which include Eskom, Ministers of Energy, Finance, Public Enterprises and President Cyril Ramaphosa on the matter. They said the planned interruptions threatened the future of the business community in the area. The full bench of judges – Corne Van Zyl, Mpina Mathebula and Jacobus Loubser – ordered that Eskom “shall not seek to terminate, interrupt or suspend the supply of electricity to the Municipality during the implementation” of the order and the recovery plan. The order instructed all the stakeholders to form a consultative committee that would work on a recovery plan for the municipality. Local businesses have already expressed concern about the feasibility of the proposed plan, while the government is adamant the plan will yield results and turn the municipality around. 

OFM News