ISSUE 212 - FREE
22
FEBRUARY 2019
COMMUNITY NEWS. ORIGINAL - ACCURATE - FIRST
017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 • admin@thebulletin.co.za • 1 Kiewiet Street, Secunda (Lake Umuzi)
#OneSAforall!
Enough is Enough! This chant was heard throughout the DA march on Monday morning 18 February. Jane Sithole, Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga and DA premier candidate in Mpumalanga, led the march in Bethal to the Bethal Civic centre. “Water is a basic human right,” Jane said in an interview with the Bulletin before the march, “people have been without water for up to 40 days and this is not acceptable!” Jane stated that they have started proceedings with the Human Rights Commission regarding the water situation. Jane also addressed the poor service delivery as well as the spiralling debts of the municipality. “It is unacceptable that the Eskom and Rand Water debts are spiralling out of control. The march proceeded to the Civic Centre where the Municipal Manager, Mr Simon Felani Mndebele, should have been receiving a memorandum. The MM did not receive the memorandum but sent a councillor to represent him. After some deliberation and some serious scolding by both Jane and James Masangu it was decided that Mr Benzi Soko, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Executive Mayor and Political Advisor to the Executive Mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, would receive the memorandum. The memorandum was read and receipt signed by Benzi. “The Democratic Alliance, accompanied by residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality and together
with other interested and affected parties call for the Municipal Manager to intervene in the issue of poor service delivery” read the first paragraph. “Water is life, it is needed for bodily functions, for hygienic purposes and cooking, however water provision or the lack there of is a constant issue in the municipality and since 2018 Rand Water has throttled the provision of water over unpaid debts. During May and November 2018, the entity throttled the supply by 40% and 20% respectively. In January 2019, residents were left without water for a month if not more. The right to having water is enshrined in our constitution, yet
despite which, the residents of Govan Mbeki constantly go without water for prolonged periods.” The memorandum further states that; “the municipality’s inability to pay Eskom and Rand Water is bringing the municipality closer to the brink of a disaster, especially when one look at the violent protests that occurred recently.” The DA Further: • Demands that the municipal manager tackle the financial crises head on and stick to contractual agreements with Eskom and Rand Water. • Provide water to all of the residents who do not currently have and to specifically ensure that Bethal
Extensions 3 and 8, Bethal Rand and small holdings will never receive total water cut as was the case in December 2018 and January 2019. • To improve revenue generation and revenue collection systems. • To pay Eskom, Rand Water and all creditors within the 30 day period, as determined by the MFMA. • To deal with the issues of no toilets, street lights and high unemployment. • Conduct a forensic investigation as requested by the premier. The DA gave the MM 14 working days to respond positively to their demands. Failure to do so will lead to intensification of their demonstrations.
Photo: Terry-Lee Kleynhans