Residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro in the Eastern Cape are up in arms over the continued imposition of punitive water tariffs by the municipality, despite a significant improvement in the city’s water supply following good winter rains.
Four of the city’s five supply dams are full, while the Mpofu dam is almost 45% full. The Metro has not adjusted the tariffs that were imposed when the city was staring day zero in the face.
Last week, the Democratic Alliance in the region also protested against the water tariffs. The tariffs are hitting residents hard. Unemployed residents are unable to pay their bills.
The municipality also recovers money owed through its prepaid electricity system.
Motherwell resident Nosisana Joka says the high water bills are making life very difficult for her. “We cannot afford the high water bills. Some of us are pensioners and can only afford to pay for food.”
Meanwhile, the leader of the Democratic Alliance in Nelson Mandela Bay, Retief Odendaal, has criticised the Metro for the punitive water tariffs.
“It is absolutely ridiculous. With these punitive electricity prices, the municipality is not prioritising the people of this metro knowing the population is unemployed.”
The Water and Sanitation Department says water tariffs were put in place to manage water consumption.
“The cost of water is increased to force residents to reduce consumption. We will propose to Nelson Mandela Bay that prices should drop. But there is so much to consider, the dams which are supplying water, etc. Water tariffs will be reviewed,” says Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Water and Sanitation Director, Joseph Tsatsire.
The municipality says an outcome of a review of the tariffs is expected by the end of November.
