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The DA in the Eastern Cape says its year-long efforts to remove Nelson Mandela Bay's punitive water tariffs have finally borne fruit, as the ANC agreed with it during two portfolio committee meetings last week.
DA councilor, Dries van der Westhuizen says since November last year, he has submitted seven motions to the Office of the Speaker, requesting that the Municipality's punitive water tariffs be reduced, but the tabling of these motions for debate in Council was refused.
He says apart from the Impofu Dam, which is close to 60% of capacity, all the metro's dams are overflowing.
Van der Westhuizen says during a Budget and Treasury Portfolio Committee meeting on Friday, while reviewing a report about the Municipality's high debtor book and low collection rate, the ANC agreed that the punitive water tariffs should be eliminated.
He said the committee also acknowledged that the punitive tariffs harmed the Metro's collection rate, as residents struggled to pay their accounts.
"We now urge the ANC to exert pressure on the Speaker to ensure that our motions are debated at the next Council meeting. Under the Water Services Act, the responsibility for implementing water tariffs lies with the Municipality, and the Council can resolve to remove the punitive tariffs", Van der Westhuizen said.
