By Thys Khiba
Parys -Ngwathe Local Municipality spokesperson Steve Naale said the municipality has not received any formal documentation regarding the laid criminal charges by Democratic Alliance (DA) against their officials, from any structure either NPA or SAPS,for their allegedly joint failure to deliver water to its residents.
“Ngwathe Local Municipality has noted recent media enquiries regarding a case opened against senior municipal management by the Democratic Alliance. However, the only time we heard of such a matter was through media itself,” said Naale.
This is after the DA Constituency Head for Ngwathe,Mariette Pittaway confirmed in a media statement that they laid criminal charges against the Municipal Manager, Mr Bruce William Kannemeyer, and the Director of Technical Services, MrThamiMalunga, of the Ngwathe Local Municipality.
“Subsequently, the Municipal Manager Mr Bruce Kannemeyer and management team met with the AfriForum delegation in the MM’s office on Thursday, 26 August 2021, where the technical team presented on how the municipality is responding to water challenges, in Ngwathe, generally, said Naale.
The municipality said they will mobilize religious sector and cultural bodies on raising awareness on water conservation measures.
“This action was taken after the DA councillors in Ngwathe had since 18 July 2021 interacted with the Municipal Manager and the Director of Technical Services, but to no avail. The DA councillors even offered their further assistance to the Ngwathe Local Municipality by agreeing to cover the cost of a leaking pipe that was indicated to be the cause of the persistent water problems,” said Pittaway.
The DA claim that various residents informed them that besides the deliberate tampering with valves, there also appears to be a political agenda behind the deliberate water cuts to their area.
“The DA laid criminal charges in terms of the Constitution, the Water Services Act, as well as the National Water Act for the joint failure by the Municipal Manager and Director of Technical Services to ensure equitable and fair access to water supply in Parys, despite having knowledge of the unlawful activities related to the tampering and interference with these waterworks,” said Pittaway. This is a developing story.
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