Tshwane Council
By Karabo Marifi
The Tshwane Council has made a landmark decision to write off a staggering R684 million debt owed by Hammanskraal residents for water services. This comes after years of controversy surrounding the unsafe drinking water supplied to the area since 2009, despite residents being billed for it.
A Decade of Unsafe Water
The decision, which received unanimous support from the full Tshwane Council during its meeting at the municipal headquarters, seeks to address a long-standing grievance in Hammanskraal. Residents have faced water quality issues stemming from the dysfunctional Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant, which crippled operations at the Temba Water Treatment Plant.
As a result, 14,869 households burdened by water and sanitation debt will now see their accounts cleared.
Council Report Recommendations
The debt write-off follows a report presented to the Tshwane Council on Thursday. The report recommended that the city write off all water and sanitation-related debt for customers supplied by the Temba Water Treatment Plant, which has failed to meet basic water safety standards.
This initiative has been described as a step toward restoring trust between the municipality and residents who have endured unsafe drinking water for over a decade.
Political and Community Reactions
Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader and former mayor, Cilliers Brink, welcomed the resolution, emphasizing its fairness and practicality.
“We want the consumers to be able to pay Tshwane and so we don’t want consumers to be burdened by historical debt of water that was not suitable for human consumption,” said Brink.
The move has been widely praised by council members and community representatives, who see it as an acknowledgment of the hardships faced by Hammanskraal residents.
Clean Water Solutions in Progress
While the debt write-off has been finalized, the Tshwane Municipality has assured residents that progress is being made to provide clean drinking water. The municipality stated it is close to resolving the water safety crisis in Hammanskraal, with plans to start billing residents for safe water supply in the near future.
Download Here:
Central News Issue 085Download
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
_________
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube
#centralnewsza #freestate