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Keeping NMB punitive water tariffs while dams fill, is a money-making racket that must end – #EndPunitiveWaterTariffsNow

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Before you read on – please complete our Poll: Your responses are sent directly to the Municipality and the Director of Water and published on MyPE:

On 12 December 2024 the NMB ended the Punitive Water Tariffs. Thank you to all who voted and put pressure on the Muni to end these tariffs.

Dear Editor

While recent good rains have been filling our dams up to average capacity of 85%, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality insists that residents continue to fill their coffers with punitive tariffs, and this must end now!

For a drought that no longer exists, there is no longer any need for punitive water tariffs in Nelson Mandela Bay. Over the past year, the Nelson Mandela Bay Council under the ANC-led Coalition has refused to relax water restrictions or punitive tariffs, despite the drought being over.

There is growing public outcry over the metro’s refusal to revoke punitive water tariffs, even though the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) significantly relaxed water restrictions last year at a national level.

The metro earns roughly R24 million a month from these punitive tariffs, and it was previously cited as the main reason the metro administration wanted the exorbitant tariffs to remain in place.

The DA has now appealed to the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene in the punitive water tariff issue in Nelson Mandela Bay.

It is well-known that the Nelson Mandela Bay region experiences regular cyclical droughts. Key to managing these droughts is gaining the public’s cooperation to reduce water consumption when needed. Unfortunately, the NMB municipality is currently damaging its trust relationship with the public regarding drought-related matters, which could make it more difficult to navigate future periods of water shortages.

DWS is currently reviewing the allocations for the Algoa Water Supply System (AWSS) for the new water year. While the implementation of municipal water restrictions and punitive tariffs is the sole responsibility of the NMB Council, we have asked DWS to either urge the municipality to relax water restrictions or, alternatively, to inform the public about what they can expect from their local water authority in the current situation.

The DA will also be launching an online petition for NMB residents, hoping it will gather enough support so that collectively as residents of Nelson Mandela Bay we can make our voices heard together.

Water should not be exploited as a money-making racket by a local authority.

The DA stands with residents, fighting for your rights. Together, we can make NMB work again.

Regards

Retief Odendaal MPL
DA EC Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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