Government threatens to cut water to at least 30 municipalities that owe billions
The Department of Water and Sanitation has an outstanding water debt of R10.7bn
Municipalities owe water authorities R10.7bn, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said on Monday. "In order for us to provide water‚ there must be revenue coming in‚" Mokonyane told reporters in Johannesburg. She said notices had been issued to 30 defaulting municipalities to make good on their debts before December 8. If they did not, bulk water suppliers would throttle the municipalities’ water supply. They are among 186 local government structures which owe money for water already supplied and used. Almost R7bn of the debt is older than 120 days. Mokonyane said the notices were issued after the National Treasury told her department it was not taking revenue collection seriously enough.
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