Minister concerned about huge municipal debts to water boards
Gugile Nkwinti says some progress is being made regarding the billions owed to SA’s water boards
Water and sanitation minister Gugile Nkwinti assured parliament on Tuesday that government departments were working closely to try and resolve the massive debts municipalities owe to water boards. SA has nine water boards, which provide bulk water services to municipalities. Many have been dogged by governance problems, which compound the financial challenges posed by municipalities that fail to pay their accounts. Last November, then water and sanitation minister Nomvula Mokonyane said water boards were collectively owed R6.8bn for bulk water services. Earlier this year, parliament heard from the auditor-general (AG) that the overall performance of the water boards had deteriorated over the three years to 2016-2017, with four of them — Umgeni Water, Sedibeng Water, Lepelle Water and Mhlathuze Water — regressing in their audit outcomes. The inter-ministerial task team on electricity reticulation, distribution and monies owed to water trading entities and water boards, chaired by co-...
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