News from Ventersburg:
Chair: Maxi Badenhorst
- The Ventersburg Municipality is threatening to cut off electricity to disputers.
- The Ratepayers Association of Ventersburg has directed a letter to the municipality, putting them on terms regarding the fact that they have not provided the free water and electricity to all residents, as specified in law. A copy of the letter follows:
6 May 2009
Mr. T H Petersen
Municipal Manager
Matjhabeng Municipality
WELKOM
9450
Dear Mr. Petersen
MATJHABENG: FREE BASIC WATER AND ELECTRICITY
In terms of Section 27 of the Constitution and the Water Services Act everyone has a right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation.
The Water Services Act of 1997 stipulates that every water services institution must take reasonable measures to realise these rights and every water services authority must in its water services development plan provide for measures to realise these rights.
The document “Free Basic Water Implementation Guideline for Local Authorities” Version 2.3 dated August 2002 issued by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry provides for the implementation of the policy by A;B1 Municipalities during June 2002.
I wish to invite your attention to the fact that the previous allowance of 6Kl per household per month up to 25 March 2009 and 42kl per household per month thereafter was never implemented in Matjhabeng although it would appear that certain sections of the population are receiving unlimited free water.
The current free electricity allowance of 50 KWh per household per month is also not implemented in Matjhabeng.
In the light of the above it would be appreciated if you could furnish me with a copy of your water services development plan and at the same time provide valid reasons why claims for compensation should not be instituted against you for not providing free basic water and electricity.
Yours faithfully
M J Badenhorst