The Democratic Alliance (DA), together with residents of Kathu, secured a victory over Gamagara municipality in respect of exorbitant water tariff increases that the institution agreed to backtrack on.
This comes after the DA, alongside community members, yesterday presented a petition to the Mayor before a council meeting in Kathu, opposing the suggested tariff increase that varied from a whopping 71% up to an astronomical 300% increase on water bills, based on a sliding scale.
The unrealistic tariff hike on specifically the outside water pipeline, which carries the raw water, would have had dire consequences for residents, who are already suffering financially given sky high fuel prices and expensive food prices. With the imposed increase, outside water usage bills would have escalated by between R2000-R3000 per month, per household.
Gamagara receives this raw water for watering gardens from Kumba Sishen mine at low cost of only 6c per kilolitre, selling it to residents at more than R10 per kilolitre. According to the municipality, they want to bring the tariffs in line with the inside water pipeline, which carries the household potable water. Yet, the outside water is not being treated like the same potable inside water.
In response to this ridiculous notion, myself, as well as DA ward councillor of Ward 6, Anna-Marie Caetano, together with ward committee member, Dean Espach, initiated the petition which received 3 641 signatures.
Armed with this petition, the DA managed to persuade the municipality to eventually implement a 4,8% increase on the same sliding scale that is currently in use, together with the first bracket stretching from 0 to 200 kl, which is most favourable to residents. This is also the option that was chosen by residents in the petition.
While successful negotiations ultimately meant the DA had to support the budget vote, we did make known our strong opposition to the cost savings plan in the unfunded budget and to the fact that the purchase of laptops, valued at R50 000 per piece for all councillors, be referred to MPAC for an investigation.
The DA is pleased that, together with the local community, we have successfully taken a stand against unfair municipal practice and we will keep fighting for the community, to prevent them from becoming victims of further municipal incompetence.