Madibeng is one of several municipalities in the North West that cumulatively owe water boards over R2 billion.
COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa responded to written parliamentary questions, saying municipalities in North West, Free State and Eastern Cape were the biggest culprits.
He said Madibeng Municipality and eight others all owe water boards over R2.1 billion.
He said municipal infrastructure grants (MIG), much needed to upgrade infrastructure, is not being effectively spent by municipalities and are being returned to the National Treasury.
In the meantime the Magalies Water Board has implemented debt-collection measures due to escalating unpaid debts by municipalities. Department of water and sanitation director-general Sean Phillips released a report in September about municipal debt to water boards. The DWS has approached the Treasury with a request for a debt relief mechanism, similar to the one the Treasury introduced for Eskom, to write off municipal debts owed to water boards and the debts owed by water boards to the DWS.
Madibeng said this week its Randwater current account is up to date. “We do not have any contractual agreement with Magalies Water,” spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala said.
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