The National Treasury has now confirmed it will withhold the equitable share grants the Merafong City Local Municipality was supposed to receive in December, as well as March next year, to force the municipality to settle its massive R1,4 billion debt owed to Rand Water.
This comes after continuous pressure by the Democratic Alliance (DA) where we urged action against this ANC-run municipality’s ongoing financial crisis.
The Municipality’s outstanding debts to Rand Water will now finally be settled.
This ANC-run municipality’s failure to manage its finances and honour its obligations to Rand Water has directly contributed to the collapse of water supply in numerous areas around Merafong, some of which have gone without a drop of water for months.
The National Treasury’s intervention makes it clear: if municipalities, such as Merafong, continue to disobey the law and mismanage its finances, consequences will follow.
The DA will continue to fight for accountability and responsible management of public funds in our municipality.