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Dear Concerned
Citizens by Mogamat Faadiel Arnold “Water
Crisis or Moral Crisis?”
My meeting with
the Deputy Mayor
Date 13 June 2018
Revealed the
following:
1. 1. Reduction in consumption of water, due to the request
from the City to reduce water consumption is the reason for the hike in tariffs
to regain the loss in income, because the Municipality is running a business
with water. So we act on a request and get fined for it.
2. 2. 30% of the water supply from Dams are lost due
to underground leaks in council pipes, that is why they have reduced the water
pressure to allow them to fix these pipes – the leakage from the dams have now
been reduced to 15% and our showers still cannot work.
3. 3. The tariff hikes will be reduced when the rain
comes.
4. 4. Presently, despite the heavy rains – council has
not only kept the tariffs, but has now an extra levy, over and above increased
tariffs to make up for the financial losses during the “drought”
5. 5. The Steenbras Dam was constantly kept full by
pumping water from other reservoirs to ensure water supply for the city. Thus
the needed dam was always full to supply the city.
6. 6. The water from the reservoir in Molteno – which
had lots of water, was drained so fast that we were left without water the
Friday before the meeting – which he said will be investigated, but no answer
has been forthcoming.
7. 7.The water tariffs and blanket levies, even
on no water and electricity usage, is unconstitutional, unethical even within
basic business law – you cannot charge a person for something he did not buy
8. 8. The picture that was shown on TV to drive the ‘Water
Crisis’ was only from one supply dam that was probably linked to the diverted
water which some farmers ‘stole” from the city
9. 9. The triple tariff, during the rainy season, was
based on the water usage of consumers based on last year’s consumption in the
same month – when there was no ‘water restriction’. This estimation is because
they do not have the staff to read meters every month, but are working on that
110.
Only 46% of the allocation from national
government for the water crisis was used.
111.
The court ruled against the DA for ousting the
Mayor and stated that the provincial government should spend more time on the
water crisis than on political wrangling.
112.
The Constitution of South Africa instructs
provincial governments and municipalities to ensure that the citizens have a sustainable
water supply. The “Water Crisis” was thus a local government mismanagement. They
are making the citizens pay for their mismanagement . That is unprofessional,
unconstitutional and unethical.
113.
A water crisis is when the rivers have dried up
and the reservoirs are empty. The Liesbeek
and Black Rivers have always been full and so were the four reservoirs
on Table Mountain. Water department officials related to me that there was
enough water for the city bowl, but its water was drain from it to supply other
areas.
114.
The DA has failed to provide adequate water and
electricity to the citizens of the Cape and also continuously apply unjust
by-laws that violate the constitution. Who will vote DA?
115.
Are civil approaches less valuable than violent
protests caught in media?
116.
Research
shows that when water and electricity charges are placed on the Rates account
then personal property is in danger of being usurped by tariff manipulations.
