DWS estimates backlog of infrastructure in struggling municipalities to be around R400bn

CAPE TOWN - The Department of Water and Sanitation has estimated that the backlog of infrastructure in 105 municipalities struggling to provide services to ratepayers to be around R400 billion.

But the department said this is not because of a lack of financial support on its part to assist these municipalities.

Parliament’s portfolio committee has this week been probing the water supply issues in distressed municipalities as community protests persist, particularly, in Gauteng.

Besides Water and Sanitation, the Cooperative Governance and the Human Settlements departments have been ploughing money into the 105 identified distressed municipalities to help it to provide services.

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Water and Sanitation Deputy Director-General Risimati Mathye said over the past five years, these municipalities have collectively received almost R100 billion to fix and replace its ailing infrastructure.

“For the past couple of years, and even for the next few years, a lot of money has been spent, and a lot of money has been earmarked to support these municipalities.”

Mathye said there are more than 500 active projects in the identified distressed municipalities.

“Yes, there are issues. Some projects are delayed, some projects get stopped, but one can’t say there’s no work happening on the ground.”

The department said there are statutory limits to the interventions it can make to ensure municipal councils deliver water to its residents.