Residents and business owners in the small farming town of Koster Near Rustenburg in North West are rejoicing. An interim court order has granted their local Ratepayers’ Association permission to take control of the Ketlengrivier local municipality’s water and refuse systems.
It’s the second granted to residents. Earlier this month the High Court in Pretoria ordered Eskom not to cut the town’s electricity because the municipality owes it close to R50 million.
“The municipal offices were closed. There was nothing happening in this town, and the biggest problem was water for the community. Then eventually we got a court interdict forcing the municipal manager because they were not available but forcing the people to supply us with water. That is at this point in time back to normal,” says Kobus Snyman of Ratepayers’ Association.
“As a member of the municipality I also blame myself that as a municipality we failed the people of Kgetleng by not supplying them with water on time. They had to go for as long as two weeks with no water,” says Councillor at Kgetleng Municipality, Moipone Doyi.
Following weeks of water disruptions, the supply is up and running again. Much to the relief of local business owners who can now focus on recovering the thousands lost during the past dry spell.
“The stability of the business really relies on the effectiveness I can run it on. So for the past two months I have lost between R2 to 400 grand within what I can sell the people. If I can’t keep a clean shop I can’t do business,” says David De Beer a local butcher.
Meanwhile, most municipal services remain halted and residents say the status quo will remain until the current administration is replaced.
“The offices were closed but we have opened all of them that serve the community. But have kept the political offices closed. And we say they will not be opened until national intervenes,” says Tshabalala Mabe a community leader.
“You would recall that that is actually an interim order and as a municipality we would also need to file our papers in opposing that. So what will be happening going forward is that we will consult with our lawyers and in the near future we will anticipate the date municipality says it will challenge the interim order,” says Joseph Mogale of the Kgetlengrivier municipal.
The Kgetlengrivier local municipality has its work cut out for it in restoring services to Koster, Derby and Swartruggens.
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