The Department of Water and Sanitation has warned those engaging in illegal water use activities in the Western Cape, that they will face prosecution. The department says that several unlawful cases have been brought to their attention.
From Monday, the City of Cape Town will implement level six water restrictions to help avoid Day Zero, when the taps are predicted to run dry in May.
Department spokesperson, Malusi Rayi, says they are working with the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Green Scorpions to prosecute illegal water users.
“There were cases where some of the users would divert water to their properties. As the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation we are saying we will not tolerate that. We call upon all the water users to adhere to the water act and not engage in unlawful activities and failure to do that, we will engage in prosecution.”
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has until Friday to respond to a call for it to scrap it’s proposed drought levy or face court action.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says a decision to charge an additional levy for water, is illegal. It’s written to the city citing its concerns. The additional levy was introduced following a council meeting at the beginning of the month. It will be based on property value rather than water consumption.
The city says the revenue will be used to fund new water projects. Residents have until January 12 to comment on the levy.
OUTA’s portfolio manager for water, Julius Kleynhans the city has not followed procedures in regards to this proposal. “We believe its just another punitive tact. If they don’t do that we will see them in court to stop this because its supposed to go through national treasury because its a tax, its not just a levy. And at the end of the day we also want to force the department of water and sanitation to actually do the water supply. Its not the job of the city to do that,” expressed Kleynhans.
