The DA in Thembisile Hani calls on the Public Protector to probe cancelled water infrastructure projects worth over R2 million.
During a council sitting on August 23, the ANC presented an item calling for the scrapping of all these water projects despite R2.3 million being spent.
Through the majority vote, the ANC emerged victorious. However, the DA caucus voted against this improper practice.
For years, Thembisile Hani has been faced with water challenges. As a result, the municipality embarked on an implementation of water projects across different locations.
The municipality has cited that in some locations where the projects are taking place, the water does not comply with the South African National Standards 241 (SANS) and that it will be uneconomical to install package plants.
It is gravely concerning to note that money that was spent on engineers, specialist land surveyors, geohydrological resources and environmental studies has gone down the drain.
This is a clear abuse of state resources. Public funds that are meant to better the livelihood of residents cannot go unaccounted for. This goes to show that the ANC government does not care about the needs of residents.
The municipality’s misguided practice in this regard goes against the vision of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) programme which is to provide South Africans with at least a basic level of service through the provision of grant finance aimed at covering the capital cost of basic infrastructure for the poor.
Previously, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu recently conceded that communities are not kept up to date on projects that are supposed to address water challenges in their areas.
Therefore, the DA will continue to hold them accountable, we will not let the ANC administration do as they please with public funds while residents are deprived of basic services.