Underperforming municipalities vow to tackle revenue leaks and water crimes

By Thapelo Molefe

Experts at the Water and Sanitation Indaba, held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, laid bare challenges facing municipalities, including ineffective grant utilisation leading to funds being returned to the National Treasury due to procurement and planning delays.

They said municipalities struggle to generate sustainable revenue due to issues such as illegal water connections, theft, and inadequate billing systems.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, one of the speakers at the water indaba, also pointed out these concerns, warning about the shrinking municipal revenue base caused by illegal activities like water theft from dams and reservoirs.

“People are taking water from the dams illegally, from the reservoirs illegally, doing illegal coalitions,” said Mahlobo.

The issue of illegal water sales by rogue operators was a major concern.

Delegates also emphasised the urgency of accurate metering and billing systems to ensure financial stability.

Proposed solutions included integrating billing systems