The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is opposed to the ANC-led Mbombela Local Municipality’s decision to keep charging monthly levies on private boreholes, while large parts of the Municipality still do not have reliable running water.
Residents are increasingly making use of boreholes due to the Municipality’s failure to ensure reliable water supply, but now they are being penalised with additional levies.
In a recent council resolution, the ANC-controlled Council rejected a motion by the Freedom Front Plus demanding that steep monthly levies on private boreholes be scrapped.
According to a recent municipal document, more than R16,5 million has been budgeted for water tankers for the period 1 October to 31 December 2026. This represents an average monthly expenditure of R5,51 million – amounting to more than R66 million annually.
The document lists 46 water tanker entries detailing how water is supplied to various wards and rural areas. Only three of these are municipal water tankers; contractors supply the rest.
These enormous expenses are racked up against the backdrop of the Municipality’s ongoing water crisis. Meanwhile, monthly levies are imposed on residents and businesses using private boreholes if those boreholes are connected to municipal infrastructure.
According to the available information, these levies amount to:
- R406,50 per month per borehole for residents;
- R877,12 per borehole for businesses; and
- up to between R6 688,15 and R8 953,20 for properties with more than one borehole.
The Freedom Front Plus insists that Mbombela drastically change its approach to water supply. The millions spent annually on transporting water should be spent on constructing permanent water infrastructure – including repairing and upgrading existing pipelines, developing local boreholes and expanding water networks to underserved communities.
The party also insists on absolute transparency concerning water supply contracts, tender processes, costs and contractors’ performance.
Communities’ concerns that the persistent use of water tankers has become a lucrative industry should be addressed through thorough investigations and transparent contract management.
The Freedom Front Plus’s solution is clear: Move away from depending on water tankers and invest municipal funds in sustainable water infrastructure. In addition, conduct capacity audits of Section 56 managers and lifestyle audits within supply chain management to ensure accountability and responsible spending.
Mbombela residents deserve to have access to reliable running water – not to remain indefinitely dependent on water tankers.
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