By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA -Maluti-A-Phofung (MAP) Local Municipality has received a significant boost with an R85 million donation from the Department of Water and Sanitation for the installation of water meters, as announced by Municipal Manager Advocate Mzwakhe Motsoahae Mofokeng.
This funding aims to enhance revenue collection by targeting high-consumption users, including large factories in Harrismith.
The announcement coincided with the presentation of the draft review budget for the 2025/2026 financial year by Executive Mayor Malekula Melato during a council meeting on Monday, March 31, 2025.
However, the draft budget faced criticism from several councillors, who labelled it a “copy and paste” document riddled with discrepancies. Concerns were raised about its failure to accurately reflect community needs or align with the current Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
Council Speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini echoed these sentiments, highlighting the exclusion of inputs from traditional leaders submitted during IDP sessions.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) pointed out that the draft neglected critical municipal challenges such as electricity, water, and sanitation. Similarly, MAP16 expressed concern over the unclear delineation of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) projects.
In response, Mayor Melato emphasized that the document is a draft and assured that the feedback from council members would be considered in the revised version. She expressed confidence in achieving higher revenue collection in the upcoming financial year, attributing this optimism to the implementation of by-laws.
Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality executive mayor Malekula Melato.
Addressing allegations about the omission of MIG projects, Melato clarified that the draft includes provisions for completing unfinished projects from the previous financial year.
She also announced plans to construct 13 footbridges in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and provincial departments of community safety, roads, and transport. These bridges are intended to provide crucial links for residents to access clinics, economic centres, and schools.
Municipal Manager Mofokeng reiterated the municipality’s commitment to improving revenue collection, particularly through the installation of water meters. He projected that the water crisis in QwaQwa would be resolved by the end of April this year.
