Dear Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, the recent item refers:
Solutions for municipal debt to water boards; with Water & COGTA Ministers
Water and Sanitation
19 November 2024

From Dr Sean Phillips: his presentation painted a stark picture of looming insolvency, driven by municipal debt, systemic governance failures, and persistent political interference.

Please, can all water services institutions, the DWS as Regulator and COGTA: consider:
1. That all consumers that consume above approved allocations (thus incl. registered indigents with free basic water allocations), be a) billed and b) revenue recovered from, by the responsible water services institution. If non-payment, then there are consequences.
2. That water services providers address their Non-Revenue Water (be it physical or financial-metering & billing related). Currently paying consumers pay for wasted potable water (energy costs, chemical costs, labour costs), included.

Then, A) there will be an onus on the water services provider to provide a quality service as expected by the paying consumer; B) there will be responsible water use by the paying consumer.

Please - stop the political interference into water services institutions and the ripple effect, politiking in communities to promise and provide unlimited free potable water! At the expense of everyone.