Mokonyane’s bail-out of Nooitgedacht won’t solve NMB water crisis

26 May 2015

Of a total R450 million needed for the Nooitgedacht Low Level Water Scheme, National Government can only muster R120 million - just a quarter of what is needed and simply a drop in the ocean for a city facing a water crisis. 

Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s bail-out of the Nooitgedacht dam project is small comfort given that the promised completion date is as far away as 2018. It is too little, too late.

Nooitgedacht has been an imperative for NMB for over 7 years, yet the Metro has stalled the project, squandered funds, blamed national government, overseen massive water losses, and has sat on its hands helplessly.

Because of these delays, water-shedding is now an immediate reality in Nelson Mandela Bay. Metro-wide water restrictions tabled in March are still a very real possibility, which ANC councillors in NMB can vote for at any time.

Cutting water to residents is the solution that the ANC has chosen rather than fixing broken infrastructure. Water losses in Nelson Mandela Bay are the highest in any Metro in South Africa. This is pure negligence by the Metro and has caused the current water crisis.

Over 33% of the Metro’s water is lost due to unmaintained, broken pipes and pumps. In contrast, where the DA governs in Cape Town, we have managed water losses down to just over 12%.

Until NMB’s water network is deliberately overhauled and upgraded, water losses will continue to deepen the crisis, no matter what incremental donations Minister Mokonyane makes to Nooitgedacht.

This is exemplified by the leaking Churchill main water pipeline, on which the DA uncovered and reported a massive water leak on 12 May 2015, and returned today to find that the leak is unrepaired and has worstened. 

Overall, Nelson Mandela Bay wastes R2,1 billion annually, through corruption, mismanagement, irregular expenditure and failures of financial control. This wasted R2,1 billion could have paid for 4½ Nooitgedachts.

Finances to fund Nooitgedacht have been squandered and a bail-out from the top speaks to the failure of the ANC locally.

If NMB was properly governed, with proper financial controls, Nooitgedacht would have been paid for years ago. Instead, today, the Metro relies on hand-outs from National Government.

Looming water restrictions may be the ANC’s next trick to stem this crisis, but the DA will not be voting for oppressive water limitations. This Metro should instead vote in an urgent turn-around plan for water infrastructure in the Metro, to immediately reduce water losses, and stem the crisis.

The DA is set on winning Nelson Mandela Bay in the 2016 elections, to bring good governance to the Bay.

Statement issued by Athol Trollip, DA Mayoral Candidate: Nelson Mandela Bay, May 26 2015