The Umngeni-Uthukela water board, the bulk water supplier in KwaZulu-Natal, has revealed that municipalities in the province owe it R2.4 billion in unpaid invoices. 

Topping the list of bad payers are King Cetshwayo District Municipality (IFP run) UThukela District Municipality (IFP run), Ugu District Municipality (ANC-run) and the Msunduzi Local Municipality (ANC run).

The information was disclosed by Thami Mkhwanazi, the chief financial officer (CFO) of the water board during the tabling of the 2023-2024 financial results in Durban earlier today, February 12.

“Of that R2.4 billion, I don’t wanna call them culprits, the customers that are sitting with overdue bills is the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, Uthukela District Municipality, Ugu District Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality.

“So those are the four major customers that are contributing to the R2.4 billion. We do have others that have bills that are outstanding, but those are the major contributors,” Mkhwanaz said. 

Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi defended the decision for the water board to propose a 13.5 percent tariff increase in bulk water supplies to municipalities despite the fact that they are making huge profits every year. 

Mkhwanazi said they are classified as a business entity of the government that gets no funding from the state. Instead, they have to generate their own revenue to keep going. 

He added that their proposed tariffs look at the costs of chemicals, electricity and other inputs before they are determined.