Kasrils set to 'name and shame'

2003-06-06 10:36

Cape Town - Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Ronnie Kasrils has threatened to "name and shame" municipalities that don't implement the government's free basic water scheme.

Opening debate on his department's budget in the National Assembly on Friday, he said increased local government budgets meant more people could now enjoy this benefit.

One of the government's key poverty objectives is the free provision of the first 6 000 litres of water each month to all households.

Kasrils said 26 million South Africans received free basic water.

"Many more people will enjoy free basic water from the July 1 start of local governments' financial year.

"Given the generous increase in the equitable share, I will name and shame municipalities that fail to implement free basic water," he said.

Kasrils reacted sharply to claims - made by certain academics before parliament's water affairs portfolio committee earlier this year - that water supplies to 10 million South Africans had been cut off.

'Revolutionaries' crying crisis

"In the three largest metros, in the first three months of this year, 53 400 households had been cut off, typically for a short time.

"If this is typical of all households with metered water connections, about 250 000 people would be cut off at any one time, including many who can pay, but `forgot'.

"I am not happy with this number, but it is a far cry from the crisis that the phoney revolutionaries have tried to portray," he said.

The department's policy was clear.

"Where there are problems, the municipalities may restrict flow to the free basic-water level, rather than cutting it off completely.

"But people who use more than their free basic allowance have to pay, and if they don't they will face restrictions," said Kasrils.

- SAPA