According to Madibeng spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala, the water-tanker contracts were terminated to reduce expenditure and allow the municipality to focus instead on developing sustainable, permanent water infrastructure in communities affected by water shortages.
“The municipality needs to reduce expenditure on avoidable line items in the budget, given the municipality’s financial constraints. The end goal is to save on water tankering and simultaneously provide sustainable infrastructure for water supply in communities,” he said.
While the municipality is working on developing the necessary water infrastructure in affected communities, it will utilise its own water tanker trucks to deliver water where needed.
Madibeng currently has 16 water tankers, of which eight are operational.
“The other eight are undergoing mechanical repairs and the target date for completion is Friday, 11 September,” he said.
