The City of Johannesburg disputes claims made by the applicants in a case - relating the access to basic water for residents of Phiri, Soweto – currently being heard in the Johannesburg High Court.

The applicants claim that the installation of prepaid meters in Phiri is both illegal and unconstitutional and it is tantamount to discrimination against poor black people.

The City wishes to state categorically that all its programmes are aimed at improving the quality of lives of all the citizens with the emphasis being on the poor. As part of the City's commitment to the poor a comprehensive Social package was implemented. The R355m social package announced by the Executive Mayor on May 30, 2002 includes:

• 6kl of water free to all
• 50kw of electricity free to all
• No assessment rates charged on properties valued less than R20 001
• Free sanitation and refuse removal to particular vulnerable groups who register.

In addition, during the past few years we have seen amongst others:

• The introduction of the Reathusa campaign to assist residents who are willing to pay for municipal services but are sometimes unable to meet their financial commitments.
• We stepped up our social relief programmes by providing assistance in the form of food, shelter, clothes, blankets and social burials for qualifying households. We also increased our Free Basic Water from 6kl to 10 kl per household per month for registered indigents as well as additional 4kl of water every year to be utilized in case of emergencies.
• We stepped up our women's safety programme in partnerships with NGOs and through workshops to support the victims of abuse and crime.
• We made substantial progress to improve access for the aged and the disabled to City buildings and facilities. Together with the private health sector we ran wellness. campaigns for senior citizens focusing on issues such as healthy lifestyles, eye care, diabetes and arthritis.

 The Gcin'amanzi pilot project in Phiri has enabled us to reduce unaccounted for water from over 40% when it was introduced in 2001 to 32% this year and a projected 29% by 2008. The results achieved to date are better than anticipated. Prior to the intervention the monthly water consumption per property in Soweto was 66 kilolitres per stand due to ageing infrastructure. Monthly water consumption per property in areas where the project has been undertaken has dropped to an average on 11 kilolitres per property, representing a percentage reduction in water demand of 85%.

Payment levels in certain areas of Soweto are such that 55% of the households where meters have been installed consume less than their free basic water allocation and pay nothing for water services. The remaining 45% pay an average of R48.24 per month per household for water services, compared to R157.00 per month that was previously charged to their individual accounts on deemed consumption.

Furthermore, Joburg Water was undertaking feasibility studies in Diepsloot, Alexander and Ivory Park to extend the operation to one of these areas. In addition, water meters have been installed in the new developments at Lehae, Cosmo City, Pennyville and Stratford.

In addition the city introduced information systems to track the delivery of services against existing backlogs and to provide early warning signals where delivery is lagging behind.

The City is confident that it is taking reasonable measures within its available resources to improve the quality of live of our people and will endeavour to progressively improve the service delivery.

For more information:

Nthatisi Modingoane
Media Liaison Officer
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
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