Thursday, June 8, 2006

Western Cape can’t keep it’s house/ing in order

The Western Cape department of local government and housing in Cape Town has had its electricity and water supply cut by the city council. The department is now running on emergency power.

The City says the department won’t be reconnected until the Province pays it R700 000 owing by this department alone. The city says it’s owed a total of R3.2 billion in outstanding water and lights, and has now started a name and shame campaign to recover this debt.

The City said it followed standard protocol, gave the Department repeated notification and a 48-hour final warning. It says it cut the water and electricity supply as a last resort.

Officials dispute amounts
Lynne Brown, the Western Cape finance minister,disputes the amount owed to the Cape Town Unicity for unpaid electricity, rates and water bills. Brown says the Provincial Government owes the Cape Town Unicity R6 million, while the City says the figure is R80 million. Brown’s response follows the city’s cutting of electricity and water to the provincial department of Local Government and Housing.

The City says this department owes it R700 000. Brown says it’s unfortunate that the municipality did not deal with the Provincial Cabinet about the outstanding debt or within inter-governmental structures. SABC

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