Cash-strapped Tshwane pays R8m a month for Hammanskraal water tankers - report
A tragedy for the people of Hammanskraal has turned out to be a profitable opportunity for those in the water tanker business.
A man walks on A man walks on top of a municipal tank truck to fill it with water in Hammanskraal on May 23, 2023. Picture: AFP/Michele Spatari top of a municipal tank truck to fill it with water in Hammanskraal on May 23, 2023. Picture: AFP/Michele Spatari
JOHANNESBURG - Undrinkable tap water in Hammanskraal has led to the City of Tshwane spending over R8 million a month on water tankers in the area.
It has been over a year since a cholera outbreak hit the Pretoria north town, killing 31 people.
Yet to this day, water coming out of the taps of Hammanskraal residents is still not safe to drink.
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Meanwhile, a tragedy for the people of Hammanskraal has turned out to be a profitable opportunity for people in the water tanker business.
A report recently tabled to the Tshwane council found the capital city deployed 44 water tankers to the area at a whopping R8.5 million a month.
The municipality has another 10 water tankers deployed to other areas in the supply line of the problematic Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment plant.
These cost the city R2 million a month.
The report said all the water tankers were privately owned.
The metro is considering purchasing its own water tankers to decrease costs.
However, it faces budgetary constraints, coupled with the need to ensure the people of Hammanskraal have healthy drinking water every day.