Emfuleni Local Municipality settles R2.6 million debt

JOHANNESBURG - The Emfuleni Local Municipality said its employees can now access their municipal offices after its landlord had shut the building over unpaid rent.

The municipality has confirmed that it has settled its R2.6 million debt to its landlord.

The embattled municipality had not paid its rent in two months, leaving employees unable to do their work and residents without access to municipal services.

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Rand Water had attached the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s bank accounts due to an unpaid debt of R1.7 billion.

This meant the municipality could not pay rent for one of its offices, prompting the landlord to lock the building.

Emfuleni spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni said the municipality has solved the issue.

"We have paid the money, and we are in our offices as we speak. Our account was attached by Rand Water, and that’s why we couldn’t transact on our accounts, including paying our rent."

He further said the dispute with the bulk water supplier has now been resolved.

“As part of exercising their credit control, they decided to attach the municipal bank accounts. There were various discussions whereby an agreement was reached with Rand Water. We were able to pay about R660 Billion to Rand Water.”

There have been calls for the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Department to dissolve the Emfuleni municipal council.

Last year, Eskom froze the embattled municipality’s bank accounts over an outstanding R8 billion debt.

The municipality could not pay its employees because it could not access its money.