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Capricorn District Municipality welcomes a court interdict against illegal reconnection of water in Lebowakgomo.
The order was granted by Limpopo Division of Pretoria High Court in October 2015 after SANCO acted illegally when they amongst other things – incited residents in Lebowakgomo Zone A to stop paying their municipal water accounts; leading a campaign of protests intimidating and threatening municipal employees with violence and unlawfully reconnecting water supply after CDM disconnected it in respect of arrears. The Municipality, can, in its debt collection efforts, discontinue water services on failure to pay charges timeously and it is illegal for anyone to counter this legislated endeavour and reconnect water supply.
The campaign was led by Mr Tlabjane, who is the chairperson of SANCO. Known for his rebellious and recalcitrant actions purporting to represent the community, Tlabjane has turned water provision challenges – imagined or actual, into his personal battle. In 2014, he lost a court bid to force the Municipality to charge the water consumers in Lebowakgomo to pay a flat-rate. The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Capricorn District Municipality and Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality and found that the High Court erred in the ruling that water consumers pay flat-rate as such the court order offended the doctrine of separation of powers.
Adamant to destabilise smooth supply of water in Lebowakgomo, Mr Tlabjane recently went on a campaign of non-payment of services and rejected CDM’s mature approach to resolve the matter amicably, hence CDM went to court for interdictory relief as there was no other alternative remedy.
This was in principle that if Tlebjane’s actions were left unchallenged, he would inspire anarchy in the community, entrench and promote a culture of non-payment of services, of violence and of financial loss to the Municipality. The interdict is therefore in the best interest of both the Municipality and Mr Tlabjane as the Municipality will continue to comply with various pieces of legislation in collecting revenue from water while Mr Tlabjane becomes a law-abiding citizen.
In welcoming the interdict, Executive Mayor Gilbert Kganyago said “water is the primary revenue stream for Capricorn District Municipality, and all avenues can be exhausted to enhance the overall financial viability of the district; and this should be done without hindrance. CDM therefore welcomes the interdict”, he said.
Mr Molatelo Tlabjane can be contacted for comment on 073 374 1786; and for CDM, contact Moffat Senyatsi at 082 417 2759.
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MOFFAT SENYATSI
MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER
CAPRICORN DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
+27 82 417 2759/ +27 15 294 1245
BBM 2ACB4A1A – Twitter @Mo_Cybers
