Buffalo City Metro officials and councillors from across the political spectrum have expressed their shock and sadness at the slaying of infrastructure and engineering services head Nceba Ncunyana.
Water meters have become a hot commodity in the Buffalo City Metro, with theft of the devices ramping up across the municipality. More than 250 meters have been stolen this year and this number increases by the day. A BCM councillor, who serves on the city’s infrastructure committee, estimates each meter could cost the metro up to R23,000.
Buffalo City’s main water treatment works, responsible for providing safe, clean water to about 80% of the metro’s residents, needs urgent intervention to keep the water flowing. The metro has confirmed that it is preparing to fork out R9m to prop up the Umzonyana water treatment works’ ageing infrastructure as an interim measure to ensure communities receive adequate supplies.
The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) will strike its customers with a massive electricity tariff hike of 14.59% in the 2021/22 financial year, which is twice the national inflation rate. This was announced during a special council meeting on Monday, a decision that prompted opposition parties to vote against the passing of the municipal budget.