South African Towns Owe Water Boards $1.2 Billion
- Towns owe 21.3 billion to 15 water boards across the country
- Debt is hampering ability to maintain water infrastructure
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South Africa’s 15 water boards are owed 21.3 billion rand ($1.2 billion) by municipalities and the debt threatens their financial viability, Business Day reported, citing Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.
The municipalities’ failure to pay has hampered the boards’ ability to maintain and operate essential water infrastructure, as the boards don’t receive direct funding from the government and rely on revenue from water sales, the Johannesburg-based newspaper said.