MEDIA STATEMENT
TAU - SA NORTH
PIETERSBURG REGIONAL OFFICE
DATE: 12 MARCH 2006
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Mr. Dries Joubert, chairperson of TAU SA North, said that the latest unrealistic increases in the water use charges and the water resource management charges are outrageous.
Mr. Stephen Hoffman, Chairperson of the Water Committee of TAU SA North, expressed his disbelieve in the almost pathetic reasons given for the increase in tariffs. Reasons such as:
· The tariff calculations were based on zero based budgets and there was a significant increase on employment cost due to under estimations in previous years budgets.
· Capital values of infrastructure were verified and adjusted where necessary.
Mr. Hoffman said it is beyond the ability of any sane person to use such bizarre reasons. The facts are that these schemes were working well under the old government. This government chose to destroy capacity with its totally insane unworkable policies. It seems as if incompetent officials with none experience is using citizens as some kind of cash machine to cover up their own incompetence and lack of basic understanding of a civilized, democratic state. He said if officials would consult with consumers, such utter nonsense could have been prevented.
Mr. Hoffman said the increase for domestic and industrial use is 10%. Way over the inflation limit. But the increase on agricultural water use is 50% ! He said it is laughable. No sane government in the world will increase tariffs with 50%. He said no reasons were provided why the so called increase differs between industrial and agricultural water use. The increase in the Albasini dam canal system is 50.08%; the Nzhelele River Canal system is 50.00%. It seems clear that the current government thinks it has some kind of unchallenged mandate to increase tariffs without the boundaries of just administrative procedures. No government is fixed in stone. The creation of constitutional obedient structures to regulate the use of water, becomes a viable option.
Mr. Hoffman said that there is no way in which these crazy tariffs will be paid. He said letters of objection and concern will be written to various politicians and other institutions.
Mr. Joubert said that TAU SA North will recommend to their members to use all legal ways to object to these increases. He said the formation of constitutional obedient structures and systems becomes more and more important every day. No normal person can function in such an insane system. He called on all members to object against these tariff increases.
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Mnr F du Toit - Chairperson: Media