Metro reform aims to end service delays and disruptions
This comes after the metro successfully met National Treasury's July 1 deadline to transition its electricity, water, and sanitation services into ring-fenced business units.
Two dedicated business units have now been established:
– Energy and Electricity Business Unit, which will focus on ensuring a stable power supply and infrastructure upgrades, and
– Water and Sanitation Business Unit, which will work on improving water quality, reducing leaks, and enhancing wastewater management.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba stated that this brings the Tshwane metro into compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulations.
'This marks a significant step toward financial sustainability, improved governance, and enhanced service delivery for residents and businesses,' he stated.
He explained that the reform eliminates the metro's previous dual service model, which operated at both central and regional levels, and replaces it with a single, centralised operational structure.
Bokaba noted that the new structure ensures that money collected from these services is reinvested directly into infrastructure and maintenance to enhance the reliability and lifespan of critical service assets.
'If Tshwane did not implement these reforms, we risked forfeiting the much-needed National Treasury grant funding to provide services to our communities.
For us, it's not just a matter of compliance with National Treasury's requirements but also about continuing to benefit from the National Treasury's incentive scheme,' he said.
He emphasised that the successful implementation of the reform now safeguards the metro's access to this funding, which is vital for sustaining and expanding service delivery across the metro.
As a result, the Tshwane metro can now focus on using these funds for long-term infrastructure investment, improved service delivery, and reduced service disruptions.
Bokaba added that the transformation was not rushed but involved consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, labour unions, and industry players.
'There were no job losses or service disruptions, and all employees were seamlessly transferred. The metro also incorporated public feedback on tariffs and service standards,' he continued.
'From July 1, residents can expect more reliable electricity and water supply, faster response times for service requests, clearer and more cost-reflective billing, and long-term infrastructure investment,' he concluded.
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