By: Staff Reporter 

The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has refuted claims made by the Democratic Alliance in Bushbuckridge that it purchased a non-functional water tank worth 42 Million.

This after the DA released a statement calling on the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Manager, Jasper Ngobeni to institute an investigation into the water storage tank that was purchased in 2015. 

In a press statement, the DA said the former manager for Technical Services at the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality , Emmanuel Makhavhu, stated that the water tank is dry because of illegal connections on the main line. 

Futhermore the DA announced that an investigation conducted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) revealed that the municipality purchased the water tank with the intention to service the community of Xanthia in 2015. However, despite spending millions on this steel reservoir, it did not service the community.  

In response to these allegations, the Municipality provided clarity on the matter by stating that the water reservoir in question was not bought by the municipality however it was donated to them by the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works. 

The Municipality further added that it did not spend a cent in the procurement of the storage tank and that the DA should verify information before it goes to the public. 

In conclusion, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality spokesperson, Fhumulani Thovhakale told this publication that the entity has appointed a contractor to replace pipes that were tampered with due to illegal connections at the reservoir and that the project should be completed by the end of this month.