Founder and National chairperson of Soil of Africa Bongani Ramontja photo by Dimakatso Modipa
By Bongani Ramontja
Soil of Africa civic movements Chairperson
The Soil of Africa Civic Movement (SOA) notes with deep concern and disappointment the recent statement issued by the City of Tshwane, attempting to justify its reckless and ballooning expenditure on water tankers, which has skyrocketed from R140 million to R777 million.
While the City attributes this escalation to operational disruptions, Rand Water shutdowns, and maintenance events, the figures, procurement practices, and financial controls remain deeply questionable.
This represents not just poor planning but a systemic failure of governance and accountability within the City’s leadership.
1. The Facts Behind the Figures
According to the City, R441.1 million of its expenditure in 2024/25 was “verified,” linked to specific maintenance shutdowns and emergency operations.
However, the remaining R336 million remains unexplained, with no clarity on the procurement process, supplier names, or contractual terms.
There is no public record of:
The cost per litre of delivered water.
The areas serviced and daily volumes distributed.
The companies contracted, their ownership, or black economic empowerment status.
The Soil of Africa Civic Movement views this as a violation of transparency principles enshrined in the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and Municipal Systems Act (MSA) — both of which require open procurement and accountability for public funds.
2. Evidence of Maladministration and Conflict of Interest
Community reports and internal assessments suggest that some tanker contractors are linked to councillors, MMCs, and municipal officials, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns.
This paints a troubling picture of self-enrichment and political patronage, where emergency procurement is used as a channel for corruption.
While the City calls this “improved efficiency,” communities continue to queue for hours for water proof that the system is designed to fail ordinary citizens while enriching a few connected individuals.
3. Our Position and Demands
The Soil of Africa Civic Movement demands a comprehensive forensic investigation into the City’s water tanker operations, focusing on:
Full audit of all tanker contracts, payments, and suppliers since 2022.
Disclosure of the cost-per-litre and total volumes delivered per region.
Publication of the names and ownership of all contracted service providers.
Review of emergency procurement to verify adherence to legal standards.
Progress report on delayed infrastructure projects like Pienaarspoort Extensions 22 and 25.
We also demand accountability from senior officials, including the City Manager and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Utility Services, for failing to prevent financial irregularities and breaching their fiduciary duties.
4. Next Steps
SOA will formally escalate this matter to:
National Treasury – to investigate possible irregular and wasteful expenditure.
Gauteng Provincial Government (COGTA) – to initiate a Section 139 intervention into governance failures.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) – to investigate fraud, corruption, and conflict of interest among officials and service providers.
We will also petition for the City of Tshwane to be placed under administration, as the current leadership has demonstrated persistent maladministration and fiscal recklessness.
5. The City’s Own Admissions
Even in its official statement, the City admits to:
Commissioning an independent forensic investigation to address potential misconduct.
Hydrant metering and monitoring to track extraction.
Expansion of City-owned tankers to reduce outsourcing costs.
Collaboration with the State Security Agency to protect water infrastructure.
Blended finance applications with National Treasury for infrastructure renewal.
While these may appear as reform efforts, they only came after public pressure and exposure, proving that oversight by civic movements like Soil of Africa is essential to hold the City accountable.
6. A Call for True Transparency
The people of Tshwane deserve reliable water, not excuses.
They deserve transparency, not manipulated figures.
They deserve development, not corruption disguised as service delivery.
If there is no transparency, there can be no trust.
If there is no accountability, there will be no stability.
The Soil of Africa Civic Movement remains resolute in demanding justice for all communities and will continue to expose and confront all forms of corruption, maladministration, and abuse of public funds.
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