The City of Tshwane has begun replacing faulty prepaid water meters in Olievenhoutbosch, Region 4, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve water service delivery and ensure stable municipal revenue. The project marks a critical step in restoring efficiency after years of system failures that caused financial and operational setbacks.
In the early 2000s, the city installed approximately 11 200 prepaid water meters in Olievenhoutbosch as part of a pilot project. The initiative aimed to promote responsible water consumption, reduce waste, and ensure that residents pay only for the water they actually use.
However, many of the devices began to fail over time due to faulty batteries, defective electronics, and incidents of vandalism. These problems led to substantial water losses and a decline in revenue.
Coalition in Tshwane prioritises stable water management
The city’s multiparty coalition government, through its mayoral committee, has resolved to replace all faulty prepaid meters with conventional ones. Officials say reliable billing is essential to maintain basic services, sustain infrastructure, and support long-term water management.
“Reliable revenue from water services is critical to the City’s ability to provide essential services, maintain infrastructure, and invest in sustainable water management systems,” the city said in a statement.
According to the city, installation work has already started in Ward 106. The process will begin with the replacement and testing of ten meters before extending to all affected households. Once the first batch is successfully commissioned, normal tariff billing, as improved by the council, will resume.
Residents urged to cooperate with officials
The City of Tshwane emphasised that the project would roll out in phases to ensure strict quality control and minimise inconvenience. Councillor Frans Bosheilo, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation, appealed to residents for support during this transition.
Bosheilo urged residents to exercise patience and cooperate with city officials during this process, assuring them that the initiative would enhance reliability and fairness in water distribution.
