Question NW499 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
11 March 2022 - NW499
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether her department owes any outstanding monies to the Port St Johns Local Municipality; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) amount is owed, (b) periods over which the monies are owed, (c) measures are in place to address the historical debt and (d) measures are in place to ensure that current payments are kept up to date?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
I have been informed by the Department that in terms of the Department’s books no money is owed to the Port St Johns Municipality.
As at 31st January 2022, the age analysis obtained from the Port St Johns Municipality (PSJ) reflected an outstanding amount of R10 million compromising mostly of historical debt that is broken down as follows:
|
NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS MUNICIPAL SERVICES, RATES & TAXES DEBT AS AT 31 January 2022 |
||||||
|
Municipalities |
Opening Balances as at 01 April 2021 |
Billing Rates and Services: 01 April 2021 to Jan 2022 |
Payments made since 01 April 2021 to 31 January 2022 |
Total Debt After Payment |
Custody/Ownership Dispute Under Investigation for Verification by Department |
Amount Disputed By the Department due to non-allocation of payments |
|
PSJ |
10 312 579 |
83 806 |
946 442 |
9 449 943 |
2 521 886 |
6 928 057 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
10 312 579 |
83 806 |
946 442 |
9 449 943 |
2 521 886 |
6 928 057 |
The total amount billed and invoiced by the municipality in the current year (2021/22) amounts to R83 806.00. The payments made since April 2021 to Jan 2022 amounts to R946 442. The amount paid includes the invoices emanating from the opening balance (1 April 2021).
The amount in dispute amounts to R9.4 million. The Department has arranged for a working session from the 7th March 2022 until the 11th March 2022 to resolve the disputed amount.
The Department remains committed and continues to settle all valid invoices within 30 days.