By Yiep Joseph
Residents of Juba City are dismayed as water suppliers continue to disregard Juba City Council’s (JCC) order to lower prices per barrel.
With many households reliant on mobile water tankers, complaints have surfaced that suppliers are ignoring the mandated price reduction.
Last week, the JCC announced a new price for a drum of water, cutting it from 5,000 South Sudanese pounds to SSP 2,500 within the city centre, and 3,000 in the outskirts.
According to the City Council, the decision was reached in consultation with urban water cooperation and water suppliers as well.
However, many residents reported that suppliers are still charging the original price of 5,000 SSP, in some areas the suppliers charge even SSP 6, 000.
George Chieng, a resident of Jebel, expressed in an interview with this outlet that the water tank drivers continue to sell a drum of SSP5,000 instead of SSP 2500 as ordered by the City Council.
“These water tank drivers still sell a drum of water at 5,000 SSP instead of SSP 2,500 as ordered by Juba City Council; they are telling us that JCC does not know what they are facing,” he said.
He appealed to the Juba City Council to negotiate with the drivers to ensure that the water suppliers adhere to the order.
“When we pay them (water suppliers) SSP2,500 per drum of water, they return the money and demand more, and these make us quarrel with them; I need City Council to talk to them,” he added.
He added that failure to advise the water suppliers to abide by the order would continue to increase misunderstandings with the residents.
In her part, Susan Mark called on the government to take over supply of water, citing there is high demand that encourages suppliers to act in their own ways.
“There is a need for our government to start and supply us with clean water since everyone needs water. The current suppliers, even after they were told to sell at SSP 2,500 are still selling at 6000 SSP,” she said.
Ali Abdallah, a resident of Hai Thoura, reiterated that the suppliers will ask you if one can pay SSP 5000 per drum before they pour water.
“In Hai Thoura, the local order of JCC is not executed, one drum is at SSP 5000, and if you want to pay lower than this, they will not come to your house, and you will stay without water,” he said.
He added that the high prices of water continue to face his restaurant business, citing that he opted to increase food prices to cover the cost.
Ali called on the government to intervene, citing that residents and businesses continue to suffer.
However, Ater Andrew, a resident of Gudele, reported that suppliers justify their prices by citing increased fuel costs due to the long distances they travel, leading them to sell a drum of water for 6,000 SSP.
“In my area, they are selling a drum at 6,000 SSP, claiming that the distance takes more fuel,” he said.
“The privately owned water tankers will tell you fuel is high, taxes, and extortion from traffic police and spare parts,” he added.
Speaking before the Assembly last week, Water Resources Minister Pal Mai illuminated that his ministry and the South Sudan Urban Water Corporation, which is within his docket, do not have the mandates to set the prices for commercial water tankers that deliver water in and around Juba.
He said that the water corporation sells a drum of water to the tanker drivers at SSP 500, but they then go and retail at their prices.