Rehoboth moves to curb illegal water tokens
The Rehoboth Town Council is considering measures to curb the unauthorised issuing and distribution of water tokens, amid concerns that the practice could result in water losses and reduce municipal revenue. The council has raised concerns that some standpipes and tokens could be manipulated to provide water without proper payment, potentially resulting in revenue losses for the municipality.
As part of its response, the council plans to conduct a community sensitisation campaign to encourage residents to report suspected cases of unauthorised token issuing and distribution. The council is also considering an incentive or reward mechanism for information that directly leads to the recovery of unlawfully issued tokens, subject to applicable council policies and procedures. The proposed measures are aimed at involving residents in efforts to protect the municipality's prepaid water system and prevent losses.
The council further recommended that its accountant liaise with the relevant system team to determine whether system-generated reports could be used to identify unusual or potentially irregular token transactions and discrepancies. The move comes as the council reviews the management of standpipes and prepaid water services in Rehoboth. The council has also recommended that a monthly standpipe-status report be maintained to monitor repairs and ensure that non-operational standpipes are followed up until they are restored. The municipality has stressed that water in Rehoboth is supplied through a prepaid system, meaning that water entering the town is paid for in advance.
Council members have warned that the misuse of standpipes and tokens undermines this system and can contribute to water losses. The council has therefore called on residents to report suspected abuse and to help safeguard municipal water infrastructure and revenue.
