EWSC REVENUES UP 4.65%

MBABANE – Local corporations continue to show signs of growth despite the challenges set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic and the June/July unrest of last year.

One of those corporations is the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) which recorded a growth of 4.65 per cent in their annual revenues. The revenues were E397 716 352 in 2020 and increased to E417 142 484 in the year under review. This was mentioned by EWSC in their annual report. EWSC said water, sewer and basic charges contributed exponentially to the growth of the corporation revenues, as well as profit. They said the charges were inquired by both residential and commercial properties. The ESWC report said they supply water for both commercial and residential customers and provide sewage disposal services to the same. “Revenue from water and sewer services is recognised, based on the usage of water by customers and basic charges are charged per customer, with an active connection without regard to usage on a monthly basis,” said EWSC report.

The corporation also mentioned that, the measurement of revenue was determined by the water and sewer usage charges, which were charged per gazetted rates on the usage of customers. They said basic charges were also based on a flat rate gazetted charge per type of connection and the revenue is majored at the value receivable from the customers at time of billing. “Customers are charged a fee from new connections and reconnections to receive water and sewer services from the corporation,’’  mentions EWSC. They said they then recognised revenue when the connection fee is payable by the customer after the service is rendered. Water charges stood at E269 065 634 while Sewer charges were E65 827 250. Penalties also contributed to the growth of the revenue, EWSC said they increase by over E100 000 in the period under review and they were charged to customers who have had their water and sewer services disconnected.

disconnection

“The charge is recognised when the customer pays the penalty for disconnection,” added EWSC. They also mentioned that trade effluent charges also contributed to the growth of revenue despite the fact that commercial properties were not able to trade accordingly, at the peek of COVID-19 and the unrest. EWSC said trade effluent disposal services are offered to their commercial industrial customers that produce liquid waste from their process. They said the charges are billed to customers based on the amount of effluent disposed and the payments are recognised when the service is rendered based on volumes of trade affluent disposed. EWSC Managing Director (MD) Jabulile Mashwama said the year under review had been the most challenging faced by the corporation.

While the economy was on the verge of recovery, disasters struck in the form of the pandemics and the unrest. The MD said this disrupted the implementation of their strategic plan and distorted annual working plans and budgets. “The country’s fiscal position slowed down project implementation and the dull business and economic climate continued to weigh heavily against the errands,” she said. Mashwama also mentioned that some capital projects had to be stalled and some deferred, leading to challenges of delivering on the strategic plan objectives as well as national and international targets. Worth mentioning, EWSC made a profit of E61.8 million in the period under review compared to the E52.8 million made in 2020.

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