The Constitutional Court’s dismissal of the challenges to the introduction and implementation of the prepaid water meters is unsatisfactory.

The Constitutional Court decided on Thursday that Johannesburg prepaid water meters are not illegal, as opponents of the devices have claimed.

Before the installation of prepaid meters in Phiri, Soweto, the City of Jo’burg was making huge losses on water payments, a court heard on Wednesday.

Residents of Phiri in Soweto are required to undergo the indignity of a means test just to have access to free water.