What the metro had to say about Germiston South Primary’s electricity

Sam Modiba, the spokesman for the metro commented on the issue of Germiston South Primary School’s electricity issue as follows:

“We have indeed receipted an amount of R11 048, on July 30, for Germiston South Primary School.

“If an account falls in arrears, an instruction is issued to disconnect.

“The contracted service providers are given a mandate to disconnect.

“If the client has already settled the account, that issue should be raised with the department who issued such an instruction.

“The contractor is not responsible for accepting proof of payment, because they are not metro administrators, but rather service providers.

“In the other case, the account also reflected arrears and was subsequently also disconnected against those arrears.

“There was no erroneous disconnection in as far as this property was concerned.

“The due arrears amount was settled on July 18.”

With regard to properties being disconnected when they are not in arrears, Modiba said: “The school’s account is in arrears and that is the reason the disconnection instruction was issued.

“There was no erroneous disconnection on the account.

“An instruction was issued and the power has been restored at the school.

“Clr Chris Swanepoel also called and raised his concerns due to the disconnection, and subsequent to that as well the power was restored.

“The instruction to restore power at the other address was also issued.”

With regard to the question: “Who goes out and does the disconnections and on whose authority?” Modiba said: “We have contracted service providers to disconnect the properties whose accounts are identified as being in arrears.

“Contractors work solely on the metro finance department’s mandate.

“It is difficult for the school to educate in the dark.

“The school administrators need to ensure that the municipal account is settled timeously monthly to avoid such instances from recurring in the future.

“Clients are advised to please pay their account seven days before the account’s due date – particularly clients utilising the third party payment channels.

“Also, clients can register and view their statements monthly at www.e-siyakhokha.co.za.”