ERMELO – Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s (MLM) technicians, on September 15, disconnected the electricity of the top 30 homes/businesses in town that fail to pay their accounts.

MLM executive major, Shelly Nkosi, municipal manager, Maqhawe Kunene and local councillors joined in on the operation which left some residences and businesses in the dark.

Mandla Zwane, the spokesman for MLM, claims these businesses — which include guesthouses, well-known franchises, and some residential areas — owe the municipality a total of R29m in debt, with individual debts ranging from R400 000 to R3m.

He continued by saying the municipality has informed all customers of its intention to disconnect, suspend, restrict, or terminate municipal services for those who use post-paid electricity.

Additionally, the municipality has informed all disconnected customers that they must pay at least half of the outstanding balance and enter into a payment arrangement before being reconnected.

“No one, other than a person specifically authorized thereto by the service provider in writing, shall seek to reconnect, cause or permit to be reconnected to the supply mains or service connection any electrical installation or installations that have been disconnected by the service provider.”

However, a local businessman who rented space in one of the disconnected buildings, maintained that his monthly rent and municipal accounts are current and that he had nothing to do with the building’s owner’s debt to the municipality.

He told the newspaper that municipal technicians came into his shop, asked for the keys to have a look at the electricity box and shortly after handing it over, their electricity were disconnected.

Read the complete article in Highvelder newspaper.