A growing number of Ermelo and Msukaligwa residents say their electricity supply has been cut off despite being fully up to date with their municipal accounts.

According to Silvija Breytenbach, community activist, many people have complained to her that the disconnections are not related to non-payment, but rather to the municipality’s drive to replace conventional electricity meters with prepaid units.

Breytenbach alleges that residents are not given formal appointments for installations, leaving households caught off guard when technicians arrive without warning.

“In several cases, residents are at work, not home, or unable to grant access — and their electricity subsequently gets disconnected,” she claims.

No scheduled appointments, and mounting safety concerns

During the TID rollover project in 2023–2024, technicians were easily identifiable in branded attire with visible identification tags.

This time, however, Breytenbach says installers are arriving without prior notice, which has left many residents feeling uncertain about allowing anyone onto their property.

She says this lack of communication creates understandable hesitation, as residents cannot always verify on the spot whether the person requesting access is legitimately contracted by the municipality.

ALSO READ: Msukaligwa calls for strict enforcement of by-laws with prepaid meter upgrades

“Anyone can arrive and say they’re here to install a meter,” Breytenbach told the Highvelder.

Token system frequently offline

The municipality has previously advised that prepaid electricity tokens can be purchased at various outlets for residents who do not use internet banking.

However, Breytenbach says residents regularly complain that these outlets experience system outages, leaving them unable to buy electricity even when they try to pay.

Financial pressure due to mid-month installations

Breytenbach says residents who previously paid monthly for electricity have told her they received no warning that their conventional meters would be replaced.

Installations taking place mid-month leave some households unable to immediately purchase enough prepaid electricity to last the remainder of the month.

She says several pensioners and low-income households reported that they simply did not have spare funds available at the time of installation.

Legal questions over the disconnections

Breytenbach says residents’ electricity is being cut off not for non-payment but purely because they have not yet upgraded their meters, in some cases because they were not home during attempted installations.

“The municipality is using scare tactics.” They cut off people’s electricity, and when residents complain or try to negotiate, they’re told the electricians will return the next morning to install the new meter — effectively forcing the upgrade.”

Silvija Breytenbach says the decision was not gazetted, raising questions about the legality of disconnecting fully paid-up customers who still have conventional meters.

Breytenbach added that when a new prepaid meter is installed, residents initially receive only five units of electricity.

They must then visit the municipality to have their meter registered before they can purchase tokens from local outlets.

However, some residents are unable to buy electricity even after registration because their meters have not yet been mapped, forcing them to return to the municipality for further assistance.

Highvelder requests clarification from municipality

The Highvelder has sent an official enquiry to municipal spokesperson, Mandla Zwane, after the online publication asking for clarity on:

• Why there is no structured appointment system for installations

• What measures ensure technicians are identifiable and residents safe

• How the municipality plans to assist residents affected by offline token systems

• Whether residents should receive financial notice before conversions

• The legal and regulatory basis for disconnecting paying customers who have not yet upgraded.

A municipal response is awaited and will be published once received.