ERMELO – Msukaligwa Service Delivery Watch has lodged formal complaints with the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Public Protector over rotational load reduction implemented across the municipal area.

The complaint was submitted by community advocates Lourens de Beer, Sonicha Korczynski and Silvija Breytenbach on behalf of Msukaligwa Service Delivery Watch, a community advocacy group that has been monitoring service delivery concerns and engaging municipal management and oversight bodies.

The group argues that the electricity interruptions are the result of municipal failures rather than unavoidable electricity supply constraints.

It says financial mismanagement, ageing infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, cable theft and illegal electricity connections have contributed to the situation.

The complaint also raises concerns about electricity revenue management, deteriorating substations, allegations that municipal employees may have facilitated illegal connections, and the inclusion of district municipal offices and a hospital on published load reduction schedules.

The group has requested investigations into governance, infrastructure maintenance and electricity management.

The municipality received a copy of the complaint and was invited to respond.

Read more about the legal arguments cited by the complainants, the specific investigations requested and the group’s full statement in the Highvelder’s printed edition.