The Democratic Alliance of Mogale City responded to the notice published by Eskom in the 17 January edition of the Krugersdorp News.
The notices states, “Eskom hereby gives notice of its intention to reduce and/ or interrupt and/ or terminate the supply of electricity to Mogale with effect from 12 March 2020 … the municipality owes Eskom an amount of R119 623 731.81 … Eskom is contemplating a regulated interruption of electricity supply as opposed to an outright disconnection”.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/399819/eskom-interruption-notice-mogale-electricity-concerns-getting-out-of-handormogale-electricity-concerns-escalated-by-eskoms-notice-of-interruption/
DA Caucus leader Jacques Hoon posted a public response, noting that they have “engaged with the Municipal Manager regarding the notice,” further clarifying that the “outstanding Eskom account is R92 million and not R119 million as indicated in the Eskom Notice”.
The News was told that Mogale City had made a payment to Eskom after the notice was to be published, and it could not be rectified.
“The Municipal Manager has assured the DA that the R32 million due within 60 days will be paid by Friday, 17 January, leaving only the R60 million that is due within 30 days. This amount will be paid by the second week in February. Mogale’s electricity supply is at no risk of being cut,” Hoon added.
In October, Eskom announced that they would be cutting electricity in Randfontein (Rand West City Local Municipality) due to arrears of about R230 million. After some deliberation, Eskom decided not to go ahead with disrupting the town’s electricity supply. The amount Mogale City currently owes Eskom is nearly R140 million less than what Rand West City Local Municipality owed just a short few months ago, and plans have been set in motion to address the problem.
Hoon finally noted that, “The DA will also continue to engage with the Municipal Manager on this matter and will pursue all avenues to ensure that Mogale’s accounts are paid on time as per section 65.2(e) of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 (paying creditors within 30 days)”.
Mogale City has not responded to questions the News has sent it, despite the reasonable time the publication has allowed for such a response.
