BUSINESS CHAMBER ON ESKOM ISSUE

LYDENBURG – With the news about Eskom serving Thaba Chweu Municipality with a notice of bulk-power disconnection, the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber raised its concerns regarding the immediate situation.

According to Mr Leon de Jager of the chamber, they are very concerned about this very real possibility and the effect it will have on the residents and business of the three towns

“The chamber has already engaged with Eskom at a high level through our affiliation with the Afrikaanse Handels Instituut (AHI) and its cooperation with South African Local Government Association and cooperative governance and traditional affairs in order to set up a task team that will address this matter.

Our first step will be to prevent the power disruption, and then to ‘work out a plan’ of how, with our assistance, TCM can commit to Eskom a affordable payment plan to settle their debt over an agreed period. We will also, through the Afrikaanse Handels Instituut (AHI), engage the provincial and national government to intervene should negotiations with Eskom not be positive.”

The chamber said that they will do everything possible to keep the towns lights on.