KOMATIPOORT – On Tuesday morning the Nkomazi Local Municipality (NLM) manager, Mr Dan Ngwenya, reaffirmed the promise to address the ongoing water and electricity crisis in this community.
This follows a letter of demand issued by the Nkomazi East Combined Commerce and Tourism Association (Neccta) to the NLM last week.
Ngwenya was accompanied by an Eskom delegation and senior municipal officials.
At the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, it was brought to light and acknowledged by Eskom that the NLM had already applied for an upgrade in 2012.
This would be from an 1MVA to 3MVA transformer for the so-called Suiddorp and Komatipoort Retail Centre, as well as an upgrade from a 3,5MVA to a 5MVA for the main town.
Eskom furthermore disclosed that the municipality had already paid deposits in this regard and that the power giant had promised delivery of the bulk electricity supply to Komatipoort as soon as possible.
Neccta confirmed to Eskom that this crisis was very real and not only an anticipated one, and that the town had already suffered as a consequence of the inadequate supply.
According to the association this disclosure served to duly inform Eskom of the need, ensuring expeditious delivery would be considered.
Eskom confirmed that the bulk upgrade from the total of 4,5MVA to 8MVA was in fact within its reach, and that this “could and would be done.”
It requested that the municipality in conjunction with local organised tourism and trade, prepare a proper examination of what bulk electricity was required for future use, so that this process need not be repeated, in the vein that prevention was better than cure.
At a subsequent meeting Ngwenya and Neccta addressed this issue.
The association reiterated that in its view, poor management of the technical department was probably the root cause of the lack of sufficient water in Komatipoort. This was exacerbated by the lack of maintenance of the two pump stations, the pipes and condition thereof.
The introduction of backup generators in the existing line would cost more than it would to actually bring the two existing supply means to perfection and proper maintenance. Ngwenya said NLM had already appointed a task team to do a proper assessment of what was required and that feedback, as is the case with Eskom, would be made by his offices, managed and presented under his personal supervision, also to Komatipoort.
In the context of the engagement with Eskom, convener of Neccta , Mr Jan Engelbrecht said the committee believed that the municipal manager would see to the execution of the same.
According to Engelbrecht, the municipal manager’s actions have restored community members’ confidence in the municipality. Neccta is convinced the bulk upgrade will certainly be done within the next semester. Eskom and the municipal manager were thanked for their contributions.
“It was clear from the meeting that the development in Komatipoort has been adversely affected by the problems. Development is about to take off in the town. We look forward to receiving the technical report from the municipality, as well as further commitments,” Engelbrecht said.
