Where is Megawatt Park?

LYDENBURG – After several press releases from the Office of the Premier and the confirmation from Thaba Chweu Municipality that constant communication is taking place with Eskom, the newspaper was shocked to discover that those officials needed directions to Megawatt Park in Johannesburg last Friday.
According to a reliable source, the executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Cllr Michael Ncongwane and officials from TCM were apparently not sure how toget to the utility’s headquarters despite being in “constant communication with Eskom”.”
According to a press release from the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Mr Simon Skhosana, government led this delegation, to which directions were asked, in an effort to meet Eskom to resolve the debt problem that nearly led to electricity cut-off in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality.
“The meeting agreed that there would be no electricity cut-off and the municipality would pay off its current account of R11,8 million. Thereafter the municipality would continue to service its current account. The meeting further agreed that Thaba Chweu Municipality and Eskom would work together to develop a repayment plan for the outstanding debt of R163 million. This plan will be for a period of 12 months.”
It was decided that Eskom would conduct a cable audit to be able to determine all illegal electricity connections and they would also assist the municipality to ensure that its billing system was accurate.
According to Cogta the administrative team dispatched to the municipality was yielding positive results. It had been able to put systems in place that had enabled the municipality to increase the electricity payment rate.
The statement said that Skhosana would like to assure residents there would be no electricity cut-off. “Our meeting has yielded positive results. I would like to appeal to all residents and businesses to also play their part by paying for their electricity accounts” said Skhosana.
Mr Leon de Jager, chairman of the Afriforum Lydenburg Branch, commented as follows on the press release released by Cogta: “Firstly, we would like to commend Eskom, Cogta and the Thaba Chweu Municipality on the agreement reached. We are gladdened by the fact that at last ‘somebody in government’ has taken the responsibility to address this outstanding account of over R163 million and that the parties could agree on the period of settlement. We are also grateful that Eskom will work with, and assist TCM to conduct cable audits to determine illegal electricity connections and also assist the council to ensure that its billing system is accurate. Secondly, we cannot help but wonder why none of these ‘agreements’ could not be reached without Eskom having had to threaten TCM in the media of its intention to disconnect the power supply, and Afriforum had to go to the extent of obtaining an urgent High Court order to prevent the utility from doing so?”
De Jager said they had noted that the repayment was for a period of 12 months. “Will this mean that apart from the monthly current accounts of R11,8 million, TCM will have to pay an additional R13,58 million per month for a period of 12 months, starting from when the agreement becomes effective? We are seriously concerned as to how TCM will manage these very stiff ‘instalments’ out of its available cash flow.”
He did, however, mention that this press release did not clarify the following; “What is the start date of this agreement? Will there be an interest cost on the R163 million? A quick calculation shows that over 12 months at a conservative 6,5% interest, this cost will be in excess of R10,5 million. What would the punitive consequence to TCM be, should they not uphold their part of the agreement and will there be any action taken against the senior staff like the municipal manager(s) and chief financial officers who were the responsible managers when TCM defaulted continuously on their payments to Eskom? Surely somebody must be held responsible?”
“About a week or so ago there was an article in Lowvelder wherein the premier Mr DD Mabuza, was quoted as saying that an anonymous donor would step in and give TCM a “grant” to settle the Eskom account. What has since happened to this donor?” De Jager asked.