Contractor cuts power to meeting

SABIE – “Power to the people” took on a whole new meaning when the premier of Mpumalanga and several municipal managers from the province were literally left in the dark when electricity to the Floreat Riverside Lodge was disconnected.

According to reliable sources, the group was enjoying fruitful discussions at their lekgotla when the contractor in Thaba Chweu Municipality, Full Output, apparently illegally cut the power to this hotel.

An insider at the venue revealed that the contractor was apparently determined to speak to the premier. “He maintained that the municipal manager, Mr Godfrey Nkosi, only wanted to look good in the premier’s eye and was not performing his duties as per his contract and that he would publicly say that the cut-off lists were politically motivated. The situation was very tense. There was a lot of bad language.”

The contractor apparently also said that TCM owed him money for services rendered. The owner of Full Output told Steelburger/Lydenburg News last week that certain areas in Lydenburg, Sabie and Graskop would not be disconnected.

Mr Samora Mlotja confirmed to the paper that for the past three months he had not received a cut-off list for Mashishing. He said his contract lapsed in March last year and that he had been working on the instruction of TCM.

In the meantime illegal disconnections have also been carried out by TCM. Several residents and businesses in town suffered upower cuts two weeks ago. Prominent business owner, Mr Abdul Gafar, was one of the residents affected and had to seek legal assistance for the connection of power to his house.

Mr Derick Harold, a local attorney representing Gafar told the newspaper that these disconnections were illegal. “Residents and businesses have until the 7th of each month to settle their accounts before notice can be served. Even then, consumers have 14 days to dispute the account, make arrangements for payment or pay the full outstanding amount. Residents have to be aware of the fact that these disconnections are illegal.”

Mlotja also confirmed that TCM owed him money for the services rendered for disconnections and reconnections performed.

According to an insider at TCM the disconnection at Floreat Hotel was indeed also illegal. “A case of illicit removal of circuit breakers has been opened. The disconnection was apparently done because it owed the contractor money. Sabie police informed Lydenburg SAPS about the incident and contract workers have apparently been arrested.”

Mr Constantine Kazandjis, owner of Floreat confirmed that the lodge’s electricity had been restored by one of the municipal electricians. “As far as I know, the municipality apparently owes the service provider money and thus the power was cut during this important meeting.”

Kazandjis confirmed that their municipal account was not in arrears.

Steelburger/Lydenburg News tried several times to get hold of Mlotja but the phone went straight to voicemail.

No one at TCM could be reached for comment.