Smart meters are now only installed where it is critical

LYDENBURG – The picture that Ms Sphiwe Matsi, acting MM of TCLM painted of the municipality is anything but promising.
Matsi was the guest speaker at the annual members meeting of the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber on Tuesday. Members of the public could also attend the meeting, but the attendance was poor.
The chamber put forward nine questions to Matsi about the lack of service delivery within TCLM. During this question-and-answer session, she admitted that the smart meter project, as well as the construction of the Duma power substation to the value of R400 million, have been put on hold pending investigations.
Smart meters are now only installed where it is critical. Matsi acknowledged that the municipality is experiencing high levels of electricity theft and electricity revenue collection is an ongoing battle.
After investigations into Duma a report will be compiled and served before the council.
Matsi told attendees that the municipality had already made several payments to Eskom, but at the moment it is only paying interest on top of interest. “These are challenges. We are, with provincial as well as national assistance, conducting an assessment of the problems and will come up with another intervention and recovery plan as well as a turnaround strategy. We are prioritising and cutting down on projects that we can do without in an effort to adhere to our payment plan to Eskom.” She could not elaborate on this as it has yet to be tabled before the council.
Judgement in the High Court of Pretoria on the Eskom matter is said to take place before the end of this week.
TCLM is apparently also embarking on a donation project to drive the pothole and roads project. Matsi said the assistance and donations of Glencore and other businesses are valuable and appreciated and the municipality will appreciate any assistance with the project.
She also mentioned that the municipality is supporting the pothole project driven by the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber in supplying tar to fix the holes.
On a question about replacing pipelines and pavements that are not up to standard, she said they have employed Expanded Public Works Programme employees to do repairs in this regard as well as on the sewage works where businesses and Glencore are once again still helping with maintenance and support.
A question was asked about the valuation roll where the public felt that the town is in such a state of disrepair that the value of properties is not higher, but lower. Rates cannot increase when service delivery lacks. Matsi answered that people can lodge their complaints with the municipality and that a review of the act is a possibility.
All irregular spending that was exposed in the forensic audit report is currently being investigated and the report will be tabled before the council. According to the findings, an implementation plan will be drawn up and all officials mentioned in the audit report have since been suspended.
Regarding the by-laws of TCLM, Matsi said that by-laws are outdated and could not be enforced by law and had to be reviewed. As soon as all other sectors within the municipality were engaged, new by-laws will be promulgated.
Service delivery was also halted as a result of outsourcing. TCLM has now purchased their own fleet of trucks and other equipment that will speed up service delivery.
“For TCLM it is back to basics with the help of an external team.” She invited the public to give their input towards a turnaround plan that will be presented after being finalised with all other departments within TCLM.