Eskom fed up with municipality’s broken promises
We are disconnecting municipalities in the Free State tomorrow (Wednesday) so they had better get their act together.
LYDENBURG – “The municipality makes commitments to Eskom and then proceeds to default on these agreements mere months later. We will no longer take its word and need to see action.”
So remarked Eskom’s spokesman, Khulu Phasiwe, on the intended bulk disconnection of this municipality’s electricity by October 9. Eskom issued residents with the notice of the electrical disconnection due to the municipality’s arrears account of almost R400 million.
In the notice, it stated: “Eskom hereby notifies all parties who are likely to be materially and adversely affected by its intention to interrupt bulk electricity supply to Thaba Chweu Local Municipality on March 13 and continuing indefinitely.” The municipality owes Eskom R355,8 million, part of which has been outstanding and in escalation since September 2002.
Phasiwe said although Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) still has a bit of time (two weeks to be exact) to reach an agreement with Eskom, nothing has changed since the issuing of the notice. “We are disconnecting municipalities in the Free State tomorrow (Wednesday) so they had better get their act together. “They either have to pay the whole outstanding amount, or at least make a payment that is
“They either have to pay the whole outstanding amount, or at least make a payment that is suitable, and only then will an agreement be reached with Eskom.” He further stated that two things are of utmost importance. “You have to pay for that which you consume, otherwise you are only corrupting the whole system. “We have to keep the country’s electricity up and running and to do that we need to buy coal and have other expenses to cover.”
Power cuts to this town will be implemented from Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 08:00 and 17:00 to 19:00. On weekends electricity will be cut from 08:30 to 11:00 and 15:00 to 17:30. The newspaper sent an urgent enquiry to TCLM to find out if and when an agreement will be reached. At the time of going to press no response had been received.
