Lydenburg industrial park plunged into darkness after TCLM fails to pay contractor
On Tuesday, December 3, the contractor who supplied and installed a mini-substation a year ago arrived in a truck, loaded it and drove off.
The entire industrial park in Lydenburg has been rendered powerless following non-payment by Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM).
On Tuesday, December 2, the contractor who supplied and installed a mini-substation a year ago arrived in a truck, loaded it and drove off.
The contractor confirmed that TCLM owes his company a substantial amount for the mini-sub.
According to estimates, the equipment amounts to about R1m.
The mini-sub was removed at 18:30, leaving the park in the dark with no feedback or information from TCLM.
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A number of businesses told the publication that they had no option but to send their workers home.
Others indicated that they are losing thousands of rands per day due to work stoppages.
Power could have been restored to the area if TCLM could ring-feed the electricity network; however, the ring-feeder is damaged and has not been repaired in the past year.
The DA’s caucus leader in TCLM, Cllr Marius Opperman, said the situation is appalling.
“There are businesses currently spending millions in developments in this park and this is how they are repaid for their financial boost to the town. The situation is dire and should never have happened in the first place,” Opperman told the newspaper.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News sent urgent queries to TCLM for feedback on the matter. TCLM communications manager Themba Sibiya confirmed that there is a dispute between the municipality and the service provider relating to payments.
“An agreement could not be reached timeously, hence the removal of the equipment. The municipality will install a pole transformer as a temporary measure, as it is readily available from the warehouse, and will communicate a permanent solution soon,” Sibiya said.
