Tshwane hard on defaulters as it switches off Prasa headquarters power due to R7m debt – again

Tshwane metro showed no mercy to the defaulting Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), as it did not restore electricity supply to its headquarters despite a R2.4-million payment towards a R7.9-million municipal debt on Thursday.

The municipality disconnected the power supply and restricted water to the Prasa offices on Thursday morning.

Despite Prasa saying they paid R2.4-million of R7.9-milion owed to the Tshwane metro, their headquarters in Hatfield, Pretoria remained without power on Thursday.

Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda said the state-owned entity’s management was in talks with the municipality about settling the debt.

“Prasa is facing financial challenges due to the low number of train services we are running.

“As soon as we get our tail corridors back on track, we will be in a better financial position,” Makanda said.

Following the disconnection, Makanda said Prasa paid R2.4-million to the Tshwane metro.

Despite this, metro’s spokesperson Lindela Mashigo was adamant that power would not be restored to the building until the full amount is paid.

Mashigo said Prasa was paying the multi-million debt “in drips-and-drabs despite promising the metro that the full amount would be paid”.

He said the municipality needed to be paid what was due to them, as they were under pressure to pay service providers and creditors.

“There are pressing service delivery matters, paying creditors such as Eskom for power supply to our residents.”

Mashigo said no consumers will be spared from the municipality’s aggressive revenue campaign.

It was the third time this year that Prasa was disconnected by the metro because of unpaid bills.