Under-spending harms residents
While some electrical sub-stations in Centurion were in urgent need of upgrading, the metro was under-spending financial grants aimed at providing electricity for all, the DA claims.
Stephané Bothma
The Tshwane metro had used a mere 31% of an ‘electricity for all’ grant while substations in Centurion urgently needed upgrading.
At the same time, some of the grant money could have been used for replacing stolen electric cables and for curbing the scourge of cable theft – a particularly common crime in Centurion.
Addressing the general Tshwane council meeting on Thursday, Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Ina Strijdom said it was of great concern that out of a grant of R37 million towards the electricity for all programmes, only R11,5 million had been spent during the past six months.
“A mere 31% was used up to now,” she told the council.
Strijdom said the DA was aware of at least two substations in Centurion in urgent need of an upgrade – Voortrekkerhoogte and Doringkloof.
“The Voortrekkerhoogte substation’s infrastructure dates out of the 1950s and an upgrade has been due for many years,” she said.
Voortrekkerhoogte was but one example while substations in other areas, including Doringkloof, Soshanguve and Hammanskraal were in the same poor condition.
“We are not only looking at substations but money could have been used for cable replacement and to curb cable theft as well,” the councillor said.
She lashed out at the metro, adding that another example of where the rest of the money could have been put to good use was Olievenhoutbosch.
She said the fact that people were being relocated from Mooiplaats to Olievenhoutbosch was well-known and in the planning for many years.
“This, to the utter dismay of these residents as they do not have access to electricity in the new area in Olievenhoutbosch where they were relocated to.”
Strijdom pointed out that the money for electricity connections had been available well in time.
“Why has the council not planned ahead and started the electricity reticulation work for this area?” she asked, adding that to date only two high-mast lights were lighting the entire area.
“There are no streetlights. No wonder these residents suffer with crime.”
She said that proper planning towards electric reticulation could have been done and that money could have been utilised as it became available.
By not spending the allocated grants, Strijdom added, the metro was shooting itself in the foot as it was clearly stated that the non-achievement of expenditure targets might impact on the national treasury’s assessment and future monetary transfers to the Tshwane metro.
“This means the underspending of grants can have a negative impact on future grants for the electricity for all programmes.”
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