DA to target selective enforcement of by-laws

The Democratic Alliance (DA) representation on Polokwane council applauded the local authority’s recent intervention to terminate electricity supply to five government departments owing close to R144 million, resulting in the settlement of the debts within days.
“This happened shortly after the DA filed a notice of intention to table a motion calling for action against defaulting consumers in the council meeting that was scheduled for 6 November (yesterday),” DA ward 39 councillor Franco Marx said. He added that the motion will still be debated in view of the fact that there are still nine other government departments that are in default for smaller amounts as well as areas like Mankweng where there were, according to the DA, no disconnections for the last three years.
“In terms of national legislation as well as the municipality’s by-laws, the local authority is obliged to collect all moneys due and payable, secondly the municipality may terminate the water and electricity supply of residents after following due process. It is also clear that the municipality is aware of the termination option, which seems to be quite effective, as there were numerous disconnections during September and October, specifically in the City and Seshego clusters,” Marx states in the motion and adds that it became apparent that the municipality is not disconnecting equally and fairly in all areas.
According to the DA, the cut off lists at its disposal reflect that Bendor, Seshego, Annadale, Fauna and Flora Park, Ster Park and Westenburg, among others were regularly disconnected while no services were terminated in Mankweng for the last three years. “It is therefore evidently clear that at present the municipality is unfairly discriminating against the areas on the disconnection list and unfairly favour the Mankweng area,” the DA claims and adds that nothing in the motion should be read or interpreted as meaning that it intends to punish the poor, old or the vulnerable by disconnecting their services.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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