Power cuts for those not paying

Masina says profits of doom uses situation to cause instability in the municipality with the hope that they might score a few political points.

May 18, 2015

Sifiso Mathebula 3 minutes read

HIGHVELD – Ms Lindi Masina, Executive Mayor, said the Govan Mbeki Municipality is working around the clock using all measures and strategic plans to raise the amount that is still owed to Eskom.

She said Council is doing its best to ensure that this challenge is eliminated once and for all.

The Govan Mbeki Municipality is among the 20 defaulting municipalities that owe Eskom large sums of money.

The municipality owes Eskom about R184-m.

Eskom announced these power cuts will begin from 5 June.

Ms Masina said the municipality is servicing the debt by paying Eskom every week and that she believes that by June, they shall have completely serviced the entire Eskom debt.

“I have decided to place this matter on the apex of my priorities, mainly because there are prophets of doom who use this issue to instil fear and distrust in our people.

“They use this unfortunate situation to cause instability in the municipality with the hope that they might score a few political points.”

Ms Masina told councillors who attended the recent council meeting that the electricity shutdown will not happen in this municipality, mainly because of the effective systems that Council has put in place to deal with this matter.

“We have established the Revenue Enhancement Committee that is on the ground as we speak to ensure effective and radical collection of revenue that is due to this municipality.

“The Revenue Enhancement Committee has introduced radical measures which we believe are yielding desired results in terms of revenue collection.

“We are therefore calling on our people to join hands with us and begin to take the issue of paying for their services very seriously.”

Ms Masina said Council is going to implement very drastic and radical measures against defaulters and those who steal electricity.

“The process of introducing smart meters will be vigorously intensified in order to ensure that those who steal electricity are exposed and dealt with as decisively as possible.

“These measures will be done in accordance with our by-laws that stipulate that perpetrators of electricity theft will be reconnected after 90 days and after having paid the reconnection fee.

“You should know that if you steal electricity and eventually get found out, you will stay without electricity for three months.”

She said the system has been benchmarked from Steve Tshwete Municipality where there is no electricity theft because people know the heaviest and harshest penalty of such offence.

Ms Masina said they have adopted these radical measures mainly because the municipality has given people enough time to sort out their issues with the municipality and after having implemented a number of assistance plans such as the Indigent Policy, Municipal Debt-Settling Arrangements, Free-Use Policy and other measures.

“We have in the recent past nullified the free use policy by introducing a new dispensation of paying for municipal facilities by everyone including state departments.”

She then instructed the municipal manager to implement these measures with immediate effect without any fear, favour or prejudice. It must be applied across the board.

“We are equally calling on big business to work hand in glove with us by paying their debts monthly so that the municipality is able to collect all revenue that is due to it.

“We still find it discouraging that there are companies that make millions monthly, but shamelessly owe huge amounts to the municipality.

“These companies should know that we will cut them off if they fail to come to the fore and pay for their services.

“We are in the process of cutting as we speak and some defaulters have decided to be proactive and approached the municipality for immediate payments and future arrangements.

“I want to pose a challenge to all residents of this municipality that if we fail to pay for these services, we are running the risk of municipality collapsing.”