Less than 288 hours to darkness and still no answers from municipality
With less than 12 days left before Eskom will implement routine power interruptions, the municipality is keeping quiet about progress on a deal to repay the Eskom debt.
HIGHVELD – In less than than 288 hours, Secunda, Bethal, Trichardt, eMzinoni, and eMbalenhle will be facing routine power interruptions twice a day.
This is a direct result of the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s inability to pay Eskom the nearly R400-m that it owes the electricity provider.
It seem as the municipality is placing some of the blame for the debt crisis, at the feet of local residents.
They have launched two separate debt collection operations in an attempt to recover the nearly R694-m that local residents and businesses apparently owe the municipality in service fees.
The municipality has not released any further information about the success of these debt collecting operations, but has been vocal about the problems that they face due to electricity theft and illegal connections.
According to a press release issued by the municipality last week, as much as 50 per cent of all electricity used is never accounted for.
The municipality is implementing smart-metering systems that can detect tampering and illegal connections in Secunda, Bethal and Trichardt.
One concerned resident voiced his unhappiness over the situation: “If they are losing half of the electricity they sell, no wonder there is a debt crisis.
“It is frustrating that residents now have to suffer, because the municipality cannot control the electricity grids and keep track of illegal connections.
“I have a prepaid electricity meter, so there is no chance of me ever owning the municipality for electricity, yet I now have to make arrangements to go through mornings and evenings without electricity.”
The Ridge Times reported on 10 February over the municipality’s plan to enter into an agreement with a company Mzilampi 2 (Pty) Ltd, that would repay the debt to Eskom and also begin construction on a solar electricity plant to provide alternative electricity to Secunda once it was operational.
Upon further investigation it soon became apparent that there were discrepancies with the registration and Vat number of the company, and there was also very limited information available about Mzilampi 2 (Pty) Ltd and the CEO, Mr Sagren Nair.
This matter would have been discussed at a municipal council meeting on 23 February, but the meeting was cancelled and rescheduled for this Thursday, 2 March.
The municipality was contacted for comment and asked about various matters regarding the deal with Mzilampi 2 (Pty) Ltd and the debt crisis, but they did not respond.
The municipality declined to comment on the following questions:
1. Is the municipality still actively trying to negotiate a repayment deal with Eskom or alternatively, has the municipality already reached a deal?
2. Apart from rolling out smart-meters, what other steps is the municipality taking to actively combat electricity theft?
3. Where can residents report illegal electricity connections?
4. What fines or charges will be faced by people found guilty of stealing electricity or having illegal connection at their homes or businesses?
5. How successful have the various debt collecting operations been?
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