No loadshedding for Govan Mbeki Municipality from Monday

HIGHVELD – Govan Mbeki Municipality will apparently not face power cuts from Monday, 13 March.

Eskom’s national spokesman, Mr Khulu Phasiwe, said in a statement released a few minutes ago: “The provincial government of Mpumalanga is leading the negotiations with Eskom in an effort to find a lasting solution to the debt issues that Govan Mbeki Municipality and Thaba Chweu (Lydenburg) experience.

“As a result, Eskom management has taken a decision to suspend the planned interruptions in order to give the negotiations a chance.

“Eskom only enters into agreements with its direct customers, in this case, the municipalities.”

This comment came on the back of urgent meetings between Govan Mbeki Municipality and the provincial government on Wednesday, 8 March.

Mr Bheki Kubheka, municipal spokesman, confirmed the municipality was entering into negotiations with the office of Mr David Mabuza, Mpumalanga Premier, and had a meeting scheduled with Eskom early today, on 9 March.

The outcome of these meetings seem to be that the power will remain on for now, but Mr Kubheka confirmed that the municipality is going ahead with its debt collection operations and that residents and businesses who owe the municipality will face zero tolerance and have their electricity cut should they not settle their accounts.

“The executive mayor is serious about sorting out this debt crisis and asked residents and business owners do the right thing.”