UPDATE: 17 November 8.31am
It seems issues regarding prepaid electricity have been resolved this morning, 17 November.
Several consumers took to social media and posted that prepaid electricity is available at vendors in Standerton.
Residents are overwhelmingly happy with this news.
Other posts advised that people should rather be prepared and buy enough electricity should the system fail again.
The Lekwa Municipality remains adamant that the problem at the prepaid electricity vendors is because of technical glitches.
Some prepaid electricity consumers have been without electricity for four days while others have been struggling to buy tokens since Monday, 12 November.
Questions were forwarded to Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communication officer at the Lekwa Municipality: herewith the questions and responses:
Q: During a telephone conversation with you earlier, you mentioned the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) should sort this problem out, could you elaborate?
A: “I mentioned that the Acting CFO is sorting the matter.”
Q: So if the acting CFO is involved, does it mean that this is a financial problem regarding the prepaid electricity?
A: “No.”
Q: Why is the acting CFO involved if it is a technical glitch?
A: “Pre-paid vending is the responsibility of Budget and Treasury Department and Acting CFO is the Acting Head of the Department.”
Q: Who is the current acting CFO?
A: “The Acting CFO is Mr. T Hlatswayo.”
Q: Has the service provider been paid by the Lekwa Municipality?
A: “The matter is not about service provider being paid or not, is a technical glitches.”
Q: Can you please elaborate on the technical glitches?
A: “Small problem or fault that prevents the system from being successful or working as it should.”
Q: How long will it take before this issue will be resolved, surely there must be an estimated time frame?
A: “The Municipality will provide you with the timeframe by end of Business today as the team is busy working on the matter.”
Q: What procedures have been followed to collect revenue?
A: Sending of accounts to consumers and cut-offs if they don’t as per the Credit Control Policy.
(Please note that these answers were left unedited as Ms Mtshiselwa did not want to be misquoted.)
The Standerton Advertiser will keep its readers updated on this matter.
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