Residents and the business community are held hostage by power interruptions.
The grim reality of Eskom’s load-shedding and the internal load-shedding on Thursday, June 23 was that power tripped regularly.
No wonder the dripping of a tap is called Chinese torture, with businesses having to switch on generators, waiting for the ever-slowing computers not to go on the blink and trying to offer a service.
Mentioning the possibility of Standerton becoming a ghost town, does not sound far-fetched for some locals if the schedules of the power utility and the Lekwa Municipality do not allow for sufficient time to switch on a geyser and prepare food.
The call to switch off geysers and appliances to prevent an overload, is intermittently posted on WhatsApp-groups.
Residents of Sub-B, which falls under Ward 10, are at their wit’s end since the argument that they unfailingly pay their municipal accounts is true in most cases.
Some maneuvering went on to place them under Sub-B.
Water supply is also affected and woe beholds the local who wants to shower after work.
Some residents in Ext 8 towards Rooikoppen and certain areas in Sakhile do not pay for electricity at all.
That is the allegation of the DA’s PR-councillor, Sithi Silosini, who pointed out the alleged unfairness of the whole situation.
Was it not for businesses selling units for prepaid meters, one might be unable to buy, in cash naturally, in Mbonani Mayisela Street if the system is offline.
The whole problem began some odd years ago when Lekwa did not honour their repayment agreement.
Eskom finally took a decision to hold municipalities accountable for their debt and the 55 notified maximum demand was introduced.
Lekwa Ratepayers Association (LRPA) and Eskom has been in a legal battle to have the NMD lifted.
The association’s argument that residents should not bear the brunt of mismanagement by Lekwa is being considered in the Constitutional Court.
A verdict is waited on with the Eskom-debt running into a billion plus.
According to their Facebook-page, Ward 10 remains the only ward whose revenue collected remained stable from March 21/22.
“We mentioned previously how Lekwa keeps a death trap on wards who pay, to pay more, and also provide no mercy to business sectors in this regard with incorrect readings, rate hikes and invalid estimations,” the post read.
“This needs to change and we wish to support the new council, in any manner or form.”
The association said on June 23 that the community needs to look at alternatives.
According to a reliable source, a meeting between the LRPA and Lekwa took place on June 22.
“The LRPA is willing to assist them if the municipality allows us to help.”
Fridges, freezers, television sets are not humming along anymore because of power interruptions.
Some in the community are of the opinion that Lekwa should cover the cost of buying new appliances.
Insurance claims are handed in at brokers and should you too often knock at that door, the chances are your premium will shoot upwards.
The impact of cable theft can not be ignored either.
Maintenance at cemeteries have fallen by the wayside, making it easy for criminals to steal.
Lekwa however, has taken a stand with regard to bridged electricity meters.
