Residents in informal settlements in Standerton air their views
According to them, the billing system should be upgraded, historical debt be scrapped and a flat rate payment system be introduced.
The residents of informal settlements in Standerton submitted a letter to municipal manager Malosi Lamola on February 16, outlining their concerns and proposed solutions on service delivery.
Khulekani Msomi and Thabang Lebese wrote the letter. They said the Lekwa community is mostly unemployed and that extreme poverty and crime hamper the local economy and living conditions.
Their concerns are the billing system, lack of electricity supply and unaffordable electricity prices. They came up with a plan to help the municipality improve their revenue collection.
According to them, the billing system needs upgrading, historical debt needs scrapping, and a flat-rate payment system needs to be introduced.
Lekwa should also identify locals in informal settlements and create electricity accounts for them. The municipality should then distribute the electricity supply.
A reference was made to power supply being one of the basic human rights, as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Bill of Rights.
According to them, widespread illegal connections will be addressed, electrocution and power tripping will be prevented, all which contributes to revenue losses for the municipality.
According to them, the undesired burden of limited state resources, human or financial, in attending emergency cases due to unauthorised and unprofessional connections will be prevented.
The price of electricity was mentioned, and many residents have not registered for the IGG (Intergovernmental Grant). They want Lekwa to consider returning the power supply to Eskom, with the latter taking over supply.
