Organisation wants Govan Mbeki Municipality to unblock electricity meters
African Development Trust and Public Benefit believes the system violates residents’ rights to access electricity.
The African Development Trust and Public Benefit Organisation has called on Govan Mbeki Local Municipality to stop blocking indebted residents from purchasing electricity until their municipal accounts are settled.
According to the organisation’s chairperson, John Nkosi, they have written to the municipality requesting an end to the soft-blocking programme, which prevents residents with outstanding municipal debt from buying prepaid electricity.
Nkosi said the organisation believes the system violates residents’ rights to access electricity, especially at a time when many households are struggling financially.
“What is most shocking is that our municipality is blocking residents who owe rates and services from buying electricity while fully understanding the unemployment challenges faced by residents and knowing very well that the majority of people rely on social grants for survival,” said Nkosi.
He further criticised the municipality’s indigent application process, claiming vulnerable residents are treated unfairly while waiting for approval.
“When it comes to indigent applications, the situation is even worse because residents are unfairly treated.
While they are still waiting for approval, the municipality blocks them from buying electricity,” he said.
Nkosi added that some applications are allegedly declined without applicants being informed of the reasons.
“Our main concern is that some community members’ applications get declined and they are not informed of the reasons.
They are only told to lodge an appeal after waiting for months without being able to buy electricity, meaning they must wait for more months for the outcome of the appeal,” he said.
He stressed that electricity is no longer a luxury but a basic necessity, especially for people whose medical conditions require medication to be refrigerated.
“The municipality has forgotten that electricity is no longer a luxury.
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There are residents whose lives depend on medication that must be refrigerated, and the lack of electricity can lead to loss of lives,” Nkosi added.
Nkosi warned that if the municipality continues with the blocking programme, the organisation may take legal action against the institution.
“This is not the only issue affecting our community. We are also investigating allegations of double-billing by the municipality, and once we have gathered all the facts, the legal process will take its course,” he said.
Council has approved the Indigent Register and R721 Million Debt Write-Off.
The Executive Mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Nhlakanipho Zuma, reported during an ordinary council meeting held on May 27 that the municipality has registered a total of 11 944 households as indigents for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Zuma told the council that the total amount of debt written off for indigent households amounts to R721 809 651.
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According to the mayor, the municipality received a total of 2 191 indigent applications between April and May this year.
All new applications underwent verification and vetting processes before approval. Out of the applications received, 1 722 were approved, while 469 applications were unsuccessful.
Zuma explained that the unsuccessful applicants did not meet the indigent qualification criteria because their household income exceeded the threshold of R6 000 per month.
He stated that as of May 8, the total outstanding debt owed to the municipality by the 1 722 successful indigent applicants amounted to R75 570 481.17.
Zuma said the approved indigent applicants list will be made available at all municipal offices and that SMS feedback has been sent to all applicants.
The mayor requested the council to approve the inclusion of the additional 1 722 qualifying walk-in indigent applicants into the 2025/2026 Indigent Register.
He also requested that the debt amounting to R75 570 481 owed by the approved indigent applicants be written off, and that indigent rebates be implemented with effect from June 1 for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Council resolved to approve the indigent applicants and all recommendations contained in Zuma’s report for the 2025/2026 financial year.
