Community wants answers over electricity meters

VANDERBIJLPARK.- “Stop beating around the bush and answer our questions directly.”
This was the challenge put to Refilwe Mokgosi, Executive Director in Public Works of Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), when a municipal delegation tried to persuade electricity consumers to be patient when speaking about the installation of new smart metres at a meeting held at Eligwa Primary School in Vandebijlpark last week.
The ELM delegation requested the community to allow the municipality to conduct its work of installing new meters without any interference as this would enable the municipality to conduct auditing and, apparently, cut payment defaulters off. The delegation further said that it would also enable ELM to compel consumers in general to pay for electricity.
The furious community members wanted to know, however, why the delegation has avoided negotiations with township communities and if it could be because ELM workers were recently chased away when they tried to conduct an audit and install smart metres in the townships.
So far it has also been made clear that the Bedworthpark residents will not allow installation or audits of the area until their electricity concerns are resolved.
At the meeting, the Emfuleni Rate Payers Association expressed its willingness to engage the ELM with possible solutions to the problems – for free.