Residents in KwaGuqa and Hlalanikahle showed their dismay by barricading roads and burning tyres because they are apparently not interested in Emalahleni Local Municipality’s efforts to increase the municipality’s revenue to settle the escalating Eskom debt.
This protest that started up on Monday, May 18 is to prevent the municipality from continuing with its operation against illegal electricity and land uses.
The municipality is pulling all the rabbits needed out of the hat to prevent Eskom from flicking the switch and implement a bulk electricity interruption.
Operation Hlasela, a strategy to normalise electricity usage and payments, is just one of the desperate initiatives the municipality is undertaking.
Other negotiations with government to recover outstanding debt are finalised, whilst cut offs of businesses in arrears are on track. Tenders for energy efficient solutions to public lighting and buildings are out and a project to start installing split prepaid meters in protective structures commenced last week.
A second tender for the further roll out of split meters on a large scale will be published soon.
“I remain positive that as a city we can prevent the potential interruptions in bulk supply next month. However, structurally there are extreme problems in our system, more than half of our electricity demands are not being recovered from users, and our processes to rectify these are meeting many stumbling blocks. Some of these are rooted in resistance from individuals, especially those who have abused previous lack of good law enforcement and administration,” Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren said.
There is a tiny light at the end of the tunnel as the municipality managed to pay R54-million to Eskom on May 12.
“A further down payment on the arrears must still be done and we are in the process of mobilising funds for that purpose. The provisional target is R150-million. These targets can be achieved if we work together. Our ability to meet these targets will greatly determine whether we will be able to reach an agreement with Eskom,” Van Vuuren said.
He said for the municipality to become financially sustainable, the resolving of the Eskom debt is a first priority. Without that burden, significant amounts of funding can then be channelled to investment in the infrastructure.
The Democratic Alliance demanded that the Provincial Executive of Mpumalanga consider urgent negotiation with Eskom, to assist these municipalities before June 5 when the power utility plans to flick the switch and leave the municipality in total darkness.
“The Provincial Executive has the power to provide guarantees to Eskom, which may avoid power cuts,” the DA persisted.
Winter is fast approaching and if something is not done, residents are going to face a long and very cold winter.
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