‘Dear Santa can I have a generator please?’
Eskom is fed up with municipalities who cannot honour their agreements to repay outstanding debts. One of which is Emalahleni Local Municipality.
A generator must be on your Christmas wish list as you may need it in the near future.
Eskom is fed up with municipalities who cannot honour their agreements to repay outstanding debts.
One of which is Emalahleni Local Municipality.
Together with eMakhazeni-, Mkhondo-, Chief Albert Luthuli-, Msukaligwa-, Lekwa- and Dipaleseng municipalities and the city of Mbombela, Emalahleni will face a possibility of bulk electricity supply interruptions early next year. These municipalities owe the electricity giant R2.387-billion.
In February 2015 the municipality owed Eskom R556-million. This amount grew to R963 489-million in September this year.
If Eskom follows through with its threat, electricity supply will be interrupted between 06:00 to 08:00 and 17:00 to 19:30 on weekdays and 08:30 to 11:00 and 15:00 to 17:30 on weekends.
“We call on you to familiarize yourself with how you may be affected and plan accordingly,” was the final word from Eskom.
The municipality under the guidance of Mr Theo van Vuuren, municipal manager, has tried all avenues to bridge the gap of the cost of electricity bought from Eskom and what is recovered from consumers in Emalahleni. But all attempts seem to be fruitless.
Audits were initiated, meters installed, aggressive debt collecting was implemented and plea after plea followed.
“The number of threats of protest and counter reaction where cut offs are done or planned is a matter of concern. The continued first reaction by big debtors to stall payments by declaring disputes and rather to pay lawyers than to pay their accounts is an equal concern. Communication on social media and opinions expressed by some, suggest an attitude that paying for electricity is only the municipality’s problem, and not one affecting all,” said Mr Lebohang Mofokeng, municipal spokesperson.
Consumers were outraged when the municipality announced that in future no motor licenses will be issued unless municipal accounts are in order.
Loretta Potgieter Britssaid,
“Stop illegal connections and electricity theft. Once again paying consumers will pay the price when Eskom starts loadshedding.”
“Does this work with everyone or just people with loan homes? People at Vosman have more that five rooms outside their yards and shops that have electricity and water but they don’t pay. But with us in loan homes you have to pay or they cut. Our municipality is useless we should all be given free services like everyone else if they can’t fix things,” was Ciwe Lindo Mabuza’s opinion.
Hand in hand with the no license initiative 20 000 final reminders have been delivered to residents with arrear accounts. The first mass cut-off programme started on November 22 in areas where residents ignored these notices. Debt recovery will be prioritised and more than 15 000 unregistered users on to the billing system will soon be added to the system.
Van Vuuren said he is encouraged that since the cut-offs started the municipality have seen a positive daily increase in revenue.
“The increase in payments and a bulk payment on December 2 have started to reduce the outstanding amount. We are busy working on the catch up plan which will be presented to Eskom at the end of December. This plan is dependant on every consumer to make it successful and I am still positive that we will be able to prevent any bulk interruptions,” Van Vuuren said.
In the meantime it will be a good idea to write a letter to Santa, “Dear Santa, I have been very good and behaved this year. I paid my municipal service account up to date and therefore can I please have a generator in my Christmas stocking this year?”
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