The DA in this Letsemeng Local Municipality has accused the municipality of failing to pay Eskom debt.

This after the municipal spokesperson, Jimmy Mokgwetsi, told OFM News that the municipality is experiencing power outages owing to the high usage of electricity in that area by residents.

According to the DA councillor, Thabo Ntapo, the municipality cannot continue to blame residents for its failure to address the debt owed to Eskom.

He says despite an agreement made between the two parties following threats by Eskom to shed power in the area, the municipality is simply not doing enough to repay Eskom.

“So now it has exceeded that, hence the power cuts solution came. The municipality tried to apply [for additional power supply] to be increased but like I said it can’t be, due to the debt of the municipality to Eskom. So now the people of Koffiefontein have to endure the pain due to the municipal debt,” he adds.

OFM News had previously reported that Letsemeng once committed to pay Eskom an amount of R2.5 million every month to pay off its R38.5 million debt, however, the municipality made an abrupt U-turn at a later stage and instead took Eskom to court.

Meanwhile, the municipality has admitted that Koffiefontein is currently struggling with water supply as well. “Currently it’s a dry week whereby they are working at the canal, cleaning the canal and in that event, we then get water from the mine but unfortunately on Tuesday night they experienced a problem with their pump and that resulted in very low pressure and that affected the water supply to residents,” Mokgwetsi added. It is expected that this supply will be restored no later than Tuesday next week.

In the beginning of 2020, Eskom served a notice to the Letsemeng Local Municipality, informing the municipality of limited electricity supply services as a result of the municipality’s contravention of the payment conditions with Eskom.

Eskom recognised that indefinitely withholding electricity supply may cause undue hardship to consumers and members of the community, and may adversely affect the delivery of other services. 

In view of this, Eskom decided to withhold its electricity supply services in a regulated pattern as opposed to an outright disconnection. This will allow members of the community and consumers the opportunity to make alternative arrangements during the scheduled periods. As a result of the municipality’s non-payment, Letsemeng residents experience another set of scheduled electricity outages, often running parallel to nation load-shedding schedules announced from time to time.

OFM News