The JB Marks Local Municipality has addressed recent concerns over the alleged lack of availability of prepaid electricity tokens.

Municipal spokesperson Jeanette Tshite strongly refuted the voice note circulating online, which claims that prepaid electricity tokens are unavailable due to a system upgrade. Tshite said this message did not originate from the municipality.

“We make it very clear that JB Marks Local Municipality is not the source of the message. We vehemently denounce individuals who perpetrate such acts and disseminate misleading information, as it creates uncertainty and fear within the community,” Tshite said.

‘A false voice note spread panic among residents’

The municipality has assured residents that it always uses proper channels to notify them of any service issues. Tshite emphasised the importance of accurate communication and promised that any disruptions would be communicated through reliable mediums, such as radio broadcasts.

This incident follows a similar one that took place in June 2024, when misinformation about a supposed 33-hour power outage in Potchefstroom caused widespread confusion. At that time, a false voice note spread panic among residents as it circulated after a power outage occurred due to a transformer tripping at one of the city’s substations. Tshite explained that technicians had identified a fault on the power line to the Potch DS Substation as the cause, and once the fault was fixed, power was restored promptly.

Tshite has since urged residents to rely on official communication and avoid spreading unverified information that can lead to unnecessary anxiety and confusion.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg