Eskom extends power cuts

ESKOM has announced that while supply interruptions to Tsantsabane Local Municipality have been suspended, interruptions to the other three defaulting Northern Cape municipalities have been extended by an hour.

These municipalities, namely Renosterberg (affecting Vanderkloof, Philipstown and Petrusville), Siyancuma (Griquatown and Douglas), and Thembelihle (Strydenburg and Hopetown), will now face electricity cuts from 6am until 9am in the morning and 5pm until 8.30pm in the afternoons on weekdays. On weekends, residents will be without electricity from 8.30am until 12 noon and again from 3pm until 6.30pm in the afternoons.

Eskom spokesperson, Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg, said yesterday that the decision to extend the interruptions to these municipalities by an additional hour after “no acceptable progress” (in terms of a payment agreement) had been reached.

“Eskom has suspended supply interruptions to Tsantsabane Local Municipality (Postmasburg) after reaching a payment agreement with the municipality on Tuesday,” Van Rensburg said. “The municipality honoured its obligation in terms of the agreed minimum payment that was received to enable the negotiation of the repayment plan for the remaining balance.

“Since no acceptable progress has been made with regard to Renosterberg, Siyancuma and Thembelihle, interruptions to these local municipalities have been extended by an hour. “

She added that the bulk supply interruptions started on October 4 as a result of the respective local municipalities’ non-payment of their Eskom accounts.

The DA has meanwhile urged the Northern Cape Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to “obtain some much-needed clarity” on the current electricity cuts chaos in the Northern Cape.

“After Eskom publicly stated that negotiations with provincial government led to the suspension of intended electricity cuts, it has now come to light that electricity disruptions have continued in some municipalities. This includes the Siyancuma, Renosterberg and Thembelihle local municipalities. This state of affairs was also acknowledged during the recent NCOP oversight visit, although Eskom has denied that they have implemented any load shedding in the Northern Cape,” DA Member on the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Ismail Obaray, said yesterday.

He added that it was not clear whether Eskom had dishonoured their agreements, if municipalities had already broken their repayment plans or if municipalities were implementing some load shedding on their own initiative on the sly.

“Democratic Alliance councillors will be following up in affected municipalities to determine the cause.

“It remains unjustifiable that residents must bear the brunt for municipal mismanagement and maladministration. Income generated by electricity sales must be ring-fenced for the sole purpose of paying the amounts owed to the power utility as well as for the maintenance of electrical infrastructure. That this is not done, worsens the situation immeasurably.”

Obaray added that the matter had been escalated to Parliamentary level for further investigation.

Residents in the affected towns have, meanwhile, pointed out that the electricity cuts have also left residents without water, while sewage is flowing in the streets.

“Because of the cuts, the water pumps cannot operate, and, especially high-lying areas do not have water, while the sewage pumps are also not able to work.

“Businesses are also affected and have had to adjust their business operating hours.