Culture of paying for services must be taught, says councillor

A flat rate for electricity can help foster a culture of payment among Soweto residents, according to a local councillor.

Soweto ANC councillor Mpho Sesedinyane believes a proposal for a R150 monthly flat rate for electricity could be a starting point to address the country’s nonpayment woes.

The flat rate proposal was the brainchild of the South African National Civic Organisation – a nonpolitical organisation which advocates on behalf of communities in engagements with government and other service providers.

Soweto owes Eskom almost R20 billion – almost half of the total local municipal debt owed to the electricity utility.

Eskom has started disconnecting power to thousands of Soweto households as a consequence.

Sesedinyane said the culture of nonpayment dates back to apartheid when residents were told not to pay for public services as an act of resistance.

“Our people were told not to pay for services, not to pay for electricity,” Sesedinyane said.

The ruling ANC had not come back to residents to communicate it was noble to pay for services, after taking over in 1994.

Some residents could afford to pay, but were stuck in the old “mentality” and were still resisting payment.

“We need to bring them back and say, we have won the country now. It is [the ANC] that are governing now, can we now start to contribute and pay Eskom,” Sesedinyane said.

These views had previously been expressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy,

David Mabuza, among others.

Sesedinyane said the introduction of a flat rate could be a starting point to create a culture of payment for services.

“We had to agree [with the National Civic Organisation]. For Eskom to collect revenue, it is important to start somewhere,” he said.

Eskom would at least generate some kind of income, which was better than none at all.

Sesedinyane said the majority of Soweto residents were unemployed, lived below the poverty line and were reliant on social grants. This meant they were unable to pay for electricity.

The flat rate should be set at an amount which everyone could afford, including grant beneficiaries. After three or four years, the flat rate could be increased, because people would be used to paying for electricity.

Sesedinyane said prepaid meters were not the solution: “Our people will start connecting themselves illegally and they will not pay for electricity.”

The South African Local Government Association – an association comprised of 257 local governments – did not think a flat rate would work. Spokesperson Sivuyile Mbambato said the proposal was “unsustainable”.

“We do not have the luxury of cheap and excess electricity like we did more than 20 years ago. Everyone must pay for what they use,” he said.

The association supported a prepaid solution.

“The residents still reject that. This is an indication of how deep is the culture on nonpayment in our communities.”

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