EMLM block of power sparks payments

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) budget and treasury office was abuzz last week with residents queuing to either pay or negotiate a settlement after the electricity of non-paying residents was blocked.

The local authority conducted a surprise blockage of power to people who failed to pay their accounts, or tampered with their meter boxes.

The most affected areas in Komani were Mlungisi, which is notorious for illegal connections, and Ezibeleni.

While the municipality was blocking power, several men were reported to the local authority for illegally connecting electricity to Enkululekweni residents.

An EMLM communications officer who posted a picture of the men on the Chris Hani WhatsApp media group said they got rid of the illegal disconnections to avoid damage to the municipality's electricity network.

A Khayelitsha resident who did not want to be named and is dependent on a government grant, said power went off at her house on Friday afternoon and she initially thought it was one of the municipality's unplanned power outages.

“I stayed without power for the whole weekend because my neighbours had also been cut, until Sunday when I realised other people in the same area had power. I went to buy electricity at the nearest store and was told they could not process the purchase because I had been blocked. I visited the municipal office and made a payment and was immediately unblocked.”

Resident Mncedi Batyi whose family home is in Ezibeleni said power was switched off last week even though they had been paying and did not understand why they had been disconnected.

“My brother’s wife had to come all the way from Bloemfontein to have the matter fixed. So many people who are paying, were blocked, which is why we do not understand what this whole thing is about. We also would like to be notified if anything like this is going to be done, so we can check on payments prior to the blockage.”

EFF councillor Luthando Amos said he received complaints from several elderly women in Ezibeleni whose electricity was blocked.

“These are pensioners and are supposed to be on the indigent list, but the area’s ward councillor has failed dismally in ensuring elderly women had a payment discount. I will take this upon myself and assist these women by placing them on the list so that they either get a discount or are free from paying, depending on each individual's situation.”

EMLM manager in the office of the mayor, Butsha Lali, said in all towns under the local authority's watch, power was either being stolen or not being paid for as required.

“Those who claim to have been erroneously blocked can visit our budget and treasury office where their queries will be heard.”