Uproar as Eskom pulls plug on power in four municipalities

MANY towns in the province were left without electricity as Eskom went ahead with the planned disconnection of bulk electricity supply to four local municipalities this week.

Late yesterday the Eastern Cape provincial government said it had intervened in a bid to halt the cuts.

The affected municipalities – Gariep, Nxuba, Maletswai and Ikwezi – owe the power utility a combined R168-million.

Early last month, Eskom called for public comments and engaged the affected municipalities and other relevant stakeholders.

Yesterday, Eastern Cape Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana said they had considered the public comments.

“We have intensively engaged the municipalities and other relevant stakeholders, including the department of cooperative governance (Cogta) and the provincial treasury.

“The selected switch-off times are due to submissions made by the concerned parties,” said Mpondwana.

The Eastern Cape government yesterday said it was intervening in a bid to prevent Eskom from continuing with the power cuts in these municipalities.

Government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said they would not allow it to happen.

“We have intervened and engaged with Eskom on this matter. We won’t allow this to happen. However, Cogta and the treasury department must still investigate why there were these non-payments from these municipalities,” said Kupelo.

Last month Eskom said it would cut off electricity to the four local municipalities.

Gariep owes R42.96-million, Maletswai R64.98-million, Ikwezi R13.96-million and Nxuba R46.79-million.

The main towns affected are Aliwal North, Burgersdorp, Steynsburg, Jansenville, Adelaide and Bedford.

Many residents interviewed by the Dispatch complained of the timing, saying Eskom could wait until January.

Mpondwana said Eskom was mindful of the time of year, and the probable impact on business and on essential services.

“We are acting responsibly. We do not want to cripple essential services,” he said.

Maggie Mabetha of Dukathole township in Aliwal North said their electricity was cut for more than two hours yesterday.

“We woke up without power at 6am and it was restored just before 9am. We really don’t know what is happening.

“Every month I am using R900 for electricity – the fault is not with us here, but the municipality. Why do we have to suffer at this time of the year,” asked Mabetha.

Bedford resident Jean Stevenson also found her electricity was cut off.

“Eskom has cut the electricity off to the town although they are mostly on prepaid metres, so we are really upset.

“Why hasn’t Eskom been paid by the municipality,” asked Stevenson.

“I have visitors from Johannesburg, and so has my neighbours. This is embarrassing.

“They must please fix the problem – they can’t do this at Christmas time.”

Intended times for switch-off in the municipalities are between 6am and 9am; noon and 2pm and 5pm and 9pm daily.

“Eskom has invoked its credit control measures as per the bulk electricity supply agreements with the affected municipalities,” Mpondwana said.

“It should be emphasised that the disconnection of the bulk supply to a municipality is implemented as a last resort, only after all other measures have failed.”

The DA yesterday called on Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to initiate action against the municipal managers of the municipalities.

DA spokeswoman for public enterprises Natasha Mazzone said that poor management and lack of fiscal responsibility were to blame for the cuts‚ and now residents were forced to bear the brunt.

“It must now be made known where the money that was collected for the Eskom payment has gone and why these bills remain unpaid.

“It is Minister Brown’s responsibility to ensure that when [municipalities] do default there is strong action against the wayward officials.” —