Time runs out for Eskom debt

Enoch Mgijima will soon suffer power cuts

ENOCH Mgijima municipality does not have a clear plan on how it will pay its bulk electricity debt to Eskom.

Mayor Sisisi Tolashe told councillors at a special council meeting on Thursday that they had paid R12-million to Eskom after the power utility demanded that they pay an extra R4-million in order to consider their payment plan.

And Eskom has warned that should the municipality fail to make the payment, it would be lights out for residents in Komani, Tarkastad, Hofmeyr, Molteno and Sterkstroom from Thursday.

Meanwhile, Tolashe said they had established a committee that would ensure that residents paid for services.

“A big chunk of our electricity is tampered with. We are going to cut all those who steal from us. We call on councillors to make sure that our technicians are not harassed in their areas. Whether we pay the amount we will still have a lot of money to pay because of the illegal connections,” she said.

Municipal manager Chris Magwangqana said they presented their plan to Eskom and they were told to pay an extra R4-million for Eskom to consider their plan.

“On April 18 when we met with the premier for the first time, we received the correspondence that our plan was not accepted and in order for Eskom not to switch off the electricity we have to pay the current debt in full,” he said.

Magwangqana said Eskom stated that if they failed to pay the whole amount by the end of April, electricity would be switched off on Thursday as they would not allow them to accumulate more debt.

“We are switching all those who do not pay their services and those who steal electricity. We are losing a lot of money from businesses who steal electricity.”

Magwangqana said since they started switching off electricity, they managed to make R13-million in two weeks.

“Today we have paid an additional R16-million to Eskom. We believe that Eskom will allow us to negotiate with them. We have the capacity to pay the full amount to Eskom by the end of this month.”

Eskom provincial spokesman Zama Mpondwana said the power utility would proceed with the contemplated interruption of bulk electricity supply from Thursday and would continue indefinitely.

“This decision was taken after both parties failed to reach an agreement on a plan to settle the debt of the bulk electricity supply given to Enoch Mgijima local municipality.

“Eskom hereby notifies all parties who are likely to be materially and adversely affected that the planned interruption will commence on Thursday, May 3 2018,” he said.

He said electricity would be cut during the week from 6am to 9am and again at 5pm to 8.30pm in the first week. On Saturday and Sunday, electricity is expected be cut from 8.30am to 12noon and 3pm to 7pm.

“On the second week onwards, electricity will be cut from 8am to 8pm during the week and on 6am to 8pm during the weekend,” he said.

Mpondwana said if no payment is made or no agreement is reached by May 7, Eskom would increase the power interruptions a day.

“The affected areas are Komani, Tarkastad, Hofmeyr, Molteno and Sterkstroom.” —