Four municipalities in the Mpumalanga province, that are struggling to settle Eskom electricity debts worth over a billion rand, experienced power cuts in early October.
The municipalities include Dipaleseng in Balfour, Goven Mbeki in Secunda, Thaba Chweu in Lydenburg and Emalahleni in Witbank.
Early in 2017, Eskom announced that it is owed over R10 billion by a number of municipalities countrywide.
Eskom further issued a warning to the municipalities that failure to make arrangements on the settlement of the electricity debts will result in the disruption of electricity supply.
In the beginning of October Eskom started implementing power cuts. However, the problem was speedily resolved in municipalities such as Dipaleseng and Govan Mbeki.
Eskom switches off electricity for three hours everyday in Thaba Chweu. Residents went on a rampage barricading roads with stones and burning tyres.
A resident shares the frustration with the electricity disruptions.
“You come home from work, there is no electricity. Children want to go to school, they use cold water to bath. Sometimes we sleep without eating because there is no electricity. When the is no electricity it means there is no water.”
The Thaba Chweu Local Municipality cover areas such as Matibidi, Graskop and Sabie.
The municipality alone owes Eskom over R400 million.
The municipality is home to a number of the province’s tourist attractions.
Karim Uren, who owns a restaurant in Sabie, says they have already lost customers due to the disruptions.
Realising the challenge faced by residents and business people in Mashishing, the Sabie Chamber of Tourism and Business took the electricity matter to court.
Rupus Culwik of the Sabie Chamber of Commerce, says, “We have already taken legal action. We had a matter out before the High Court in Nelspruit. It was dismissed on a procedural ground. A decision has been made. Now, notices have been given that we are going to take it to the Constitutional Court and ask them for a hearing on an urgent matter. We are waiting for more information as to when that will be heard.”
Eskom, however, maintained that it will continue with electricity disruption until payment arrangements are made.
Spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says, “We are aware that some municipalities in Mpumalanga are taking us to court. We are ready for the challenge. The decision to disrupt electricity supply was taken after the North Gauteng High Court granted us permission to do so.”
Emalahleni Local Municipality owes Eskom about R1.3 billion.
Emalahleni Municipality’s Mayor Lindiwe Ntshalintshali says they are unable to settle their debt because some residents are failing to pay for the services.
Ntshalintshali has also expressed a concern about the attack on municipal workers whose job is to check weather households pay for services around Emalahleni.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance conducted marches to all the municipalities that had electricity crises.
The marches were led by the DA’s provincial leader James Masango.
“The problem is that it is not the municipality that is getting affected when the electricity is cut off. Now and then, the real people that are suffering are the end-users of the electricity in the community.”
The municipalities have attributed the huge electricity debts to non-payment for services and illegal connections.
Disruption of electricity supply are continuing in Thaba Chweu.
