A ray of hope shone on the embattled residents of Modimolle, Mookgophong and Vaalwater after Eskom committed to suspend power supply interruptions scheduled to have kicked in on Thursday 28 June.
This was a direct sequel to a High Court ruling for Eskom to halt threatened interruptions, in terms of the specifications of the Municipal Finance Management Act
The Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality has since been placed under administration by the Limpopo Provincial Legislature.
In terms of the Act’s specifications, the municipality has the power to stall legal proceedings by its creditors through a court order.
The municipality owes Eskom upwards of R244 million in unpaid arrears.
On a separate but somewhat related development, a total of 500 households in Modimolle’s Extension 13 lit up the sky with new electricity connections, unveiled by Modimolle-Mookgophong Mayor
Marlene van Staden.
The connections were officially unveiled at pensioner Maria Morudu’s shack.
The suspension of power cuts were envisaged to allow the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality sufficient time to make other payment arrangements.
The court order is valid for a period of 90 days with effect from last Tuesday 26 June.
“Eskom is obliged to supply electricity on a financially-sustainable basis, and may resume with electricity supply interruptions if (the) Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality fails to honour any terms and the conditions that the parties may enter into,” Eskom said.
Van Staden said it remained the municipality’s priority to stabilise its finances, and to also accelerate service delivery.
“I want to thank all the roleplayers who made this possible and implore residents to please pay their municipal accounts on time,” she added.
— The BEAT
