EBA stands firm on power cuts
EBA calls on the Ermelo business sector to stand together to counteract Eskom's planned electricity cut-offs to defaulting municipalities.
The Ermelo Business Association (EBA) will be holding a continental buffet breakfast this Friday (24 April) during which business owners will be briefed on the dire financial situation in which the Msukaligwa Local Municipality currently finds itself. The breakfast will be held at the Tourism Centre, commencing at 07:00 and is open to all bona-fide business owners at a cost of R50 per person. Pre-registration is essential as seats are limited. Registration will take place at the Info Centre from 06:30.
The EBA has voiced its concern over the drastic measures Eskom has threatened to take against municipalities who are in arrears with payments by cutting off the electricity supply to these municipalities by up to eight hours per day as from 5 June this year.
Msukaligwa reportedly owes Eskom R108 million and Rand Water is owed R198 million.
“An interruption of the power supply of up to eight hours a day will definitely cause severe financial losses to the business sector of Ermelo, which will in turn potentially cause a total collapse of the town’s economy. It will certainly sound the death knell for many smaller businesses,” said EBA president, Mr Athol Stark.
The EBA has called on all business owners to rally together to find a solution to counteract the threatening situation.
It has also called for a mandate from the business sector for the EBA to assist the municipality in ensuring that in future municipal funds are apportioned to the channels for which they were intended.
For more information phone 082 786 7959.
