The Merafong City Local Municipality is looking for help from other spheres of government to assist in settling of its
Eskom account.
In an advert in last week’s Herald, Eskom announced its plans to interrupt the bulk electricity supply to the municipality from 25 October.
‘Merafong Local Municipality is currently indebted to Eskom to the amount of R122 288 573.70 (more than R120 million) for the bulk supply of electricity, part of which has been outstanding and in escalation since 20 April 2017,’ Eskom says. As a result, it ‘is contemplating a regulated interruption of electricity supply as opposed to an outright disconnection. Consequently, the supply to all houses in Merafong who receive municipal electricity will be cut at certain times each day. Old Khutsong and some rural areas that Eskom supplies directly, will not be affected. The Herald asked the municipality for an explanation on Tuesday.
‘Eskom is informing the public that it wants the municipality to explain why its electricity account is in arrears. The
advertisement was placed in all the municipalities that are in arrears.
‘Over the past year, we have been in ongoing negotiations with Eskom regarding the electricity account and agreements have been put in place to service the debt. We are also in the process of seeking assistance from the Provincial and National Treasury.
‘The municipality had no prior notification of the advertisement but we have arranged to discuss the situation with
Eskom. The public will be informed of any developments as the negotiations progress,’ a municipal spokesperson
indicated.
The municipality did not say what had happened to the money from the law-abiding citizens who have paid their accounts. It also failed to comment on the fact that some residents are now considering getting their electricity
directly from Eskom.
Meanwhile, the DA plans to picket in front of the Carletonville municipal offices on Thursday. It is also calling for
Merafong to be placed under administration.
Mr Chucku Kerileng, a community leader, from Khutsong’s Ext. 3 Crisis Committee has called on those who do
not pay their municipal accounts to start doing so.