The meeting had been called by former DA councillor Saal de Jager, and leading Parys business people. This follows a recent undated, unsigned flyer in which the municipal Manager, Mr Bruce Kannemeyer, wrote that Eskom was threatening to start interrupting daily electricity supply to Ngwathe’s five towns (Parys, Heilbron, Koppies, Edenville and Vredefort), effective from 1 September.
He warned businesses and residents whose accounts were in arrears for more than 120 days, that electricity and water supply would be cut to them as from last Friday (24 August).
During the meeting questions were asked about bridged electricity meters and faulty meters with apparently no attempt to repair it, alledged illegal electricity sales and why the culprits are not caught, accounts that are in chaos, the lack of management of supply of electricity to the indigent, and meter readings not done on a regular basis.
De Jager gave an indepth picture of the current service delivery by Ngwathe, in answer to several service delivery issues. He pointed out that only 30% of street lights are working, water supply and water pressure problems are experienced almost on a daily basis, potholes are increasing, blocked sewage pipes are causing tremendous problems, the irragation network that have to be up and running by 1 September is neglected, and sewage pump stations are overflowing, only to mention a few of the service delivery problems that were pointed out.
He said residents are looking for answers in this chaotic situation. After a spirited discus-sion the meeting decided to call on Mayor Joey Mochela to ensure that the Mayoral Task Team meet regularly to draw up a sustainable and achievable payment plan and punitive mea- sures. It was also asked that the Provincial Task Team meet regularly with the Development Forum, so that all aspects specified in the Development Forum’s court order be adhered to.
DA councillor Arnold Schoonwinkel told the meeting that Mayor Mochela had formed a multi-party Task Team to oversee municipal efforts to reduce electricity theft, collect unpaid arrears, fix or repair broken meters, reduce electricity leakage, and find a sustainable solution to the huge arrears. He and Cllr Phillip van der Merwe (FF+) were the two opposition members of the team. The problem though, is that this team hardly ever meets, and when it does, officials are badly prepared.
Councillor Van der Merwe said that in his experience officials were forever proposing new plans to address crisisses like the Eskom debacle, but lack the capacity to implement any such plans effectively. He feared that Ngwathe’s woe’s would continue until skilled and competent officials are appointed and the present practice of cadre deployment is scrapped.
He supports the immediate effective revival of the Eskom Task Team in compliance with the resolution Council took regarding its role and function addressing the Eskom issues.
Mr Gustav Dey, a strategic planner, told how Ngwathe Municipality’s financial situation had deteriorated in the past five years. He also outlined what little progress the Municipality had made in implementing the court order brought by the Development Forum nearly 45 months ago. For example, he said the municipality’s liabilities now exceeded its assets by R170 million-rand. Businessman Andries Vrey urged the Mayor to revive her Task Team, and to ensure officials prepare a sustainable revenue enhancement plan from electricity sales.
