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Lichtenburg now in the same electricity crisis as Parys
Basson in the statement said Eskom "has exploited the entire situation in Lichtenburg as an unlawful debt recovery strategy since the start of the blackout 20 days ago."
The DA in North West today, 15 August, in a statement said the party is appalled by what they believe is Eskom’s devious attempt to manufacture a situation where the entity is no longer in contempt of court in the Lictenburg electricity saga.
According to MP Leon Basson, provincial leader of the DA in Northwest, there are two transformers supplying Lichtenburg with electricity (the same situation Parys had previously). Basson says transformer 2 which replaced the vandalised unit has now been switched on so that Eskom can bring repairs to Transformer 1 which is apparently leaking oil.
“In a desperate response to our final letter of demand sent to Eskom yesterday, Eskom is effectively trying to manoeuvre itself in line with the 2017 Mahikeng High Court judgement which ordered that electricity supply may only be suspended for repairs or servicing of equipment.”
Basson in the statement said Eskom has exploited the entire situation in Lichtenburg as an unlawful debt recovery strategy since the start of the blackout 20 days ago.
“The replaced transformer was indeed ready for reconnection on Thursday, 10 August , however, even during a meeting on Friday, 11 August between the entity and the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Eskom made demands for payment before it would resume electricity supply.”
Five days have passed since the transformer was replaced and ready to be switched on, yet Eskom has refused to do so until payments are made towards the Ditsobotla bulk electricity debt of more than R1 billion. Eskom even wanted the municipality to pay towards the replacement of the transformer,” Basson added.
“We have instructed our legal counsel to place Eskom’s devious change in strategy on record and solicit a response before the close of business today,” Basson said.
“We have also instructed our legal counsel to expedite their preparations to bring this matter to the High Court as soon as an opportunity is available on the court roll, he concluded.
