Ventersdorp protests against ‘inhumane’ debt collection policy

The residents who were up in arms on Monday demanding the reversal of the ‘inhumane’ system of debt collection.

The enraged protesters, comprising township residents, village dwellers, farmers, farm labourers, burnt tyres and closed down the municipal building.

In July, Naledi Rampa, a community leader, summed up the situation for the Herald. ‘When one spends R100 on electricity, that person gets only R5 worth of electricity and the rest goes towards settling the arrears account. The person, therefore, will receive 3,4 kilowatts.

‘This is detrimental to the poorest of the poor in our community, including HIV positive people, the aged and child-headed families that need electricity to cook and store medication in fridges. There is a woman on oxygen who also needs electricity. Where is her husband going to get the money if he only receives 3,4 kilowatts of electricity each day?’ he asked.

According to Rampa, the merger between Tlokwe and Ventersdorp municipalities has added to the woes of the poorest of the poor in Ventersdorp.

The 95:5 arrears policy has been in operation in Potchefstroom for many years but it has proved to be a nightmare in Ventersdorp.

The council spokesperson, Willie Maphosa says Monday’s protest stopped after the MMC for finance, Kelvin Johnson, and the acting CFO, Kgosietsile Kgosiemang addressed the protesters.

‘They agreed that the protest action would cease after a commitment by the MMC that Council would address the numerous concerns raised. He said the council would embark on fresh consultations through a number of ward-based imbizos to explain how the new 95:5 rates collection system operates.

‘Meanwhile, the municipality will expedite the registration of indigents. Ward councillors will be requested to work with their ward committees to ensure that all deserving indigents in their wards are properly registered so as to qualify for the 80 kW free electricity per month.

‘Qualifying people are urged to take advantage of this provision, seeing that the municipality offers 30 kW more than the prescribed 50 kW,’ he said.

Maphosa says the municipality is also appealing to all consumers whose meters are not linked to the municipality to approach any rates hall with copies of their identity documents to have them connected. Consumers will not be able to access the electricity supply if they are not linked.