AfriForum wins urgent court application in Westonaria

AfriForum is said to have won a court case regarding electricity cuts against the Westonaria Local Municipality.

According to Afriforum’s provincial co-ordinator for Southern Gauteng, Marcus Pawson,”The application was brought after the municipality cut the electricity of residents arbitrary.”

Pawson issued a statement on Wednesday stating “The Westonaria District Court ordered the municipality to restore the electricity of an AfriForum member within two hours, and granted an interdict which prevents the cutting of electricity pending a dispute which was declared regarding the account’s unlawful tariffs.”

The court also allegedly granted a cost order against the municipality.

Pawson continued “The court was approached after the finance chief at the municipality agreed telephonically to restore all unlawful electricity cuts, after AfriForum explained to him that residents’ electricity may, in terms of the law, not be cut if a dispute has been declared, as well as that the municipality failed to give 14 days’ notice, which is also a prerequisite before electricity may be cut. The finance chief did not keep his word, which prompted the Westonaria branch of AfriForum to intervene.

“The court confirmed that electricity of residents who declared a dispute may not be cut before the dispute has been resolved.”

Mike van Deventer, chairman of the AfriForum Westonaria branch said “The municipality failed to give 14 days’ notice. They’ve also increased tariffs unlawfully. We are now taking a stand.”

AfriForum appeals to residents to get dispute forms from their AfriForum branch in Westonaria and to submit it to the office of the Municipal Manager.

Join your AfriForum Westonaria branch and SMS the name of your town to 45342 (R1).

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