Mayor slams DA Ward Councilor for open letter

The Randfontein Local Municipality Executive Mayor Sylvia Thebenare has fired back at DA Ward Councilor Alwyn van

Tonder who made allegations that the municipality is pulling wool over resident’s eyes regarding maintainance work done to electricity substations.

This was stated in van Tonder’s open letter to the Mayor published in the Herald on 5 July.

According to van Tonder, the municipality is neglecting other areas in Randfontein by failing to provide adequate electricity supply.

He adds that they continously push the blame stating that some areas are not the responsibility of the Randfontein municipality but that of Eskom.

According to van Tonder, this is false information because most of the areas in Ward 3 are the municipality’s responsibility despite Thebenare’s recent contradicting statement during the budget speech.

“In Ward 3 the only agricultural holdings that are the responsibility of Eskom to maintain, are Dwarfskloof, a portion of Elandsvlei and a small portion of Ooster plots despite the mayor having stated otherwise,” says Van Tonder.

“The Bootha, Loumarna, Klein Elandsvlei, Townlands, Wheatlands and a portion of Ooster Agrigcultural Holdings still remain the responsibility of the municipality.

“The Drowell substation supplies these areas and is also the responsibility of the municipality to maintain,” says van Tonder.

He added that the municipality needs to give urgent attention to providing funds to maintain and upgrade the electrical networks.

In response to this, Thebenare said that it is incorrect for van Tonder to misinterpret her statement during the budget speech.

‘We are aware that the Randfontein Local Municipality distributes electricity to most of the residents in Ward 3.

“As previously indicated, we have a policy in place to provide services to all residents residing within its boundaries and we will stick to this.

“We will serve our community to the best of our ability,” says Thebenare.

She adds that during the 2010/ 2011 financial year, the municipality invested over R4 million on electrical projects in Ward 3 and that amount was still not sufficient.

“It should be noted that during the 2013/ 2014 financial year, the council has approved another R3 million to upgrade the existing networks.

“This is a clear indication that we are dedicated to serving our people” says Thebenare.