Seshego residents anxious over electricity payment arrangement

POLOKWANE – Last Wednesday, around 30 residents of Seshego had their electricity boxes unblocked by the Polokwane Municipality, despite facing significant debt.

The municipality had requested these residents to pay 20% of their outstanding municipal debt to maintain their electricity supply, but many residents are anxious about their ability to keep up with this arrangement.

The municipality is grappling with millions of rand in unpaid services, which has impacted service delivery. Some government buildings, including those rented by government entities, have been affected by payment issues. Recently, the municipality has blocked certain services, such as power purchases, until at least a portion of the debt is settled.

Last Wednesday, affected groups, including those from Seshego, marched to the municipal offices, hoping for a revised payment arrangement.

Many residents are struggling to meet the initial terms, due to unemployment and reliance on social grants.

Despite multiple warnings and opportunities to apply for indigent assistance, some residents felt these measures were insufficient.

After discussions with municipal officials, the group was granted immediate relief, allowing them to purchase electricity for the month without making any payments. While grateful for this temporary reprieve, residents expressed a need for long-term solutions, including employment and business opportunities to help them manage their debts.

Mama Edwinah, a resident who spoke to BONUS, shared her financial difficulties.

“We have retired from low-paying jobs, and our children, despite being educated and running small businesses, are still unemployed. They rely on social grants to support their families. We want to pay the 20%, but we simply don’t have the money. We’re concerned about whether we’ll be re-blocked if we can’t meet the full payment. We’re also waiting for approval for indigent assistance, which we desperately need,” she said.

Unemployment in Limpopo has seen some relief, with the province creating 182 000 jobs in 2023, making it second only to Gauteng in terms of job creation. A percentage of 31.4% of the population, however, remains unemployed, with a significant portion being black women, according to data.

Spokesperson Thipa Selala from the Polokwane Municipality stated that he would seek clarification on the arrangement with officials. He urged qualifying residents to continue applying for indigent help and to make payment arrangements where possible.