Govan Mbeki Municipality owes Eskom almost R5b
Much electricity was lost because of ghost vending
The Govan Mbeki Municipality Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, told the council they should acknowledge that the municipality owes Eskom almost R5b.
During a council meeting at the municipality on July 25, Zuma said many people made a lot of money by selling electricity through ghost vending.
“These people sold electricity not linked to the municipality through an unknown system. However, when they upload the code, it will consume the municipality’s electricity we buy from Eskom.
“That is why we had to change the municipality’s SG [a unique reference number the surveyor-general office gives to each land parce] code.”
“Councillors should know that pre-paid electricity meters have a lifespan and must be calibrated or removed.
“The country’s technological advancement has led us to the end of 30 years since the introduction of the current pre-paid meters, which means a new code must be installed in each meter to be able to function,” said Zuma.
He added that customers using the old meters would be unable to load electricity by the end of November.
Some councillors accused municipal employees of bridging electricity for residents after the new smart meters were installed.
DA Clr Tonny Mabizela said the municipality should investigate their employees’ conduct because it is installing smart meters to curb electricity losses, but some employees are working against that goal.
The mayor said they would look into this suggestion.
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