GTCoC and Mayor want power supply security as Eskom backs off on cuts

By Craig Kotze
Organised business and Large Power Users (LPU’s) and Emfuleni’s Executive Mayor last week began hammering out the outlines of a permanent solution to power supply issues brought to a head by Eskom’s threat of a cut-off later this week.
By Monday morning (4 November 2019) it was still not clear whether ELM had honoured its commitment last week to pay Eskom R142 million on outstanding debt of R1,7bn by 2 November, which fell over the weekend.
“Our focus is clear – we need a permanent solution to power security issues insofar as ELM is concerned and we can no longer afford as a region to be held hostage by the incompetence and gross negligence of top officials on this and other issues,”said Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) CEO Klippies Kritzinger.
Kritzinger added the GTCoC and LPU’s would “move Heaven and Hell” to also achieve justice for residents and businesses who were the victim of predatory power tariff increases of almost 21% by ELM but which have been set aside by High Court order.
“This money must be paid back as soon as possible by ELM and we now await what the Mayor will propose in this regard,” said Kritzinger.
It is estimated these increases – gained under false pretences by ELM after late submission to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) – sucked up an extra R250 million from the Vaal economy into ELM coffers – but Eskom and other service providers were still not paid.
Last week ELM Executive Mayor Gift Moerane also took the reins at the faltering municipality from the “Gang of Two”- acting Municipal Manager Oupa Nkoane and Chief Financial Officer Andile Dyakala – after it emerged they were talking to Eskom in secret for weeks on the cut-off threat.
News of the secret talks was broken by a Mooivaal Media investigation and enraged both the business community, Moerane and other uncaptured elements at the embattled local authority.
Dyakala denied the talks in writing and even said Eskom was investigating the authenticity of the Eskom cut-off letter before the bulk utility itself last week confirmed the October 19 letter and talks.
In a dramatic take-back of power from the two officials – who were both originally sent by Gauteng Province to turn ELM around – Moerane also announced he was also taking personal control of the crucial Budget Committee from Nkoane and Dyakala, who have both been accused of a “coup” against oversight and the Mayor.
Nkoane and Dyakala have used the Budget Committee to decide which ELM service providers would be paid and which unauthorised contracts to issue and summarily cancel – all whilst ELM sank further into administrative and service delivery chaos, said informed sources.
Persistent rumours on Nkoane’s resignation could not be confirmed but gathered momentum after a week of major setbacks for him after his attempts to manipulate ANC and EFF councillors to have his name removed from the damning Comperio forensics report backfired.
Following an emergency summit at PSN legal firm offices in Vanderbijlpark last week, the GTCoC held a series of meetings with Moerane on how to find a sustainable solution on power security.
It was agreed that the GTCoC and other stakeholders would prepare a proposal for consideration and possible joint implementation with ELM.