Instead Mr Kobus Pieters, owner of among others Witbank Abattoir, is taking Eskom, Emalahleni Local Municipality and also the Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Lynn Brown to court.
“I have a basic right to water and electricity and therefore I can force them to provide me with my basic services,” Pieters said sternly.
Pieters said the urgent court application can be expected on May 8.
After the recent load shedding and now Eskom’s threat to interrupt electricity supply he will be spending R8-million on sun panels and R800 000 on a generator to run the abattoir efficiently.
“Eskom, the minister or the municipality must foot the bill,” Pieters said.
Pieters has reason for concern as ‘Interruption of bulk electricity supply to Emalahleni Local Municipality’ screamed from the bold letters in an urgent notice from Eskom.
Eskom intends to interrupt bulk electricity supply to the local municipality from June 5.
This, the electricity giant said will happen between 06:00 and 10:00 and 17:00 and 21:00 on Mondays through to Fridays. On weekends consumers will also feel Eskom’s grunt when they switch off between 07:00 and 10:00 and 17:00 and 20:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Notwithstanding the above proposed indicative times for the interruption of electricity supply, Eskom, upon 15 days’ notice reserves the right to disconnect electricity entirely and indefinitely should the electricity debt situation not improve,” Eskom said in the advert that appeared in WITBANK NEWS on April 24.
Mr Lebo Mofokeng, municipal spokesperson, said the municipality has progressively been under strain to settle its Eskom account.
“We have intensified our efforts to rectify the situation and bring the account to order. All our residents, businesses and sister government departments are urged to assist the municipality by paying their consumer accounts and making arrangements with the municipality for any arrears,” Mofokeng urged.
“I am not just taking legal steps as an individual, but as a member of this community. This planned electricity interruption and load shedding is taking its toll on business and also households,” he said.
Pieters said he is going to approach the court for a class action. This is a lawsuit that allows a large number of people with a common interest in a matter to sue as a group.
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