According to community members of Empumelelweni they had to spend Christmas in the dark because of a problematic transformer.
The members said it all started in November last year and the members then decided in a meeting that something needs to be done about the problem.
They said that it was resolved that some representatives should be chosen to approach the municipality to sort the problem.
Together with their Ward 29 councillor David Makgetloa they held a meeting at the municipality and it was resolved that they must pay R800 per household to fix the transformer.
They were told that a large number of them does not pay for municipal services and they negotiated until the amount was brought down to R300.
It was agreed that if most people pay, the transformer would be fixed.
During a meeting held on Saturday, January 11 and led by former Cllr Timothy Lukhele, members voice their frustrations.
They said they were still without electricity and they were concerned.
Cllr David Makgetloa acknowledge that indeed a block meeting was held before December 16 to sort out the transformer problem and four delegates were chosen to represent community members together with ward committee members and himself and held a meeting at the municipality.
“During the meeting at the municipality the delegates were told about the council resolution that community members must pay a certain amount to fix transformers in their wards. Any amount paid will reflect on their accounts. In our ward we agreed that the money would have to be paid in my office to speed up the process,” said Cllr Makgetloa.
Cll Makgetloa said he was surprised by the conduct of Mr Lukhele who is busy misleading community members.
“Community members have agreed to pay the amount and all is as it was agreed upon. We have challenges in the ward and some of the challenges and problems were caused by Mr Lukhele. We do not have an open space in the ward like the other wards all because of him. People must not be misled and they must just pay for their services, failing which our municipality will collapse. They must just do the right things,” added Cllr Makgetloa.
