Note to Editors: Please find the attached soundbite in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Theo Gerber.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) takes note of Eskom’s intention to suspend electricity supply on 30 October 2020 to the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality for failing to honour the payment agreement of its R45,7 million debt.
It is unfair that Eskom seeks to punish paying residents for the deliberate poor governance of the ANC.
The communities of Christiana and Bloemhof will be hit the hardest by these electricity cuts even though the payment rates in these two towns are about 85% for Christiana and 81% for Bloemhof.
It is unfair that even though residents pay their electricity accounts they are now faced with forced blackouts of up to 14 hours a day from 6am to 8pm every day until the Municipality makes the required payments as agreed.
The municipality was due to pay R6,2 million by 2 October 2020, but failed to honour the agreement.
The DA in Lekwa-Teemane will object in writing to Eskom on its intention to implement the suspension of bulk electricity supply. We cannot support Eskom’s planned bulk electricity supply interruption as it will have an adverse impact on our already struggling local economy and the quality of life of residents, a situation already made worse by the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Should Eskom proceed with these power disruptions there will be adverse consequences for small businesses and ordinary citizens. Businesses will not be able to operate at full capacity which may result in further job losses and the closure of more businesses. The elderly and patients who depend on oxygen machines will also be put at risk, while all other socio-economic services will come to a halt.
Eskom’s intended action will deal a deathblow to all economic activity in our struggling municipality.
The DA will also engage with the Acting Municipal Manager, Thuli Mbonani and Mayor Mpho Pilane requesting them to ensure that they honour the agreement with Eskom and make the outstanding payments immediately.
The ANC is to blame for the corruption, fraud, mismanagement, and poor service delivery in Lekwa-Teemane, Eskom should punish the ANC and not the people.