FEEDBACK: ESKOM POWER LIMITATIONS

Thabazimbi – The Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM) is still busy engaging with all spheres of government pertaining to the electricity crisis. Communication is currently executed on an urgent basis with Offices of CoGTA and National Treasury.

In the meantime the TLM consulted on Tuesday, 7 November, with a senior advocate regarding the constitutionality of the interruption of the bulk electricity supply of the municipality. We are applying to be added as amicus (to be added as a party to the proceedings) in the Sabie, Lydenburg and Graskop constitutional court case. Sabie, Lydenburg and Graskop Chambers of Commerce, are going through the exact same crisis and are in an advanced legal process, making it possible for the TLM to join them in their application, saving much time.

The aim of the application to the constitutional court is to, on an urgent basis, put a hold on the power limitations, for the time being, pending the finalisation of the matter in the Constitutional Court. The matter will be filed on 10 November 2017 and the urgent case will be heard within two weeks by the Constitutional Court.

We are aware that the Thabazimbi Chamber of Commerce is also busy with an urgent legal process against Eskom. The TLM is supporting them as well. Yet, the route they are taking differs from the one of the TLM. The TLM and the Chamber of Commerce, being two different entities, cannot follow the same legal approach.

Taking into consideration that Thabazimbi is experiencing a crisis which causes discomfort and damage to our total community, the most important action for the residents of the TLM is to realise that each and every community member must pay for services. Therefore each resident must responsibly take part in revenue enhancement initiatives such as the installation of the smart metering system, which is currently being hampered by specifically certain residents in Rooiberg, and the total area of Ipelegeng and Regorogile.

The TLM already adopted resolutions to disconnect power where payments are not being executed and where bridging took place. Unfortunately these resolutions could not be executed due to strong resistance from the mentioned communities. This type of behaviour now forces the TLM to consider much more serious actions to install the prepaid meters.

ESKOM HOAX NOTICE

Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM) is currently under extended power limitations as implemented by Eskom because of the historic debt on the Eskom account. A hoax Whatsapp message was fabricated earlier this week alleging that Eskom will be limiting the power even further. This message was distributed by worried community members. This caused much confusion and even made residents furious. We urge residents to refrain from sending messages that is not communicated officially by the municipality. The TLM is the client of Eskom and Eskom will only issue notices through the municipality and not directly to residents, as this is a contravention of the followed protocol. Eskom, on their side, does not know the origin of this notice and will never issue a notice without checking the contents thereof. Thus, as was evident, the message was fraudulent from the start because of the date error that is contained in it.

Yours in good governance, issued by the Office of the Speaker, 9 November 2017