The Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg in the North West has cut electricity supply to several businesses, government offices and schools, citing non-payment of electricity debts.
The municipality is facing severe financial challenges, including its own R1.4 billion debt to Eskom.
Acting Chief Financial Officer of the municipality, Ntesang Moagi, says residents and businesses were issued a 14-day notice before their power was cut.
Moagi says repeated attempts were made to engage government departments who also owe the municipality however talks yielded no results.
“We have been communicating with them, having several meetings and asking the province to intervene but they are just not coming to the party and on Monday with our management meeting, we just decided it does not help. We tried to communicate with them because they are government but for many years they have not been paying, and the sad part is they are getting their income from 100% grant while our income is only 30% from grant and 70%, we have to collect. Now we are sitting with creditors that we cannot pay but they don’t want to pay their accounts.”
Moagi adds that the municipality is not going to restore electricity until these entities settle their debts.
Water outages
In March this year, SABC News reported on the municipality’s struggle with severe water outages.
Residents are forced to travel long distances with wheelbarrows to collect water for everyday use and drinking.
The municipality, already plagued by political instability, left communities in Coligny, Blydeville, and Boikhutso without a reliable supply; and concerns were also growing over the safety of the water they collect.
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