NOTICE: ESKOM’S INTERRUPTION OF BULK ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO MASILONYANA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

 Following Eskom’s notice (Interruption of Bulk Electricity Supply to Masilonyana Local Municipality), published in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA). Eskom is contemplating regulated interruption of electricity supply due to the Municipality’s failure to honour its payment agreement entered into with Eskom.

 Members of the community, residents and businesses who are to be materially and adversely affected by Eskom’s contemplated interruption of bulk electricity supply will be allowed an opportunity to make alternative arrangements for the scheduled periods of interruption.

 The daily scheduled periods of interruption which will commence from the 28^th February 2018 are as follows:

 Week 1:

 Week 2:

Week 3:

Notwithstanding the above proposed indicative times for the interruption of electricity supply, Eskom may, upon 15 calendar days’ notice, serve the right to disconnect electricity entirely and indefinitely should the electricity debt situation not improve.

The following towns/municipal areas shall be affected by the contemplated interruption and/or disconnection, except those directly supplied by Eskom.

Masilonyana Local Municipality/Customer Affected Towns/Points of Supply

• Brandfort • Theunissen • Winburg • Verkeerdevlei

 The Municipality has to this date continued to engage with Eskom in order to find a sustainable solution which will also be in the best interests of its consumers. Despite these engagements, the municipality has tried its best under the circumstances to keep up with its Eskom debt of R48, 5 million.

 Notwithstanding that the Municipality’s Eskom debt keeps on escalating and regardless of inconsistent servicing of Municipal Eskom debt, it is fundamental to point out that such payments were made against limited revenue generated by the Municipality due to poor payment of services by consumers.

 Equally, the harsh reality for the Municipality is that Eskom is not the only creditor of bulk services that the Municipality has, the Municipality also has to incur expenses for bulk raw water supply, chemicals for water purification, fuel costs and other operational costs amongst others.

 It is however, regrettable and unfortunate that should Eskom proceed with these power cuts, they will further add to the negative investor confidence in the municipality, negatively affect socio-economic activities, and adversely impact on the quality of life of the people of Masilonyana, which will ultimately fuel economic decline and unemployment.

 For more information and enquiries please contact Zongezile Ntjwabule at 073 595 4973 or zongezile@masilonyana.co.za

 We apologize for any inconvenience caused and wish to advise that the situation receives our priority attention.

 ____________________

Tsekedi (Mr.)

Municipal Manager

Masilonyana Local Municipality

 26/02/2018