The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Simon Skhosana has led a government delegation to meet Eskom to resolve the debt problem that nearly led to an electricity cut off in the Thaba Chweu Local municipality.
The delegation included the Executive Mayor of Thaba Chweu Cllr Michael Ncongwane and officials from both the Provincial Government and the municipality.
The meeting agreed that there will no electricity cut off and the municipality will pay off its current account of R11.8 million. There after the municipality will continue to service its current account.
The meeting further agreed that Thaba Chweu Municipality and Eskom will work together to develop a repayment plan for the outstanding debt of R163 million. The repayment plan will be for a period of 12 months. Eskom will conduct a cable audit to be able to determine all illegal electricity connections and they will also assist the municipality to ensure that its billing system is accurate.
The administrative team dispatched to the municipality is yielding positive results. It has been able to put systems in place that have enabled the municpality to be able to increase the electrity payment rate.
MEC Skhosana would like to assure residents that there will be no electricity cut off. “ Our meeting with Eskom has yielded positive results. I would like to appeal to all residents and businsses to also play their part by paying for their electricity accounts,” said Skhosana.
