After pressure from the FF Plus, the Gauteng government has decided to intervene in the devastating power crisis which has been plaguing Fochville for years.
Fochville falls under the Merafong Local Municipality.
Merafong’s failure to resolve the issue has left Fochville affected by the power crisis for years.
It has had a detrimental impact on many businesses and caused great frustration among residents.
The root of the problem is the lack of routine maintenance to the power network and the Municipality’s exorbitant amount of outstanding debt to Eskom.
After numerous pleas from the public and businesses, the FF Plus arranged an urgent meeting with Mr Jacob Mamobolo, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
The FF Plus councillor in Merafong, Ben van der Berg, put the entire power crisis on the table during the meeting.
Mamobolo suggested that the province contract City Power to conduct an audit of the Fochville power network to determine the state it is in, and identify possibilities for upgrades and maintenance.
The FF Plus supported the suggestion seeing as it will allow the provincial government to have a say in repairing the power network.
The MEC also suggested conducting an investigation to determine whether businesses in Fochville would be interested in using an exclusive power line, which will not be affected by Merafong’s outstanding debt to Eskom, at extra cost.
The FF Plus undertook to take this up with the relevant businesses.
As soon as City Power’s audit has been completed, the FF Plus will meet with Mamobolo again to determine which steps will be taken next to bring the power network back up to standard.
At long last there is light at the end of Fochville’s dark tunnel of power problems, thanks to the FF Plus’s initiative.
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