The failure of the Mogale City Local Municipality (Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift) to pay service providers on time has left the Featherbrook Business Park without power for more than ten days.
The contractor responsible for restoring the Business Park’s power supply refused to continue with repairs until the Municipality settles its overdue account.
The FF Plus put constant pressure on the Department of Electricity, ever since the power outage on 2 March which was caused by a broken power cable, to indicate when the problem is expected to be resolved.
The party also sent a letter to the Municipal Manager, Makhosana Msezana, requesting that the problem be urgently addressed.
After constant pressure, the head of the Electricity Department, Given Masuka, finally admitted that the Municipality only settled its overdue account with the contractor on Monday. It is, however, not clear when the repair work will be resumed.
At present, a generator is used to supply power to 10 shops and 22 offices between 7:30 and 11:30, and again from 13:30 to 17:30.
The generator has to be given time to cool down between 11:30 and 13:30.
This is a necessary step, according to the Business Park’s management, seeing as the generator overheated last week.
Businesses did not have power for an additional period last week because the service provider failed to deliver fuel on time. Since the power outage started, R50 000 worth of diesel has been used.
Businesses are the heartbeat of Mogale City’s economy, and the Council has a duty to pay its service providers on time.
Mogale City’s failure to maintain infrastructure in the area should not be tolerated any longer. Taxpayers deserve better than the ANC.