Die VF Plus het die Vrystaatse LUR vir finansies, me. Elsabé Rockman, versoek om dringend in te gryp in die kragkrisis wat inwoners van Tokologo-munisipaliteit ervaar as gevolg van die nie-nakoming van die betalingsooreenkoms van die munisipaliteit met Eskom. (Sien brief onderaan)
Tokologo-plaaslike munisipaliteit (Boshof, Dealesville en Hertzogville) kom nie sy betalingsooreenkoms met Eskom na nie en betalende inwoners word nou gestraf weens die swak finansiële bestuur van die munisipaliteit.
Gevolglik dreig Eskom tans met meer aggressiewe kragonderbrekings met soveel as 14 ure se beurtkrag vir inwoners wat getrou hul munisipale rekeninge betaal.
Tokologo skuld die elektrisiteitsvoorsiener R36 miljoen.
"Effektiewe munisipaliteite is die hardklop van die provinsie en as hulle misluk, misluk die Vrystaat, sê Tammy Wesselss, VF Plus Vrystaatse LPW
"Beloftes bly egter lugkastele aangesien talle munisipaliteite in die provinsie nie basiese finansiële funksies kan verrig nie"
"Rockman was in die verlede betrokke by onderhandelinge tussen Eskom en Vrystaatse munisipaliteite om terugbetalingsooreenkomstes aan te gaan, sê Wessels
"Meestal betalende inwoners word deur Eskom se onderbrekings geraak, aangesien inwoners in ander gebiede soos Malebogo buite Boshoff krag direk van Eskom koop."
Intussen staar die Masilonyana-munisipaliteit (Brandfort, Theunissen en Winburg) soortgelyke kragonderbrekings in die gesig met ‘n skuldlas van R48 miljoen.
Die VF Plus het Rockman ook versoek om, as deel van die 2018/2019-begroting wat sy op 7 Maart ter tafel sal lê, voorsiening te maak om agterstallige munisipaliteite te help om volhoubare maatreëls in plek te stel sodat betalende inwoners nie verder benadeel word nie.
"Die Vrystaatse regering het in die premier se openingsrede beloftes van ekonomiese transformasie gemaak. Die beloftes bly egter lugkastele aangesien talle munisipaliteite in die provinsie nie basiese finansiële funksies kan verrig nie, sê Wessels.
TO: The Hon MEC for Finance
Me Elzabe Rockman
FROM: Tammy Wessels
FF Plus MPL
28 February 2018
Urgent intervention in Tokologo electricity cuts
Dear Madam
As you are aware, residents of the Tokologo municipality are currently experiencing electricity interruptions owing to outstanding debt by the municipality to Eskom.
The electricity supplier yesterday (Tuesday, 28 February) also indicated that it would intensify power interruptions should the municipality not honour the payment agreement.
Such interruptions will affect residents and businesses for an additional two hours of power outages, with the possibility of a daily 14 hour long interruption, should the municipality continue to fail to honour the agreement.
You will agree that residents of Boshoff, Dealesville and Hertzogville who duly pay the rates and taxes, are now being affected unfairly by the power outages, whilst residents of other residential areas within the municipality are able to buy electricity directly from Eskom.
I hereby officially request that your department intervene in this matter to the extent that either the payment agreement by Tokologo Municipality is enforced or other measures are implemented in order for paying residents not to be affected by the further outages.
I also request that your department urgently consider viable measures in the 2018/2019 provincial budget to aid municipalities who have outstanding debt to Eskom.
You kind, but urgent attention to the matter will be highly appreciated.
Yours Sincerely
Tammy Wessels
MPL
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