The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) acted swiftly and decisively after the Ekurhuleni Metro began disconnecting electricity to public schools over alleged outstanding property rates accounts.
Yesterday, Ekurhuleni initiated a process to cut the power to 98 public schools within the Metro without prior notice or consultation.
In response, Freedom Front Plus councillors in the Ekurhuleni Metro Council and MPLs in the Gauteng Legislature wasted no time in coordinating and successfully halting Ekurhuleni’s actions. Schools’ whose power had already been disconnected were also reconnected.
Their power supply was reportedly disconnected due to outstanding property rates accounts, for which the provincial government is responsible. The schools were, therefore, not liable for the debt, but were targeted to boost the Metro’s dire financial position brought on by its own mismanagement of public funds and failure to recover property rates from the provincial government.
Hoërskool Stoffberg in Brakpan appears to be the first school to have its electricity cut yesterday, followed by Hoërskool Dr Johan Jurgens in Springs.
It occurred at the most inconvenient time, as matriculants are currently writing examinations. Furthermore, special schools for learners with disabilities, such as Muriel Brand School, where learners reside in on-site hostels, were also affected.
Some of these learners rely on oxygen supply and other medical equipment that cannot function without electricity.
The Freedom Front Plus Chief Whip in the Metro Council, Rudolf Herbst, immediately sent a letter to the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, demanding that Ekurhuleni stop the power cuts. Freedom Front Plus councillor Riaan van Zyl kept in contact with the affected schools, relaying critical information to the Freedom Front Plus team in Ekurhuleni and the Provincial Legislature.
Additionally, the party promptly contacted the MEC for Education, Mr Ralph Chiloane, through its MPL responsible for education in the Gauteng Legislature, Adv Anton Alberts.
It became evident during their discussion that the ANC leadership in Ekurhuleni had not consulted the provincial ANC leadership about the process. MEC Chiloane undertook to halt the disconnections and ensure that the schools already affected are reconnected.
The Ekurhuleni government is now engaging with the provincial government to resolve the issue without disadvantaging learners.
The affected schools’ electricity was restored within 24 hours thanks to the Freedom Front Plus’s intervention.
This victory highlights the value of a political party whose public representatives care about the communities they serve, and have the political will to support and protect them in word and deed.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep advocating for schools, learners and parents in Gauteng in an effort to safeguard them against abuses of power and poor governance in all governmental spheres.
This blatant injustice demonstrates that the ANC/EFF coalition has to be ousted in the 2026 local government elections.
