GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Eskom announced last Thursday that the bulk electricity supply to Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality would be interrupted from Thursday 6 February after the municipality failed to provide Eskom with an acceptable payment arrangement of the municipality's bulk electricity debt.
The media statement reads: "The interruption will continue until the debt is paid in full or an acceptable repayment arrangement is made by the municipality in favour of Eskom."
This will not affect either Graaff-Reinet or Aberdeen, but the towns of Willowmore, Steytlerville and Jansenville face long periods without power. In the first week, power will be cut for six and a half hours a day during the week, and seven and a half hours over the weekend.
Far worse would be the situation from 13 February if no agreement is reached, as these towns would then be without power from 6am until 8pm every day.
This is not a new problem, as Eskom made the same threat in January 2017, October 2018, and most recently, in April 2019. In 2019, this was enforced for several days before the interruptions were suspended when the municipality and Eskom reached an agreement on repayment.
According to Eskom, the resumption of the power supply was on the condition that "the municipality honours the agreements which the parties have concluded".
In a facebook post last Thursday, the municipality stated that it "has received no formal correspondence from Eskom in this regard, as together with the MEC Local Government and Traditional Affairs, we are still in negotiations with Eskom regarding unresolved matters."
In the State of the Municipality report in 2018, it was revealed that the total debt inherited by the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality after the amalgamation of the former Camdeboo, Ikwezi and Baviaans, was R65,3 million. Of this, by far the biggest creditor was Eskom, who were owed over R30 million.
No response has been forthcoming from the municipality on the current debt, although it is believed to be much higher than this. Cllr Ewald Loock, Chair of Finance and Exco member, told the Advertiser that the municipality had actually fulfilled the terms of the agreement with Eskom until November.
"Although a large payment was made in December, there was still a shortfall, so the agreement collapsed," said Loock.
Attorney Derek Light stated: "Eskom's intended actions are unlawful under circumstances where consumers have effected payment for electricity to the municipality."
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
