Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Many residents and roleplayers have spoken out against the Dr Beyers Naude local municipality's decision to implement a 100% block on the purchase of prepaid electricity on all arrear rates, services, and water accounts.

Liz Buisman, secretary of the Graaff-Reinet Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRPA), says she is amazed at the decision. 

"About 50% of our population are indigent. They are allowed a certain amount of water and electricity, after that they are charged. How the municipality thinks they will get that money is beyond me," says Buisman.

Sias Smith, convenor of both the Action Save DBNLM Movement and the more recently established People for Basic Rights (P4BR), says the total block of electricity to ensure the settlement of debts is not a mechanism that can be applied effectively and fairly.

Residents who get electricity directly from Eskom are naturally unaffected by the block, and dealing with Eskom's non-payers is the power utility's own responsibility. Smith says because of this, the pre-paid block cannot be applied to everyone.

According to Johnny Swartz, chairperson of the Camdeboo Development Forum, the Forum is also discontent with the 100% block as it will further impoverish the poor. 

"How are the residents who get their power directly from Eskom punished? We believe that other measures can be applied to address everyone whose accounts are in arrears."

Is municipality acting within their rights?

Many questioned the legality of the block, but the fact of the matter is that the municipality is fully entitled to disconnect the supply of any service whatsoever supplied to a property where there are undisputed arrears owing on any other service. In addition, blockages forms part of the municipality's Credit Control Policy which means that the consent of Council is not needed to apply it. 

The policy allows for the option to implement a 40, 60 or 100% blockage. However, the municipality is obligated to give the consumer at least 14 days written notice. In addition, if less than 14 days have lapsed between the date of delivery of the pre-termination notice and the date of disconnection, the disconnection will also be illegal.

The Dr Beyers Naude published the notice on 8 May. In terms of the notice, the municipality intended to implement the decision to block the purchase of prepaid electricity on all arear accounts the very next day. According to a source, municipal employees with arrear accounts received written notices last week but at the time of going to press residence whom the Advertiser spoke to have not received any notices in this regard.

At the time of going to press the blocking had not commenced and the Advertiser was unable to establish when the block will be implemented.

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