Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Despite a commitment by the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality that the deal brokered with Eskom would be made public after the council meeting on Tuesday 30 April, no details whatsoever have been made available. Asking for an explanation, the Advertiser was told the Eskom deal did not serve as an item on the council agenda.

This leaves residents extremely worried that they will once again be left in the dark, with no transparency from the municipality.

Leader of the DA Caucus, Cllr Samantha Graham, says her party has also not seen the agreement announced by Eskom on 17 April, just a day before the company would have increased the power cuts to Willowmore, Jansenville and Steytlerville to 14 hours a day. 

"The municipality has advised us that they have entered into an agreement with Eskom that will be reviewed on 16 May," said Graham. "The Budget and Treasury Standing Committee asked for the agreement last week at their Portfolio Meeting, but were told there is not an agreement per se - merely a series of letters," says Graham.

Graham is concerned that while the power is on, the sense of urgency has disappeared. "It is the DA’s contention that this crisis has not been averted, merely delayed. It is important that the municipality ring-fence the electricity payments received and keep up to date with the current Eskom account."

She said the minister of Cogta, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has made it clear there will be no Eskom bail-outs from his office. "He further emphasised it is critical that the municipality continues to meet its monthly payment obligations, and the DA Caucus is in full agreement."

No to motion
At Tuesday's council meeting Graham attempted to table a motion in this regard, requesting that the agreement get urgent attention and that the municipality should then comply with the requirements of the final agreement to ensure no further electricity cuts.

The Speaker did not allow the motion, stating it was a Special Council Meeting called to deal with specific items - the Annual Report and the Oversight Report. The Speaker said the motion could be heard at the next Ordinary Council Meeting, but Graham explained that the problem is that the Ordinary Council Meeting is scheduled for the end of June, well past the Eskom deadline. “It will serve no purpose to discuss the issue and meet the requirements after the agreement has ended,” she said in frustration.

“We are deeply concerned that Council is again being kept out of the loop as to the details of the agreement; whether, in fact, an agreement exists; and whether or not the municipality is going to fulfil its obligations to Eskom to avoid electricity cuts after 16 May,” said Cllr Graham. “It is extremely concerning that the Speaker sees fit to, once again, prevent discussion by Council on critical issues.”

'Eskom have been paid'
In a brief response from the municipality, acting Communications Officer Wilca Smith said the current Eskom bulk electricity account has been paid up to April 2019. She further stated that a meeting to be facilitated by the Deputy Director Generals of Cogta and Finance will be held with Eskom to finalise the agreement. Smith did not make any mention of the outstanding Eskom account that had run into tens of millions of rand or the accrued interest on the amount.

Meanwhile, winter is coming, and without watertight guarantees in place, residents of the affected areas are stocking up on batteries and gas.