The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has called on the legislature to urgently convene a joint committee meeting of the finance and public works portfolios to chart the way forward on outstanding municipal debts owed by provincial organs of state, that are impacting on critical services like health care, education and safety in the Pixley ka Seme region.
Our request follows recent disconnections of electricity supply to essential service delivery points in the Ubuntu and Umsobomvu Local Municipalities due to the non-payment of municipal accounts by the Northern Cape Department of Roads & Public Works.
In Ubuntu, electricity was suspended to the local hospital, the police station, and the hostel of Victoria West Secondary School. The DA immediately escalated the issue to the head of department, Johnny Mckay, for an immediate intervention in order to ensure that the electricity to the hospital and the hostel be restored. This matter was resolved by approximately 8:30pm, the same evening.
Councillor Johann Matthee also followed up with municipal officials in Umsobomvu, following the disconnection of electricity to Hoërskool Colesberg. We appreciate the compassion shown by the municipal manager to keep the lights on at the hostel, but the fact remains that service delivery to innocent residents cannot be compromised due to the failure of provincial government to pay its bills.
This problem is not isolated to one or two towns, and we know that there are immense fiscal pressures. As municipal tariff increases continue to outpace equitable share growth, there is a shortfall in the provincial budget. But it cannot be allowed that learners seeking education or patients seeking medical help must bear the brunt of this shortfall.
The DA has submitted an urgent request to the respective chairpersons for a joint meeting. Proper intergovernmental relations between all stakeholders are required to resolve and prevent a repeat of these debilitating power cuts.