The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tsantsabane municipality is confident that, with the involvement of the Office of the Public Protector (PP) in the electricity accounts crisis in Postmasburg, a solution is finally in the making.
Last week, the DA facilitated a meeting between 28 affected residents and the PP’s Office, in response to astronomical accounts received by residents. The situation stems from a decision taken by the Chief Financial Officer in 2023, to bypass approximately 400 pre-paid meters to give households access to power after the municipality’s token system was not working due to the contract having expired.
Despite countless promises made by the municipality to fix the system, this did not happen.
The DA reported the matter to the PP’s Office in May, after it became clear that the municipality had no intention of engaging affected residents, or giving them an opportunity to negotiate fair payment terms.
The DA welcomes the PP’s ongoing investigation into the matter. At last week’s engagement, residents were also given the opportunity to raise additional concerns, including that of prepaid units, that are disappearing from pre-paid meters.
The DA has requested the following remedial action in terms of the PP investigation:
• Putting pressure on the municipality to fix the pre-paid meter token system;
• Assisting residents to negotiate fair, appropriate and affordable pay-back agreements; and
• Addressing disconnection threats in relation to outstanding accounts, in the context that the outstanding accounts have accrued due to no fault of the affected residents;
Residents of Postmasburg do not deserve to be punished for a situation created entirely by the municipality itself.