Electricity cuts angers residents

LEPHALALE – Several residents found themselves without electricity after the Lephalale Municipality suspended accounts in arrears at the end of June.
Businessman, Martin Nunes, was annoyed after he paid his electricity account in full and was contacted by a local firm which informed him that his electricity would be suspended. “I run a restaurant business and can’t afford to lose stock, electricity is vital.”
Nunes says he went to the municipality’s accounts department to find out what the problem was, but found nobody who could help him. “I was informed that everybody went to a gathering at Steenbokpan,” Nunes said.
He adds that he spent two days trying to sort out his faulty bill, only to find that the mistake was on the municipality’s side and that he was not at fault. “I find it unacceptable that all employees of any organisation can go to a gathering and leave rate payers to struggle.”
 Astrid Basson, a DA councilor in Lephalale says she is aware of other residents who experienced the same problem. “I contacted the acting municipal manager, Edith Tukakgomo, who assured me that the municipality will send out text messages in future before they disconnect electricity,” Basson said.
Basson says it is unacceptable that electricity can be disconnected when the residents in question is not in arrears.
It is important to note that when a consumer is in arrears in terms of payment of his or her electricity account, the municipality may, subject to subsection (2) of the Service Authority’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy, disconnect the supply of electricity to the premises.
The Lephalale Municipality has stated that it provides any resident whose account is in arrears and any person residing on the premises, notice of the intention to disconnect electricity supply as per section 28(1) and 26(2) of the Municipal Property Rates Act (provided that consumer contact details were listed on the municipal system). The consumer is also given a reasonable opportunity to make representations in respect of the intended disconnection.
According to the municipality these steps can be followed to avoid disconnections:
- Make sure that you pay your municipal account by the due date.
- When paying via electronic transfer (EFT) please remember to use your 12 digit account number which appears on your municipal account as reference.
- Email your proof of payment to: Petro.Swart@lephalale.gov.za, Onicca.mathekga@lephalale.gov.za, annelotriet71@gmail.com or send a fax to 086 516 7049.
These steps will ensure that the municipality can easily identify your payment and allocate it to your account. In cases where the wrong account number or street address is used, the payment will be captured in an “unknown deposit” report that gets drawn on a monthly basis.
The municipality will then try to allocate payments to the right account. In many cases, due to incorrect details payment allocation cannot be done and the account remains in arrears.
These payments will then only be allocated when queries on payments are made by the consumer and proof of payment is provided.
Residents whose total household income is less than R3 500 and who cannot afford to pay for services, can register for the indigent scheme at our municipal offices or communicate with their ward councillor.