Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela was due to visit the struggling Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality this Wednesday to put out fires following growing concerns by several business operators over poor service delivery which could see some of them pulling out of the area.
Key among their concerns is the erratic availability of electricity which has been worsened by the municipality’s failure to pay Eskom on time for bulk supplies, resulting in longer outages on the back of the countrywide load shedding currently being implemented by the power utility.
Maluti-a-Phofung municipality is biggest defaulter to Eskom in the province with an arrears bill exceeding R4-billion.
A statement released by the premier’s office did not give much detail about her visit but indicated the meeting was crucial on account of the issues to be discussed.
“The premier . . will hold an engagement meeting with the businesses of the embattled Maluti-a-Phofung municipality in an attempt to avert a possible closure of businesses operating in the area and challenges for economic zones due to electricity disruptions and dysfunctions,” read part of the statement.
It said she will be accompanied by several MECs and their heads of department.
The Department of Water and Sanitation is also expected to be part of the meeting as well representatives from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality and the Maluti-a-Phofung Bloemwater and the Free State Development Corporation.
Eskom has repeatedly expressed concern at the failure by several Free State municipalities to settle their debts for bulk electricity supplies on time.
As at the end of February, at least 16 municipalities in the province owed it over R16-billion.
Eskom said the situation was making it difficult for it to deliver services to the province.
The power utility said it is particularly disappointed by the fact that the municipalities receive government grants as well as payment for services rendered from their customers and yet the bill for the consumed energy remains unpaid.
Other defaulting municipalities in the province are: Matjhabeng, Ngwathe, Nketoana, Phumelela, Mafube, Nala, Mantsopa, Masilonyana, Tokologo, Dihlabeng, Moqhaka, Tswelopele, Setsoto, Letsemeng as well as Mangaung Metro. – Staff Reporter