The City of Joburg’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, has drawn the line on the sand. If you can’t afford to pay for the electricity, you should approach the City urgently to seek relief. But if you can afford but don’t pay, you will faces the consequences.
Mayor Phalatse warned those who refuse to pay, that the City is coming for them.
“There’s a lot of support for the hardline that we have taken, that the culture of non-payment will no longer be accepted. Those who can’t afford have a responsibility to register for the City Extended Social Package (ESP). We will be continuing with that position. The ESP is a basket of subsidies and rebates for financially distresses ratepayers.
“This means you only have two options. You either can afford to pay but you are not paying, or you cannot afford to pay and you are registered for ESP. Anything in between will make you vulnerable as a resident to illegal acts,” warned Mayor Phalatse.
The Mayor made the comments on Monday, 13 December 2021, during the announcement of her 10 Mayoral Committee Members (MMCs) at Metro Centre, Braamfontein.
“There’s a lot of support from ratepayers from across the City, who indirectly have been carrying these non-paying areas.”
She said following her election as Mayor, she has hit the ground running, working tirelessly with different stakeholders to try to come up with the solution regarding the electricity issues in Soweto. There have been protests in Soweto, particularly in Diepkloof with regards to electricity issues.
“I have been approached by residents to mediate between themselves and Eskom. I have engaged both the residents and Eskom to try find the middle ground. Eskom is concerned about acts of criminality within the electricity supply space, where some residents have been found fiddling with infrastructure, connecting illegally to the grid, bypassing meters and even purchasing power from ghost vendors. Again Eskom is lamenting the culture of non-payment,” said Mayor Phalatse.
She said Eskom has reported that since her intervention, it is seeing payment levels increase.
“People are starting to pay. That’s good news to us. This means the culture of non-payment is already starting to change. In three weeks this means it’s a big achievement.
The Mayor said she was happy with the 10 MMCs she will be working with as her executive team.
“I think finally Johannesburg is going to get the best of the best. They are going to get what they deserve,” she said.
She said the chairpersons of Section 79 Committees will be announced soon as well.
Written by Nkosana Lekotjolo
13/12/2021