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The DA in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality met with the CEO and numerous Managers at Centlec on 16 January to find clarity on the reasons behind power outages in the Metro. Centlec confirmed that loadshedding is the biggest reason why it is losing equipment and funds. It lays the blame squarely on Eskom.

The public utility must take responsibility and assist Centlec to recover the funds lost from acquiring new equipment. The entity did not budget for loadshedding and the technical equipment is not designed to be switched on and off every day.

However, the entity informed us that it will do everything in its power to make it easier for consumers in these difficult times. Centlec also accepts they can improve in many areas to make life more bearable for the residents in Mangaung.

The following key factors will be looked at and improved:

Improved and more frequent communication will go out to the public to keep residents informed.

Areas with businesses and factories will be exempt from load shedding where possible to assist the economy of Mangaung.

Discussions with police forums, neighbourhood organisations, the SAPS, security companies and civil societies to assist with protecting the power infrastructure from theft and vandalism.

Look into the options to have robots on a separate grid so that they can work during loadshedding, improving road safety.

The areas with water reservoirs will be exempt from loadshedding to improve water distribution.

A program to prune trees in all areas with power cables above ground. Additionally, thanking communities that have assisted in this program.

In conjunction with the private sector, explore renewable energy options.

In the new financial year it will draft new policies, to be tabled in the council, to assist developers in financing new substations with the funds used being deducted from electricity consumption, assisting Centlec to build new infrastructure for the municipality.

These are proactive solutions to get the Metro up and running and bring some relief during loadshedding. As the official opposition, we will monitor the important steps and make sure Centlec implements the promises where possible.

On 25 January 2023, we call on all citizens to join the #PowerToThePeople protest march to the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House in Johannesburg, against load shedding and the recent electricity hike. It is at Luthuli House where, over the past 25 years, decisions were made to “deploy” the corrupt and incompetent ANC cadres who plundered and destroyed Eskom. The DA has listened to your calls for protest action to be expanded to more parts of the country, and we have decided to turn next Wednesday into a fully-fledged National Day of Action against ANC load shedding.

Issued by Johan Pretorius - Leader of the DA Mangaung Caucus