The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands answers from the Municipal Manager (MM) of Maluti-a-Phofung (MaP) on the ongoing electricity crisis. The areas of Tshiame A, Tshiame B, Makholokweng, Khalanyoni, Industriqwa and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Maluti-a-Phofung have been without electricity for 41 days. This outrageous state of affairs highlights the incapacity of the municipality to manage the electricity function in Maluti-a-Phofung.

The very large Greenlands transformer exploded and burnt out on 22 December last year. The reasons for this fire are unclear. What we do know is that the substation grounds are open to anyone and with no security under normal circumstances. The municipal fire service is barely functional and certainly has no capacity to deal with a large electrical fire.

The DA has filed a string of questions which the municipal manager, Mr Futhuli Mothamaha, must answer in the council meeting scheduled for 3 February 2022. We will be demanding answers on the following:

• Who was in charge of the municipality while senior managers were on leave in December?
• Who authorised the hiring of three unsuitable generators and the procurement of a totally unsuitable transformer while senior managers were on leave?
• Who authorised the appointment of security personnel?
• In addition, we want to know what the terms of the ‘loan agreement’ are with FDC, which lent a 40MVA transformer to the municipality, what procurement process was followed in the appointment of a clearly unqualified ‘contractor’?

It was alarming to hear the contractor has had to borrow equipment, and has been connecting up the transformer, which Eskom found was not earthed when they were called to connect it to the grid.

While residents and factory owners had hope that the electricity supply would be restored on 30 January, the DA has learnt of a further explosion at the substation on Saturday night. This has been attributed to lightning while there was not a cloud in the sky. It is our contention that the transformer was not correctly assembled and connected, causing shorts and explosions when it was switched on.

In June of 2021, the Gauteng High Court ordered that Eskom take over the electricity function of Maluti-a-Phofung, which now owes Eskom an estimated R 7 billion. The previous council flatly refused. The new council elected on 1 November, and currently being governed by a MaP16 coalition, have likewise shown no intention to accept this deal.

The latest debacle has proved that the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality have no capacity, resources or management skill to do the job. The DA have continuously supported the proposal that Eskom take over the electricity supply which is the only hope for the beleaguered residents and business owners.

The DA will continue to monitor the situation and submit further enquiries to the Provincial MEC for COGTA should adequate explanations not emanate from the municipality.

 

Issued by Leona Kleynhans MPL - DA CoGta Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature