Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Marieta Visser and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL.
The DA will challenge Masilonyana Local Municipality’s proposed Telkom smart-meter rollout and call for the required approvals and outstanding questions to be addressed before the process proceeds.
A municipality is in crisis when its administration gives businesses less than a day’s notice for a meeting scheduled after business hours.
This is another tick-box exercise to claim public participation took place, to push through the appointment of a service provider less than two weeks before the regime change that will most likely follow the Local Government Elections.
Council never approved Telkom’s appointment to install; only a so-called workshop took place, where the DA raised valid questions, the promised comprehensive report was never served before Council, and the concerns remain unanswered.
The community and business made it clear that they want a DAA with Eskom. Masilonyana Forum submitted a petition with more than 2000 signatures to this effect during a series of public consultations by the appointed Administrator, Dr Neo Masithela, in March this year, to prevent Eskom from restricting electricity supply to Masilonyana.
Without Exco and Council approval, businesses are now invited to a meeting on the rollout of the proposed Telkom smart metering programme.
Administration is bulldozing an appointment without following due process, before elections.
While the DA insists on prepaid meters as the solution to Masilonyana’s inability to manage credit control, we cannot allow the community to be bullied into another contract that raises more questions than it answers.
Residents and businesses deserve a transparent process, proper accountability and an electricity solution that protects their interests.