By Obakeng Maje
The Tswaing Local Municipality (TLM) this week started to disconnect electricity in Sannieshof without following legal processes or the reconciliation of payments received the last 4 months, say DA in the province.

It is alleged that the Municipal Finance Management Act and credit control policy explicitly states the processes of disconnection to be followed. However, no official notice was sent out to consumers in this regard.

“Legally no discrimination against account holders is allowed. But it seems that disconnection of electricity is done selectively” DA spokesperson Tiaan Kotze said.
Tswaing’s Outstanding Debtors account accumulated to R168 million.
Debt control must be enforced but only in accordance to the legally prescriptive processes, says Kotze.

DA said the financial management of Tswaing Municipality is failing in all departments by nurturing fraud and corruption within the system.

‘Illegal disconnecting electricity and threatening consumers to also disconnect their water supply will not improve the cash flow of the administration”.
Threatening the Consumer to disconnect their water is the infringement of a Constitutional Human Right, said Kotze.

“TLM is currently labelled by the North West Province as one of the municipalities in NW not complying with their Constitutional obligations. On a recent visit of the Legislature Tswaing was accused being the worst governing municipality in NW’ he said.

“It was brought to my attention that the residents approached a civic organization to legally assist them with the illegal disconnection of electricity. I will continue to fight to restore power to the people of Tswaing” concludes Kotze.-TDN
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