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FILE | Two men walk past electricity pylons.
Mayden Farm residents in Mthatha, Eastern Cape have accused the King Sabatha Dalindyebo Municipality of cutting off their electricity supply without warning.
The affected residents allege they have been served with very high municipal bills, some amounting to more than R60 000. They are also complaining about a lack of assistance when reporting issues to the municipality.
These include water leakages, dilapidated roads and the drainage system, which often leads to flooding when it rains.
The residents were told when they moved into RDP houses that they would not pay municipal rates. They are now accusing the municipality of failing to make any formal communication about this matter.
Some have managed to make payments after being served with letters of demand, but the unemployed and elderly are struggling.
Resident Thembela Golimpi says, “Firstly, when we got these houses we were told that we would not make any payments because we are poor, we are unemployed, now we are told that we must pay money to the municipality.”
Golimpi adds, “ According to our knowledge, the municipality was supposed to address us and tell us to pay the rates. We are asking the municipality to come and tell us that we are supposed to pay starting from a certain month and erase these debts that he gave us without any formal engagement on this matter.”
Resident Ndumiso Gusha says, “They wanted me to pay an amount close to R4000. I told them I wouldn’t be able to pay that amount because I am not working, I depend on piece jobs. I pleaded with them to switch on my electricity so that I can be able to survive.”
“It’s been a week now without getting proper meals. I only eat bread, I use paraffin that I borrow from the spaza shop, I have a debt that is more than R100 since the electricity was cut off. We are asking for help,” Gusha explains.
MUNICIPAL PROCEDURES
One of the residents is still unclear about the municipal procedures after her electricity was also switched off, even after making a payment.
“I made a payment of R3000 in December after I was told I owe R56 000, from R56 000 it went to R58 000 but I managed to pay the R3000. Last week the municipality came and switched the electricity off which I do not understand why.”
Resident Zimkitha Mhleli says, “I am a beneficiary, my mother died and I am not working. I depend on the R350 grant, when I went to the municipal offices, I was told to pay a minimum of R150 from the R350 that I am getting. What am I going to eat if I don’t have that?”
The Municipality Spokesperson Olwethu Mabovula has called on residents to visit their offices for assistance, however he refutes the allegations that there was no prior communication.
Mabovula says, “If then there is a person who says that they are not employed, they are receiving the government grant, they must come forward to the municipality to apply for indigency and after proper verification through the IDs, if they stay this side under KSD, they will be exempted from paying any sort of rates and I don’t think that it is true that from the 350 there was somebody that was told, especially by our rates office, that they must pay R150.”
Residents remain in the dark, with many saying they failed to get assistance at the municipal offices.
