EMalahleni threatens communities with power cuts

The eMalahleni municipality says people in some parts of the municipality consume a lot of electricity “yet payment levels are low”.

The mayor of the eMalahleni municipality in Mpumalanga has introduced strict measures to curb electricity theft in province’s richest city.

The municipality is owing a billion rands to Eskom.

Lindiwe Ntshalintshali said they are implementing the Protective Load Reduction Initiative in areas where people have connected illegally.

A week ago, the municipality paid Eskom R100 million they owe. She said in the last three months they paid R201 million and the current account is standing at R508 million, of an arrangement of R348 million.

“As of 17 July 2017 the total debt is R1.1 billion,” spokesman Kingdom Mabuza said in a statement released this week.

SEE ALSO ‘Please pay your electricity’, mayor begs residents

The Protective Load Reduction Initiative allows the municipality to cut power at a specific time to reduce power usage in areas where a high number of people have connected illegally.

These areas have a pay rate of 30%.

The following areas which will experience power cut between 6am until 8am,and 5pm until 7pm from Monday until Friday, and on weekends between 7am until 9am as well as 5pm until 7pm:

• Kwa-Thomas Mahlanguville
• Lynnville
• Thushanamg
• Kwa-Guqa extensions 15, 16 and 7
• Emsangweni Kwa-Guqa extensions 2,3,7 and 9
• Kwa- Guqa extensions 4 and 5
• Kwa- Guqa extensions 7,10, 11 and 18
• Hlalanikahle extension 1,2,3,4 and 5
• Empumelweni
• Klarinet extensions 3, 4 and 5
• Klarinet extensions 6,7 and 8
• Thubelihle Township
• Rietspruit Village
• Phola Township.

(edited by ZK)
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