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Electricity losses rob communities of better services

By

Dear MyPE

In Nelson Mandela Bay more than R200 million is lost annually due to electricity losses while water losses for the same period account for more than R300 million. The failure on the part of the governing party to effectively address these issues deprives poor communities of the opportunity to enjoy quality service delivery.

The money lost could go a long way towards finding a metro police force which would afford all residents the opportunity to live safely in their communities free of fear, free of crime and the courage of drugs and gangsterism.

If we could effect proper interventions in these areas, we would be in a position to internally finance the completion of the last phase of the much-needed Nooitgedacht Low Level Water Scheme.

Yet, in spite of the devastating financial costs of rampant and uncontrolled electricity theft, the powers-that-be continue to drag their feet in effectively addressing illegal electricity connections..

Information at our disposal suggests that instructions from high political office not to disconnect or to reconnect when wires have been disconnected are frustrating any progress in this regard.

This inevitably leads to:

  • loss of life by electrocution;
  • unscrupulous “entrepreneurs” selling “stolen” electricity to households;
  • neighbouring formal residences suffering breaks in electricity supply for up to weeks; at a time, and
  • vandalization of sub-stations and distribution boxes.

The Democratic Alliance will address this phenomenon by:

  • increasing efforts to electrify informal settlements to supply in terms of the ATTP policy;
  • strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance on illegal land invasion;
  • buying out land that is illegally occupied by squatting communities;
  • effectively marketing the idea of social housing;
  • identify available land for social housing;
  • aggressively embark on a program of provision of social housing to those who are above the qualifying threshold for RDP houses;
  • improving on delivery of RDP houses per annum.

Electricity theft in South Africa comes about as a result of a flawed system that is failing its people. We need to urgently begin making substantial inroads into this massive annual loss so that we can use the money in a way that benefits all communities within the metro.

Let us therefore seize the moment to ensure fairness and opportunity to all.

Regards

DA PR Cllr Jonathan Lawack
Spokesperson Infrastructure & Engineering

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This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.