Businesses and households at the Klerksdorp-based Matlosana Local Municipality in North West have been left without a power supply.

This was after the municipality embarked on Operation Patela, a campaign aimed at enhancing the revenue of the municipality. This campaign has been led by a Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, Maria Ramphela, for the past eight weeks.

Matlosana officials checking metre numbers of businesses and households before cutting their power supply. Photo: Facebook/Matlosana 

Ntswaki Makgetha, the Matlosana Communications and Marketing Liaison Officer, said the municipality had managed to collect some of the outstanding revenue owed to it between Tuesday (26/9) and Friday (29/9). Places already visited and found to owe the municipality, were businesses and households in the Klerksdorp CBD, Freemansville, Meiringspark, Wilkeville, and Wilkoppies. 

Officials from the Matlosana Local Municipality cutting electricity supply to businesses and households owing the municipality. Photo: Facebook/Matlosana 

Municipal officials disconnected the electricity supply for some of these businesses and households which owed the municipality and were not able to pay, while others managed to settle their debt owed to the municipality. Ramphela thanked businesses and households who have constantly been making payments to the municipality and further pleaded to those in arrears to pay their municipal accounts or consult municipal offices for payment arrangements.

Municipal officials disconnected the electricity supply. Photo: Facebook/Matlosana

Makgetha said the municipality has managed to collect revenue from Stilfontein, Orkney, and Jouberton so far. Other places are expected to be visited as the campaign unfolds.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi