Eskom has officially taken over the electricity supply operations in the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality in the Free State.

The signing of the Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) between Eskom and the municipality marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to address the longstanding challenges plaguing the region’s electricity infrastructure.

The ceremony led by the Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, and Eskom Executive Director Monde Bala at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Bluegumbosch on Tuesday (7/5) marked a new era of cooperation between Eskom and the municipality.

‘DA branded the deal as an electioneering campaign’

But the DA branded the deal as an electioneering campaign. The announcement, in Qwa Qwa, of a “solution to the electricity debt crisis” was first made by former Deputy President David Mabuza in December 2020, and followed legal action spanning the previous two years, which had led to the Eskom Task Team being established, said DA Free State Cogta spokesperson Leona Kleynhans. 

“In June 2021, the Gauteng High Court ordered that Eskom take over the electricity function in Maluti-a-Phofung after the ANC-led council resisted the agreement.

“The Democratic Alliance has since 2018 said Eskom must take over the electricity function in MaP because the municipality has neither the capacity nor the resources to fulfill its service delivery obligations in this regard. The municipality has one of the highest debts to Eskom in the country,” added Kleynhans.

‘MaP residents have gone through a lot’

Mahlobo dismissed allegations of using such projects for electioneering, citing that the government work cannot stop only because off the elections period. He admitted the MaP residents have gone through a lot due to a lack of service delivery as a result of a collapsed municipality and no governance due to corrupt officials in the past.

The intervention led to the agreement and signing of a pledge to assist the municipality in ending issues of electricity, Mahlobo said.

With the ink still drying on the agreement, attention now turns to the pressing issues that have precipitated this intervention and the implications for residents and businesses alike.

“We seek Eskom will come in and take over the electricity running department of the municipality with a view of providing reliable electricity,” said Bala.

“Secondly, we want to support the municipality in building up the skills for the provision of electricity and then towards the end of agreement we will then hand over back the running of electricity business back to the municipality so that people of Maluti can continue enjoying reliable electricity.”

For years, Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality has grappled with a multiple challenges stemming from illegal connections, poor infrastructure, and mounting debt to Eskom. The municipality has been inundated with a staggering number of households and businesses connected illegally, exacerbating the strain on an already fragile power supply network.

‘The financial implications of this crisis loom large’

OFM News previously highlighted the dire situation facing residents across QwaQwa, Harrismith, and Kestell, where the scarcity of electricity has become a daily reality. With many households resorting to sharing electricity from a limited number of transformers, the strain on the system has reached critical levels, leaving entire communities in the dark.

The consequences of this power crisis extend far beyond mere inconvenience, as businesses struggle to stay afloat amidst prolonged outages. The financial implications of this crisis loom large, with Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality accruing a staggering debt of R7.6 billion to Eskom.

OFM News/ Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg