The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in Johannesburg condemns City Power’s decision, effective from Monday, to no longer communicate with councillors, allowing them to report service delivery issues.
Until now, councillors have been actively involved in relaying complaints about power outages and water problems received from residents to City Power.
City Power’s explanation that it wishes to reduce councillors’ workload and believes it is unfair to burden councillors with City Power’s communication responsibilities does not hold water.
The truth is that City Power does not want to be held accountable for its poor service delivery. In addition, City Power’s communication with residents is so poor that residents prefer to approach councillors to report problems.
It is Freedom Front Plus councillors in Johannesburg’s duty to report complaints in order to maintain transparency and accountability for the sake of the community.
According to City Power, it is available to provide answers during the Metro’s scheduled oversight committee meetings. What it fails to mention is that on 13 November last year City Power refused to allow the Metro’s Finance Oversight Committee to visit its head office.
It is time for City Power’s management to be placed under scrutiny and held accountable. Poor management and power losses exceeding 40% are the main causes of the crisis in which City Power finds itself.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep addressing service delivery issues and exposing City Power’s maladministration.
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