Urgent Government Intervention Needed in Enoch Mgijima Municipality

Dear Editor

The electricity crisis in the Enoch Mgijima Municipality is on the brink of escalating beyond merely depriving residents of services and collapsing the local economy. The crisis is also threatening the lives of hospital patients and negatively impacting school examinations.

Electricity outages of up to 10 days, caused by dilapidated electrical infrastructure, have brought the town of Komani to its knees. When electricity is restored, it is almost immediately interrupted – often with one day of supply followed by outages lasting five days or more.

The situation is exacerbated by the municipality’s lack of a qualified electrical engineer, skilled personnel, and the necessary tools or vehicles for routine maintenance.

The condition at the Frontier Hospital in Komani is dire, as the hospital has limited fuel to keep its generators running. If the generators fail, lives will be endangered. At local schools, power outages severely impact learners’ ability to study for and perform in their examinations.

I have written to EC Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, MEC for CoGTA, Zolile Williams, MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, and MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, requesting a joint task team intervention to save lives and ensure the future of learners in Komani.

Local businesses are struggling, with many facing closure, which would lead to a surge in unemployment. Many residents have had to throw away rotten food from their fridges and freezers. As if the cost of living is not already straining all communities, replacing spoiled food, buying gas to cook, and shopping for small amounts of food daily instead of in bulk are bringing families to their knees.

Electricity outages also lead to water disruptions across the municipality, and in certain areas, dry taps are an everyday occurrence.

The municipality has been under national administration for years and struggles with a soaring Eskom debt of R1.45 billion, a collapsed billing system, an outdated indigent register, and total financial collapse.

The Premier and the MECs for CoGTA, Education, and Health must intervene before it is too late, and the town comes crashing down.

I will also request that the municipality gives an account of the extent of the electricity infrastructure challenges to the task team.

The municipality must also extend an invitation for a public-private partnership with stakeholders to establish a task team to address electricity challenges.

This ANC-led municipality has been in breach of fulfilling its constitutional mandate for a very long time.

We will not allow the failure of the municipality to affect the residents of Enoch Mgijima. The people of this municipality deserve quality services, clean governance, and the return of their dignity.

The DA is resolute in our commitment to fight for the residents of Komani and the Enoch Mgijima Municipality. We will not rest until solutions are implemented.

Regards

Chantel King MPL
Enoch Mgijima Constituency Leader