DA gives ANC-led coalition government until end September to present electricity turnaround strategy before Council
by Cllr. Malcolm Maifala-Masebe — DA Spokesperson on Public Participation and Petitions in Ekurhuleni
Date: 28 July 2021
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
On Thursday, the 29th of July, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni will table a motion before Council, requesting the ANC-led coalition* government to present a turnaround strategy to end unnecessary power outages gripping the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
This, following a report by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) earlier this year, which indicated that the CoE has 890 filled positions, while the structure demands that 1 600 positions be filled. As it currently stands, the Ekurhuleni Energy Department is functioning with roughly a 55% staff capacity, and not the set standard by NERSA.
Why is the failing ANC-led CoE not ramping up the filling of vacancies in the Energy Department when the City is facing this enormous energy crisis? It is the view of the DA that the City’s power outages woes are far from over, because without the required staff complement, the City will not be able to keep the lights on.
Considering the ongoing challenges with rampant cable and power theft, as well as vandalism of infrastructure, through this motion, the DA calls on the ANC and its coalition partners to also provide a detailed strategy and implementation plan to safeguard the City’s infrastructure.
Furthermore, it is completely absurd that one of the largest municipalities in the country must be petitioned to provide a basic service, such as electricity. For years now, the petitions committee of Ekurhuleni and other spheres of government have received numerous petitions seeking to implore the CoE to deliver this basic service.
The DA is giving the ANC-led coalition government until the end of September 2021 to present a comprehensive turnaround strategy to address and overcome this persistent and urgent issue.
To build a sustainable local economy, the CoE cannot afford to have areas such as Germiston, Kempton Park and Alberton experiencing constant power outages. Power interruptions and outages have crippled the City’s already ailing economy, resulting in severe economic consequences.
As the DA, we believe that when there is transparency in government, residents will find the said government more credible. We, therefore, expect openness, clear communication, and accountability from the CoE.
The DA trusts that Council will act in the interest of Ekurhuleni residents and businesses and adopt our motion for a more stable power supply in the City.
It is time the residents of Ekurhuleni turned to the DA to provide Real Hope and Real Change in the city.
#Time4Change
*ANC Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)
Media Enquiries
Cllr. Malcolm Maifala-Masebe
DA Spokesperson on Public Participation and Petitions in Ekurhuleni
