Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni and his team on Monday switched off the lights of government departments and businesses who are in arrears with their electricity accounts for more than 90 days.
SOL PLAATJE executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni and his team on Monday switched off the lights of government departments and businesses that are in arrears with their electricity accounts for more than 90 days.
Some of the affected state departments include the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, the national Department of Public Works, the Department of Education and the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said that while the Department of Health was also on the list, the power supply of state hospitals would remain on.
“As part of our revenue collection plan, we will be disconnecting the electricity supply to government departments due to non-payment, from Monday and commence again on Wednesday. We will be switching off other departments during the course of Monday and Wednesday,” said Riet.
“We will also be disconnecting businesses that have overdue accounts. We want to reclaim the trust of our citizens by, starting with government departments and businesses. Households in arrears will also be switched off.”
Riet added that payment arrangements and payment agreements could be entered into.
“Sol Plaatje Municipality is owed R2.9 billion, of which government departments owe R800 million for the provision of electricity.”
