DELMAS – A two-day protest over the new credit control and debt collection policy in some sections of the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM), became a point of focus for the community. By cutting off electricity to households with outstanding debts, the municipality has sparked outrage among some pockets of the community, who claim they cannot afford to pay their debt.
The residents of Botleng Extension 6 and 7 took to the streets in protest, blocking the national N12 highway from eMalahleni to Johannesburg with stones and burning tyres. Major traffic intersections across the Botleng ‘N12’ location were also disrupted, causing significant delays and inconveniences for commuters over two days, July 23 and 24.
Some residents, who claim unaffordability on debt payment, are now unable to load electricity on their meter boxes since the policy came into effect on July 01. According to VKLM Executive Mayor Vusi Buda, this policy blocks all prepaid electricity meters belonging to debtors who fail to pay towards their debt.
The community expressed their grievance towards the municipality’s drastic measure of shutting down electricity in their homes as a way to force payment towards their debt, while others complained about high electricity rates, which provide fewer units that do not last the entire month since the increase on 1 July.
Nolwazi Mahlangu, a resident of Botleng Extension 6, told the Highveld Chronicle that VKLM is to blame for the problems residents are facing. “The mayor and his people need to fix this situation we are experiencing. After all, the municipality, seeing that their meter boxes in our RDP houses were failing to load electricity, fixed it for us by not paying and accessing the service. How is that anyone’s fault?” Mahlangu said.
Other residents echoed similar sentiments, expressing their frustration over the municipality’s lack of empathy towards their financial struggles. Many of the affected households cried poverty, claiming reliance on sporadic incomes, making it challenging to keep up with regular payments.
Mayor Buda addressed the community, acknowledging their concerns. “People who are not working must go to the municipal offices and apply for relief with proof of unemployment through an affidavit, ID, and bank statements. If one has applied and proven that he or she is not working, then the person will not have to pay.”
Buda further explained that the municipality had previously introduced several strategies, including the 60:40 plan, where the municipality takes 60% from electricity purchases towards debt, leaving customers with 40%. However, this approach yielded no positive results according to Buda.
