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As day two of the debt-induced power cut in Tsantsabane plunges the daily lives of residents into despair, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is demanding that Premier Zamani Saul, together with municipal leadership, delays no further in resolving the matter.

This comes after Eskom cut the power to Tsantsabane, Emthanjeni, Kamiesberg and Richtersveld municipalities on Wednesday after the four municipalities, that owe a collective amount of R280 million to Eskom, failed to adhere to their payment agreements. Whilst power has since been restored to Emthanjeni, Kamiesberg and the Richtersveld local municipalities, Tsantsabane municipality has yet to broker a new deal with Eskom to get the lights switched back on.

In effect, the daily 12-hour power cuts are having a detrimental effect on the townspeople of Postmasburg and its surrounds.
Schools have erupted into chaos, as learning is disrupted. This is something the education sector can ill afford, given the immense disruptions already caused to learners by Covid-19. At the same time, health facilities are struggling to continue with routine services, despite the fact that we remain in the midst of a global pandemic, and the Northern Cape has yet to reach its peak.

In addition, water supply has been interrupted because of the lack of power to run the pumps. This has also affected the local sewerage works. Meanwhile, businesses are also suffering, with some places having to close shop whilst other have to take an additional financial knock, as they haul out their generators. This, when the economy has already shed almost half of its jobs.

In addition, old ages homes are battling to practice hygiene and keep residents safe, while mothers struggle to warm up bottles of milk in the microwave for their little ones.

The entire matter is deplorable.

While the situation should never have occurred in the first place, if Tsantsabane municipality had only practiced financial discipline, it should surely have been resolved by now, as has happened in other affected municipalities. This clearly highlights the dire lack of leadership within Tsantsabane and also calls for an urgent change in local government.

The DA hopes that this recurring municipal-debt saga will open the eyes of local residents to the fact that the only long-term solution to sustain electricity supply to Tsantsabane, is to vote the ANC Council out of power.

In the short term, however, we appeal to the ANC-run local and provincial government to refrain from disempowering residents of the Northern Cape by preventing power cuts that disrupt the lives of our local communities.

Issued by The DA