The recent action taken by Eskom to attach the bank accounts of Emfuleni Local Municipality to recover R8 billion debt will have devastating consequences for the residents who have consistently paid for their utility services.
The attachment of the municipality’s bank accounts is a clear indication of the ANC-led government’s failure at both local and provincial levels. Despite the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) department taking over the administration of Emfuleni in 2018, there has been little to no improvement in the municipality’s financial management and service delivery.
This action by Eskom will undoubtedly lead to a complete collapse of service delivery in Emfuleni. Residents who have diligently paid their bills will now find themselves without essential services, through no fault of their own. The municipality’s inability to access its funds will also jeopardise the payment of salaries to municipal staff, potentially leading to strikes and further deterioration of services.
The current crisis in Emfuleni is compounded by the ongoing environmental disaster, with raw sewage flowing directly into the Vaal River due to collapsed infrastructure. The failure to pay Rand Water further exacerbates the water crisis in the region.
Adding insult to injury, COGTA’s ill-conceived plan to incorporate the well-run Midvaal Municipality into the dysfunctional Emfuleni Municipality threatens to destroy the last bastion of hope and good governance in the area. This move will inevitably drag down service delivery standards in Midvaal and erode the progress made there.
The DA calls for immediate intervention to protect the interests of paying residents and to ensure the continuation of essential services.
We demand:
1. An Urgent Financial Recovery Plan for Emfuleni Municipality
2. The appointment of competent, qualified officials to key positions
3. A thorough investigation into the mismanagement of fund
4. The abandonment of plans to incorporate Midvaal into Emfuleni
The residents of Emfuleni deserve better. The DA stands ready to implement sound financial management and restore efficient service delivery to all communities affected by this crisis.
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