Eskom's refusal to restore Lichtenburg electricity supply immoral and in contempt of Court

11 August 2023

The DA in North West condemns Eskom’s refusal to restore electricity supply to residents in Lichtenburg until the Ditsobotla Local Municipality makes immediate payment and enters into a renegotiated payment plan.

Not only is Eskom’s decision in contempt of court, but it is also immoral and completely unconstitutional.

Lichtenburg residents have endured a sustained blackout since 27 July 2023 after a pylon collapsed and a transformer was vandalised. Eskom undertook to ensure repairs are done and that electricity supply would be restored today.

However, during an engagement by Eskom, the municipal executive, and officials, this morning, Eskom made it clear that they will not restore electricity supply since they cannot keep providing free electricity to Ditsobotla. Eskom demanded an immediate R123 million payment towards the Ditsobotla bulk electricity account of over R1 billion.

While we understand Eskom’s right to demand payment, we cannot allow that the lives and livelihoods of residents are being used as a bargaining tool for the failures of the ANC in Ditsobotla. Many of the affected residents duly service their municipal electricity accounts and are now being punished for the political failures of the ANC in government.

Affected residents have lost food to spoilage, and have had to make alternative arrangements that have left a massive impact on household finances. Businesses have lost income and had to invest in alternatives to support the trade of goods and services, negatively affecting their bottom line, which is putting much-needed jobs at risk.

In a joint 2017 application to the High Court, North West Division, Mahikeng, the Court ruled that Eskom cannot interrupt or suspend electricity supply for any reason other than mechanical or technical maintenance or repairs. See judgement here.

Subsequently, even the Constitutional Court ruled last year that Eskom cannot act unilaterally to suspend electricity supply. See judgement here.

We would like to remind Eskom that there is a legal precedent that Eskom may not cut off electricity supply to paying customers. That makes it almost impossible to cut off or refuse to reconnect an entire town. If Eskom does not restore electricity supply by the close of business today and they continue to punish paying customers, we will go to court.

Residents in North West should take note that the ANC’s failures at local, provincial, and national government, are now colliding with the ANC’s failures in managing critical services across State Owned Enterprises. Ultimately, the suffering people continue to endure is as a result of the ANC’s failures. In 2024, we can turn this around by voting DA.

A DA vote is the only hope in rebuilding North West and rescuing South Africa.

Issued by Leon Basson, DA North West Provincial Leader, 11 August 2023