General News

The energy regulator NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) has today formally communicated with Rustenburg Local Municipality, to clear the air about the alleged debt owed by the Municipality to power utility – Eskom. The formal communication comes at the back of publication which was generated by Mr Joe McGluwa of the Democratic Alliance. In his earlier communication Mr Joe McGluwa claimed that Rustenburg Local Municipality, owed Eskom about R 260 Million rand and that the Municipality was at risk of being switched off the national grid.

In our response we called out Mr Joe McGluwa or anyone with information to substantiate the nefarious comments which were aimed at tainting the image of the entire leadership and administration of Rustenburg Local Municipality.  NERSA confirmed that Rustenburg Local Municipality does not owe the power utility the amount quoted by Mr Joe McGluwa in his letter which sought to discredit the administration of the Municipality and cause unnecessary panic to the residents and business community we serve.

Rustenburg Local Municipality is proud not appear on the list of Municipalities which will be switched off the national grid due to default payment. As a public institution we reaffirm our earlier position that the only amount linked to an Eskom account, is the one which has already been referred to the dispute resolution process of NERSA and is still awaiting an outcome. We remain committed to serving our communities to the best of our ability while delivering world class services.

For Media inquiries, kindly contact Mr David Magae on 060 991 3666, 014 590 3509 alternatively by email at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za

The Rustenburg Local Municipality with its Public Directorate led a joint operation on the weekend beginning 9^thNovember 2018. The operation targeted several guest houses which are not in compliance with a number of regulations including building control act. Other directorates which took part in the joint operation are Planning and Human Settlement, Infrastructure, Electricity, Water and Sanitation. The South African Police Service (SAPS) was present as an external stakeholder. On one of the property’s the owner was fined R 2500.00 for operating a business without an approved building plan.

It was discovered that the property housed an illegally operated tuck shop at the back of the yard and the property had an outstanding water bill amount of R 82 329. The Tuck shop was closed during the operation and the water meter was removed. In one of the properties that were visited on the day, it was discovered that the electricity and water connections to both were bridged. The owner was fined for operating a business without an approved building plan.

A wanted foreign national for suspicion of drug trafficking was arrested and remanded in custody at Rustenburg Police Station. The foreign national has been on the wanted list of police for several months.

In a separate incident, 3 male suspects were arrested for robbing a female learner at Rauwane High School of her cellphone in Tlhabane. Mr Molefe of the KMP Training academy witnessed the crime and alerted the Directorate: Public Safety and Saps. A case of common robbery (CAS 109/11/2018) was registered at Tlhabane Police station.

For Media inquiries contact Mr David Magae on 060 991 3666 or 014 590 3509, alternatively by e-mail at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za.

Residents are hereby given notice of an urgent Electricity Supply Interruption due to hot connection on the New 88kV LINE from Eskom Waterkloof Switching Station to Rustenburg Local Municipality Waterkloof 88/33/11kV Substation on Friday 09 November 2018. The urgent outage will Commence 15H00 pm Until 18H00 pm.

The following areas will be affected:

1. The Pretoria Road 11kV Feeder (on the old Pretoria road/R104)
from Pole No. P24 Kroondal Town.
2. T-OFF from Pole Number P56 (Old Platinum Bricks Yard, All The Way Down to the Mine
Dam)
3. The whole of Kroondal town i.e. All business (NEWRAK MINING/SPAR/VIVA GARAGE
COMPLEX/ Tobacco Institute) and Plots, excluding those supplied from Kroondal
Substation 88/11kV Substation (Kroondal Church and Surrounding Plots).
4. Samancor Waterkloof mine / Sylvania mine.
5. Arnoldstald Substation
6. Waterval East & 306JQ
7. Waterval Small Holdings
8. Waterkloof East
9. Ikemeleng Township

NB:  Consumers are advised to regards or/and treat all electrical installations AS LIVE during the outage period, switch off their electrical appliances in order to avoid any damage before the outage starts.

The municipality further apologises in advance for the inconveniences caused.

For further enquiries kindly contact Municipal Spokesperson Mr. David Magae on 014 590 3509/
3111 or 060 991 3666. Alternatively, by email at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za

The Rustenburg Local Municipality has noted with repugnance the nefarious statements made public by Mr Joe McGluwa of the Democratic Alliance – DA in the North West, in a widely publicised document dated 05^thNovember 2018. In it he alleges that the Municipality is unable to keep up with its monthly debts to creditors including power supplier Eskom. The statements made by this member of the DA are devoid of any truth and this is part of a ploy to discredit the accountable and responsible manner in which the administration is managing the Municipal finances.

The Allegation that the Rustenburg Local Municipality owes power supplier Eskom is a lie. As a matter of fact, the Municipality has registered a formal dispute with the Energy Regulator – NERSA (Account No. 7729068018) over an account which has been erroneously on by Eskom to the Municipality, wherein Eskom alleges that the Municipality owes over R100 million rand for a Substation which ought to have been commissioned to the local grid in 2016 but was only commissioned in June 2016.

The formal dispute registered with Energy Regulator – NERSA, is yet to be finalised and its outcome will follow a dispute resolution process, therefore any unfounded allegations such as the one being peddled in the court of public opinion by the DA is not factual and without evidence. We call upon any individual who has any evidence as it relates to this allegation, to present it and allow it to be tested using all necessary due-processes which are subject to scrutiny.

For Media inquiries contact Mr David Magae on 060 991 3666 or 014 590 3509, alternatively by e-mail at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za.

Residents are hereby reminded as communicated previously on the 16^th of October 2018 that there will be a planned power outage requested by Eskom to execute electrical repairs as follows:

Date: Sunday, 04^th November 2018
Time: 07:00 am
Duration: 10 Hrs
Substation: Waterkloof Switching Station

Also note that there will be risk of total shut down of power supply to the entire Rustenburg area. This is due to the total loads that will be supplied from the Industries Sub-Station.

For further enquires contact Rustenburg Local Municipality’s Spokesperson Mr David Magae on 060 991 3666 or 014 590 3509. Alternatively, by e-mail at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za

Residents are hereby notified that there will be a planned power outage requested by Eskom to execute electrical repairs as follows:

Date: Sunday, 04^thNovember 2018
Time: 07:00 am
Duration: 10 Hrs
Substation: Waterkloof Switching Station

Also note that there will be risk of total shut down of power supply to the entire Rustenburg area. This is due to the total loads that will be supplied from the Industries Sub-Station.

For further enquires contact Rustenburg Local Municipality’s Spokesperson Mr David Magae on 082 761 3456 or 014 590 3509. Alternatively, by e-mail at bmagae@rustenburg.gov.za

The Rustenburg Local Municipality has rolled back to the old accounts billing system (PROMIIS) in May 2018. The process included re – billing of accounts from July 2017 to June 2018. During this period, the roll back team charged an average consumption where the client’s consumption was higher than their normal usage. This has led to certain accounts being undercharged.

As a result, the billing team used the August billing cycle to correct accounts where billing was found to have been undercharged. The process to verify the billing information on municipal accounts continued in September 2018 wherein more accounts were charged more than their average usage. This exercise led to high consumptions, however, these high consumptions are correct. Overall those consumers who were affected by the undercharges had their August accounts higher than normal. More consumers will have their bills higher than the norm in September 2018, so as to correct the anomaly. Subsequent to this action, customer accounts are expected to go back to their normal usages.

Please note that all accounts that were affected by the high consumptions will be spread out for the period under review. This is to give consumers the benefit of their normal averages as well as changes in tariffs. The effects of the abovementioned measure will then cause a reduction on the account.

The Municipality would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

For further enquiries kindly Rustenburg Local Municipality Spokesperson Mr.  David Magae on 014 590 3509 or 060 991 3666

End.

In keeping with the applicable legislation and having the interests of the residents at heart, Council approved the interest write back on its services accounts. The debt covers varied key municipal services such as water and electricity. The debt, impeded on the municipality’s ability to deliver services of good quality.

Interest written back for the 2017/2018 financial year is as follows:

Year to date as at May 2018:                     R266 945 744

June 2018 billed interest:                          R24 255 045

Total interest written back:                       R291 200 78

Council has approved an Incentives program that has been running from the 1^st of August 2018 to date. Incentives include write-offs of up to 30% excluding the current account. This covers accounts that were in arrears as at the 31^st of July.

This Incentive program is aimed at all residents and business that are in arrears with their accounts. The write-off of the debt has been effected with the expectation that the residents will start paying consistently on the monthly basis for services provided to them by the municipality. The decision to write-off applies across the board but is good news to indigent residents, who will most likely feel financially relieved from the burden of affording their municipal accounts.

Residents can visit the following municipal offices Missionary Mpheni House on the ground floor for queries and more information:

For residential Accounts –office 23 and 26

For Business Accounts – office 22 and 27.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and visit the above stated offices to make payment arrangements.

The Rustenburg Local Municipality would like to notify residents, that due to low water levels at Vaalkop dam, the following areas will experience water restrictions:

• Greater Boitekong affecting the following areas: Sondela, Seraleng, Pardekraal, Sunrise, Ramochana, Freedom Park Extensions, Meriting Extensions, and Boitekong Extensions. There are changes effected on the time schedule as follows:

Latest Timeframe: From 17H00 to 07H00 Monday to Thursday every week until further notice (NB: There will be no restrictions over weekends based on the improvement of water levels)

These restrictions are implemented to avoid the system running dry and most areas in Rustenburg being without water.

We urge residents to use water sparingly

The Municipality would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.

For further enquiries kindly contact Mr. David Magae on  014 590 3509 or 060 991 3666

End.