New forum plans a march for energy issues

GEORGE NEWS - The newly established George Multi-party Forum is planning a community march for Thursday, 24 August, to address what they call the cause and effect of high electricity rates.

The blocking of electricity in households that are in arrears with their rates is a sore point for many residents in impoverished areas.

According to municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards, by Wednesday morning at 08:00, the municipality has not received any application for a march from the George Multi-party Forum.

The forum was formed last week, and consists of various opposition parties such as the PBI, ANC, Icosa, Good, PA (excluding the FF Plus and ACDP), leaders from the religious fraternity, civic organisations such as Sanco, the trade union Cosatu and members of the Thembalethu Business Community Forum.

"Everyone is invited - except the DA, FF Plus and the ACDP. Nothing right-wing," said Langa Langa of the ANC with a smile. According to Langa the forum is currently reaching out to the communities, letting them know about the planned protest march. "It will be peaceful," he said.

"We will hand in our application to George Municipality today [Monday 14 August], but it will go ahead, no matter what. This is an issue that includes the whole of George."

The forum wishes to address the alleged inhumane impact of the blocking of electricity services and the effect it has on the most vulnerable communities. They wish to hand over a memorandum to a representative of George Municipality, at the municipal premises at the completion of the protest march.

From left are chairperson of the George Multi-party Forum pastor Boyce Saleni, deputy president of the PBI Roseline Tyler and the ANC's Langa Langa.

Strong message

Deputy president of the PBI Roseline Tyler read their press statement during a media briefing on Monday.

"The main objective of our march is to send a very strong, serious and unambiguous message to the DA, the modern day colonisers, that it went too far. It got too far. We say it is enough. United in our diversity, we are making our voices heard now," she said.

"With limited financial resources and support at their disposal, lower income families, pensioners, single-headed and child-headed households are finding it impossibly challenging to meet even their most basic energy needs. The decision to block electricity and the subsequent draconian, doctorial measures forced upon people to pay off arrears, further compounds this crisis..."

Spark in the powder keg

In the paper of 3 August, George Herald reported that a great number of residents had pitched at George Municipality after their electricity was blocked. At the time, municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards said the block of prepaid electricity meters when municipal accounts are overdue is a normal procedure applied by the municipality for credit control.

Chief Financial Officer Riaan du Plessis said the indigent, and credit control and debt collection policies all fall under the budget-related polices that form part of the annual budget process.

"Current debt collection processes are all being done in accordance with the requirements of the policies, which are further enabled by the approved municipal by-laws as local government legislation. It must be noted that the stipulations of the Indigent Policy are determined by the requirements of National Treasury and other national legislative prescripts that determine how the equitable share of the municipality must be administered," Du Plessis said.

"Although we are sensitive to the pleas of the community for greater assistance to the poor, we must comply with the legislative requirements while extending the maximum assistance possible within the confines of the regulations."

Members of the George Multi-party Forum. In front, from left are Elliot Qhokolo (Cosatu), Nomawethu Gushman (ANC), Roseline Tyler (PBI) and Roxaan Vorster (Good). At the back in the middle is chairperson pastor Boyce Saleni.
Photos: Michelle Pienaar