GMM executive mayor blames ineptitude on electricity theft

Amidst backlash from a previous statement that apartheid was at fault for the dismal service delivery, electrical outages and other issues faced by Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, the GMM executive mayor, Ms Ngxonono, stated during a virtual council meeting that approximately 60% of the council’s electricity losses is due to theft. Residents have taken it upon themselves to drag GMM to court due to their utter lack of governance in their jurisdiction, with the brunt of the complaints stemming from the lack of service delivery and the supply of electricity.

The stress and frustration of the endless rotational load shedding in Bethal and eMzinoni is reaching breaking point, and residents are demanding answers as to why Notified Maximum Demand (NMD) issue was not attended to in a timely and effective manner. Instead, GMM dragged their feet for months on end, much like Msukaligwa Local Municipality is doing at the moment. At this stage, GMM is cornered, with no more excuses to pull out of their hat of evasion. Residents and businesses demand answers, and GMM is in the hot seat. Unfortunately, the virtual meeting resulted in all talk and no action, with a solution for the struggles faced by these residents still remaining in limbo.

Protests, unrest and dissatisfaction is part of the daily lives of residents under the broken wing of GMM governance. Teetering on total bankruptcy, GMM now faces lengthy court battles as residents raise up and demand answers, and most importantly, change to competent leadership, as more political parties gets involved in curbing the gross incompetence displayed by GMM.