MBCF invites members to join the cause

The legal council for the Msukaligwa Business and Community Forum (MBCF), Mr. Andreas Peens, recently joined in a meeting with members of the MBCF committee in Ermelo. It is with great excitement that the announcement has been made that membership forms are now available to interested parties. During the meeting, Mr. Peens discussed immediate and long term legal strategy, and gave feedback on the matter of the application to stop the NMD load shedding currently being implemented by Eskom and Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM). The case will be heard in court on 12 November 2020. He also discussed the next urgent steps of addressing sewerage, water, rubbish removal and environmental issues in town. Furthermore, the issue of incorrect municipal accounts, accounts not being received by businesses and residents, and the system being offline at the municipality for weeksat end, were also discussed.

Mr. Peens indicated that a document will be made available to the MBCF that can be distributed to its members in order to help them lodge a dispute with regards to irregular water and electricity accounts. This will prevent MLM from suspending services to businesses and residents until the irregularity has been resolved. Members also addressed the current frustration at the licensing office, where only 50 renewal applications are being processed per day. Also on the cards was the fact that the municipality allegedly refuses the installation of prepaid electricity meters at business premises, to which Mr. Peens relayed some insightful strategy in resolving the challenges going forward. He explained that addressing the service delivery issues mentioned will provide viable results for all the residents, but it can be a lengthy process.

“People have been accepting the unacceptable for far too long, and unfortunately there are no quick fixes. But what is important is to start”. To support the MBCF cause, donations can be made to Msukaligwa Business and Community Forum, Standard Bank, account number 031064701, Ermelo branch, with branch code 052844. Kindly remember to use your cellphone number as reference. Business owners and residents who would like to become members, can do so by completing the membership form. Membership costs entail R25 per household, and R100 per business, per month. For more enquiries, please contact 072 401 1449.