EMLM have SOMA delivered
GROBLERSDAL – Plans are underway to upgrade the current 20MVA Groblersdal substation, which is said to soon be reaching its full capacity, to 40MVA.
Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM) said it has managed to increase its revenue base by acquiring electricity distribution licenses for the Game Farm, Twin City Mall, Masakaneng and Mapoch Grond.
Julia Mathebe, EMLM Mayor, announced this as she reported on the state of services during her State of the Municipal Address, combined with the IDP and budget for the 2018/2019 financial year.
Mathebe said electrification played a significant role in the betterment of human life and, in that regard, the local municipality had electrified 939 households in the 2017/2018 financial year through the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP).
She confirmed an amount of R15 million had been used for electrification projects in various communities within the local municipality.
The mayor mentioned the electrification of Tshehla Trust, 200 households in Masakaneng, 79 in Mmakaepea-Dipakapakeng, 160 in Jerusalem and Matsitsi, 281 in Tambo and Jabulani, 166 in Waalkraal and 53 in Elandsdoorn villages as the local municipality’s completed electrification projects.
On free basic electricity, she said over 9929 indigents were registered and only 1838 were configured by Eskom to receive free basic electricity.
“We need to emphasize that the indigent status is not automatically granted, but must be applied for. We once more emphasize the need to develop a credible customer service database which will be premised upon the mapping of all our households,” added Mathebe.
She further informed that a total amount of R53 million has been set aside towards the construction of roads.
On spatial planning and environment management, the Mayor stated they were currently in consultation with various stakeholders, including traditional leaders to solicit inputs into the review of spatial development framework that would guide the development.
She informed the efforts to expand settlement capacity of Groblersdal Town was currently in the process of mobilizing resources for installation of infrastructure services for the proposed township at the game farm.
Speaking on human settlement, Mathebe added working closely with provincial Coghsta, a total of 750 housing units had been allocated for 2017/2018 financial year.
For the 2018/2019 financial year, the local municipality said a total operating revenue budget amounted to R476 million and the expenditure at R471 million, resulting in surplus of R5 million.
The mayor further said property rates tariff would increase in 2018/2019 on average by 5.3 percent that which was within the forecasted increase upper limit of three to six percent target band.
