Locals bemoan ‘poor service’ at FTLM offices during electricity blackouts 

FETAKGOMO TUBATSE

Motorists and clients visiting the Praktiseer Traffic Station in Tubatse have complained about the poor service at the station. With most areas being affected by Eskom’s load reduction. Clients visiting the station have alleged they are not being assisted during power shortages.

This is despite the station having a backup generator, and solar system panels installed at the buildings. According to an insider at the station, maintenance and service of the generator is allegedly done on monthly basis and a service provider is paid for this by the FTLM, but the generators are never used.
“Every time there is no power, staff fail to assist clients,” said one motorist who recently visited the station.
She added, “We can see the solar panels and a huge generator, they are just there for decorations. Service is so poor during load reduction.”
Attempts to get a comment from the FTLM’s communications team failed. They were yet to respond to our queries at the time of going to press.
Some of the services offered at the Praktiseer Station are drivers license applications and renewals, vehicle disc renewals, change of ownership and more.
According to Eskom, Illegal connections and electricity theft burdens transformer load.
“While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom implements load reduction from 05:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 22:00. The continued pressure on our transformers/mini-substations due to illegal connections and electricity theft in some areas necessitates load reduction to avoid equipment damage,” said the power utility in a statement.

Meanwhile, FTLM employees had an ‘off day’ on November 28 due to electricity blackouts. For most parts of the day, the FTLM offices in Burgersfort had no electricity, this resulted in employees returning back to their homes and services not rendered to clients. Again, this is despite several solar panels installed at the chamber. They can easily be spotted when one drives around the CBD.

“Those solar panels have cost the tax payers, millions of rands but they are not beneficial to the public, we urge the FTLM management to connect the solar and ensure they operate during loadshedding. We cannot suffer with services while the municipality has resources,” complained a community member.