'Go live in shacks': Powerless tenants outraged

RESIDENTS who cannot afford to stay in the communal rental units at the Lerato Park Housing Development in Kimberley due to non-payment have reportedly been advised to move into shacks.

The EFF was the only party to reject the 9.6% electricity tariff increase, as well as a basic and capacity charge set to come into effect on July 1, when the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year was approved last week.

EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana argued that the electricity hike was unaffordable, given rising poverty levels.

The Kimberley Action Group has meanwhile indicated that a shutdown in protest against the high cost of electricity is back on the agenda, with a community meeting scheduled for Sunday.

A group of Lerato Park residents was recently made to wait five-and-a-half hours before municipal officials met with them, after their electricity supply was interrupted due to outstanding rental payments.

“It is horrifying to expect us to move out of civilisation and into primitive zinc shanties without formal ablution facilities, sanitation, or electricity and water,” said the tenants.

Residents explained that they had fallen behind on rent after losing their jobs or being unemployed.

“It is inhumane to leave us homeless, in the dark and cold,” the tenants said. “We were instructed to pay the full outstanding rental amount of R10,000 to have our electricity unblocked, along with an unblocking fee. Even if we haven’t paid our rent, our power supply should not be interrupted, because we are prepaid electricity customers. We have been living here for four to five years. It is unfair to block our power when we have small children to care for. We tried to negotiate to pay half of the rent, which ranges from R1,500 to R3,500 for a one-, two-, or three-bedroom flat.”

Residents also complained about poor maintenance of the flats and said that the entrance to the complex was being used as a dumping site.

“If anything breaks, we have to fix it ourselves. We are surrounded by litter and overflowing sewage, while rats, mice and even snakes come into our homes. Our safety is at risk because the security guards who were stationed at the entrance have left.”

According to the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s credit control unit, some tenants have never paid rent since taking occupation of the units.

An official noted that several tenants had begun making payment arrangements after their electricity was cut off.

She confirmed that a ward councillor had referred a couple who could no longer afford to pay their bills to the municipality, which helped them obtain a plot on which to erect a shack.

“The land does have access to basic amenities,” she added.

The acting chief financial officer at Sol Plaatje Municipality, Kenneth Samolapo, said the rental tariffs were approved by council and could not be adjusted.

“Contracts were signed and tenants are obligated to pay the fixed amount. Notices of disconnection were hand-delivered to tenants at the beginning of May,” he said.

He advised that individual payment arrangements should be made based on each tenant’s income in order to restore their power supply.

“It was agreed that the water supply would not be disconnected, as tenants have a basic right of access to water,” he added. “Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett indicated in her budget that tenants in CRUs (community residential units) can now apply for indigent status.”

The manager in the Office of the Mayor, Vincent Phuroe, pointed out that the municipality generates revenue from the rental of the flats.

“Those who cannot afford to pay, cannot stay there for free. The rent goes towards the maintenance of the premises. Some tenants are employed and are civil servants, yet they do not pay for services,” he said.