The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) quick intervention forced the Msukaligwa Local Municipality to re-instal electricity in several schools in Ermelo after they were cut off because of non-payment from the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works.
On Thursday this week, a number of Ermelo schools, including Hoerskool Ermelo, Laerskool JJ van der Merwe, Netherland Park Secondary, and the prestigious Ligbron Academy of Technology, had their power switched off by the municipality because Mpumalanga Government Departments and Ermelo schools owe them over R50 million for electricity, rates and taxes.
The DA is pleased to announce today that the municipality has re-installed the electricity on the above schools after we intervened through engagement with the provincial Department of Education, the Msukaligwa Local Municipality and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport.
We would also like to appeal to the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport and its MEC, Thulasizwe Thomo, to make sure that school accounts are kept up to date so that situations like these are not repeated. The department must know that municipalities operate on revenue generated from all customers, including educational institutions, so they must play their part by paying municipal accounts on time to enable municipalities to maintain the quality and consistency of essential services for the communities.
The DA would also like to appeal to all municipalities across the province to at-least give schools notices before they cut-off services without warning. We must all play a part in ensuring a brighter future for our children. Let’s not be a stumbling block to their right to education.