The Sol Plaatje Municipality, in its response to the Kimberley Large Business Forum’s (KLBF) sharply-worded letter to the municipal manager and mayor in which it demands that the municipality meet urgently and undisturbed with them to immediately reverse the decade-long and latest “sky-high, non-competitive and unfair” electricity tariffs for industry and business, says the concerns are receiving attention.
Thabo Mothibi, municipal spokesperson, says “a vibrant business sector is critical to the economic viability of the municipality.
“The municipality had lowered electricity tariffs in three categories of industrial users for the current financial year.
“In improving and extending consultations beyond the Integrated Development Plan and budget community consultations, we consulted in the first quarter of the financial year in adopting the Tarriff Reference Group.
“The Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce (Nocci), KLBF, Nersa, and Treasury were part of the meetings. We establishment the Tarriff Reference Group two weeks ago. The group will measure progress with grievances lodged and suggestions put before the municipality.
“The improvement of service delivery is critical to the Sol Plaatje Municipality to attract investors and ensure the survival of existing businesses.
“We intensified disconnection of non-paying government departments and businesses in January 2024. There is no preferential treatment.
“Payments were received and arrangements were entered, including defaulters with disputed accounts,” Mothibi stated.
