The pictures above is the manhole in Akasia Avenue. Whenever MAP unblocks it they leave the debris inside the manhole, which causes the manhole to block and overflow on an ongoing basis.

Our contractor removed the debris and we trust that there will be less problems with this manhole in the future.

This post contains updates...

PUBLIC LETTER – 15 APRIL 2021
 
ATTENTION:
PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA:
PRES. CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

 
MUNICIPAL MANAGER:
MR FUTHULI P MOTHAMAHA

 
MAYOR
MS MAMOTSHEARE MARIA LAKAJE-MOSIA

 
CHAIRPERSON - COGTA
HON. SANDLANA SMIT

 
FREE STATE PREMIER
MS SISI NTOMBELA

 
 
 
 
 
Good Day Sirs and Madams

RE: HARRISMITH: CONFIRMED JOB LOSSES

NO ELECTRICITY IN HARDUSTRIA & CERTAIN INDUSTRIAL AREAS SINCE 04 APRIL 2021
We have warned throughout this time of no-electricity that businesses and residents are losing money and that people’s jobs are at stake. This is now a reality! We have written to you on numerous occasions: You have not responded to any of our letters and nor have you been able to provide prompt services in providing electricity to businesses and residents since 04 April 2021.
We are now also escalating this matter and trust that this matter will be treated with utmost urgency.
 
Businesses in Hardustria have been struggling along for 11 days without electricity supplied from the municipality and we are still counting the days!
 
Businesses have started to come forward stating that they will certainly be closing their doors as a result of Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality’s inability to supply electricity in an on-going and reliable mannerism.  They have no more money and the only way forward is to be compensated for the recent financial losses and damages suffered over the last number of days!
 
One such a business is Spilsbury Chicken Farm which will be closing as of immediate effect. Six to eight employees will be jobless as of the end of this month.
 
La La Nathi Guesthouse has also informed to us that due to no electricity and the financial losses due to poor service delivery in the supply of electricity from Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality over the years, they are in the process of taking drastic measures and there is a high probably that they will need to shut their doors if there is no improvement in service delivery or compensation to cover their losses from recent damages and losses suffered. Twenty eight people’s jobs are at stake.
 
Hardustria is home to just over 20 businesses. More and more of these are speaking about closing their doors. More and more of them are saying they simply have no more money and will have to be compensated by the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality before they can consider the futures of their businesses and employees.
 
We are looking roughly at R3800 to R5000 per day per business lost just in diesel and petrol to generate their own electricity. The total amount poured in to generators are presently running at a total loss of R836 000 to R1100000! These figures exclude additional costs accumulated on additional damages and losses suffered as a result of businesses not functioning optimally as they would when being supplied with municipal electricity.
 
We have received information that the Municipal Manager, Mr Mothamaha admitted that the contractors have not been paid. Non-payment to contractors is causing delays in urgent repairs to Hardustria’s electricity supply and crippling businesses and households in the Greater Harrismith.  It’s disgusting to think that directors of Maluti-A-Phofung are earning salaries of a million rand plus per annum, but they cannot lookout for the wellbeing of this community and cannot provide basic services.
 
We trust that you will resolve this matter immediately and that electricity will be restored promptly before end of this business day.
 
 
We will supply you with the final figures of damages and losses suffered by each individual business during this time of no electricity and we believe that provisions will be made for these businesses to be compensated as soon as possible.
 
Thank you.
 
 
 
Regards
 
HIT MANAGEMENT
management@hitassociation.org.za

We can fix this, but we need your help...

Since the Eskom incident on 04 April, businesses in Hardustria and certain Industrial areas still remains in the dark to this very day.  It is estimated that a medium sized business loses approximately R3800 to R5000 on diesel alone per day on self-generated electricity.
 
Businesses are losing thousands of rands each day and Maluti-A-Phofung Muncipality is ignoring the urgency for electricity supplied to these areas. Letters written by HIT Residents Association is also being ignored as we simply get no response from the municipality and we don’t see any progress or efforts made by the municipality to ensure prompt repairs.
 
Businesses in Hardustria reported to their whatsapp group on 31 August 2020 that the brand new cable installed after being without power for days was not properly secured or buried.

Several businesses reported this issue to the municipality over the months before this cable got damaged and parts of it stolen on 04 April 2021. HIT has also reported this cable to the municipality and has also informed the municipality before the incident and that a business will help with the securing and burying of this cable if the municipality does not have the needed resources to complete the job.  It was also pointed out to the municipality that heavy vehicles travel over this exposed cable daily and that this cable could get damaged and that the big open hole with the cable is causing obstruction to business entrances especially when it rains. Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality showed absolutely no urgency to ensure that this cable is secured properly and as a result this cable became damaged and businesses are currently without electricity for 11 days and counting.  This is pure and gross negligence on Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality’s part.

HIT Residents Association managed to obtain information on 13 April 2021 from Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality that the contractors are on site and are waiting for a cable. Maluti-A-Phofung confirmed that Hardustria and other Industrial areas will be repaired today. We have no updates on the progress of the work and whether the necessary materials have arrived and that repairs are taking place today as planned. There are also no ETA’s available at present.
 
Note:  Some businesses in Hardustria have suffered as many as 63 days without electricity between 08 August 2020 and 13 April 2021. This is a minimum estimated loss of R239 000 spent on self-generated electricity for one medium sized business alone. This does not include any other damages or losses incurred by such a business as a result of no electricity and inability to function normally during times when there is no electricity!
Small businesses have informed us that it is becoming unsustainable to continue with business. They simply cannot afford the extra costs. One has already started reducing staff hours and may even go as far as shutting their doors as the owners simply cannot afford to pay staff and overheads any longer.
 
It is shocking that Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality don’t take these businesses in to serious consideration when planning repairs and don’t make provisions to ensure that these businesses receive electricity promptly after cable thefts or during cable faults so that business may commence as normal as soon as possible and with minimal losses.  Not only will business doors close, but residents of Harrismith will lose their jobs and income to their homes. This in turn will have a very serious impact on every other business in Harrismith, which none can afford.
 
Updates on the situation of Hardustria and the Venning Line will posted to the whatsapp groups as we receive reliable information.
 
As HIT Resident Association we also take in to consideration the households and residents of Bergsig, Kingshill and areas in town who also suffered as a result of no electricity from 04 April 2021 till 11 April 2021 along with Wilgepark residents who had to make do without power from 06 April 2021 till 13 April 2021. These households lost thousands of rands in food as many cannot afford self-generated electricity. Some residents are pensioners or unemployed. We also have frail residents who rely on electricity for oxygen and medication that needs to be stored in fridges.


There is absolutely no way that the Greater Harrismith can further suffer as a result of poor service delivery from Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality.
 
It is simply too costly.

HIT Residents Association will continue to apply pressure and to find solutions towards ensuring decent service delivery in our town.

Media Release: 14 April 2021 15:49

We can fix this, but we need your help...

We would like to bring to your attention that 21 households and 1 business (and not counting those businesses operating from home during Covid lockdown) have been without electricity since 01 January 2021 from 19:30 and we received feedback that electricity was restored on 04 January 2021 at 19:54.  
 
The feedback and complaints we received on the progress of the replacement and repairs from the affected residents:

Residents were very unhappy with the general lack of information for the duration that they were without electricity from Municipality’s side.  Simply not having ETA’s or keeping residents uninformed on the progress of repairs is totally unacceptable. This town boasts with the most extraordinary Aware and neighbourhood groups which are managed by very eager volunteers who enjoy helping fellow residents by supplying crucial information in a timely mannerism as they receive updates. Through these awesome groups, neighbourhood watches are also informed and will act in accordance to the information received, which can possibly reduce theft of cables too. Most of your employees are in direct contact with these admins and there is absolutely no reason for not sharing information and ensuring that residents are informed at all times. Your Facebook page was also not updated from the Municipality’s side during this time and we were not able to find any information on there in order to try and help while our fellow residents were without electricity for three consecutive days.  The day and age of being left in the dark with no information is long gone over. Not sharing crucial information in the modern world is simply unacceptable.

One of the residents within the Boschoff Street area informed us that there were stories circulating from your technicians on field that some of the homes in this region were not at all affected by the cable theft itself, but rather a tripped circuit breaker.
 
We find it difficult not to believe this, as we do have complaints from our members that this has indeed happened during December in other areas around town.  It is outrageous to think that some residents would have been left in the dark for three consecutive days for a simple little thing such as a tripped circuit breaker! Do you realize that people suffer damages in food loss, loss in medications, stock loss (in the case of a business) and a higher risk of being burgled or attacked while there is no electricity? Do you know that you and your municipality can be held liable for damage and losses suffered by a resident or business due to negligence on your or your staff’s part?

Residents would like to know the following:
 

1. Was this incident reported to the South African Police? (Please provide date and time?)
2. Is there proof that this has been done? (Please supply the case number.)
3. Will you be following up on this case and ensure that justice is served to the best of your capabilities?
4. Will you keep the residents informed on a regular basis on the progress of the case?

 
We trust that you will address the issues and questions mentioned in this letter with utmost urgency and we are looking to receiving answers and feedback from you soon.

 
Thank you.
 
 
Regards
 
 
 
HIT MANAGEMENT

This left the whole town without power. Some areas around town is still without power and there is presently no ETA on when this will be repaired.

ELECTRICITY OUTAGE HARRISMITH AND SURROUNDS
 
We have just spoken to Baby at the Electricity Call Centre. Maluti A Phofung is on site and busy assessing the damage to electricity due to lightening.  They will do their best to restore most areas in town, but, some houses and businesses will not be restored.
 
Call Centre requested that each household and business send them an sms with their address, name and contact number so that they can start listing those affected.
 
Thank you.
 
Regards
 
HIT MANAGEMENT

#Harrismith #HITResidentsAssociation

Maluti-a-Phofung  Water would like to inform the residents and Businesses of Harrismith about water interruption that is going to take place. Map Water has experience main line burst  at Cnr Stuart and Lindley. An outlet valve has been closed and repairs will be implemented tomorrow the 27 December 2020.

 Affected areas; Greater town, Bersig and Westerson.*

Maluti-a-Phofung Water would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the above.

For more information regarding the above, community members are requested to contact 078 458 7422 / 082 317 3271

Issued by;
Communication Unit

24 December 2020 - Most areas have been restored by contractors appointed by Maluti-A-Phofung.

26 December 2020 - We only had one more complaint from one of our members. But he later confirmed that his electricity is back on and that Maluti-A-Phofung technicians did go to his house to check if he has electricity.

HIT member repaired the problem at own cost.

Electricity restored by Maluti-A-Phofung.

We have had no further response to electricity in Hardustria despite our letter to the Municipal Manager. We responded with another letter.

We have done everything to draw your attention to this problem, via email and whatsapp. We are aware that you have read our whatsapp sent to you on 22 December 2020. The answer we received from your phone is that you are working on the problems and that there has been cable theft. This is the last feedback we received and no further updates.

Just to update you and refresh your memory on the events:

• This problem was reported on numerous occasions following the correct route by contacting your Electrical Call Centre.
  
• 22 December 2020: We tried to obtain further information from your electrical manager concerning the matter and he informed us that he is on leave but that call centre or Solly will be able to provide more information.
  
• 24 December 2020: Call centre informed that the needed Documents have not been signed to approve a contractor on 24 December 2020. We were advised to followup with Solly for more information and updates concerning the matter. We have tried to reach Solly and left several voice and sms messages since. No feedback to date.
  

We are now looking to you for more information and feedback. Please get back to us by end of today. If we do not hear from you, you will leave us with no other choice but to appoint a contractor on your behalf to repair the electricity in Hardustria. Maluti-A-Phofung will be held liable for the costs.

Thank you.
 
Regards
 
HIT MANAGEMENT

As received from Maluti-A-Phofung Call Centre:
 
We have received confirmation that CEO has signed the needed documents and that the contractors are on site. They have already started digging to prepare for the installation of the new cable.
 
Unfortunately we were not able to obtain an ETA, but Maluti-A-Phofung will be in contact with us should there be any further updates.
 
 
 
Regards
 
HIT MANAGEMENT

After a bit of a struggle with the MM’s email were able to get a response from him via whatsapp. We will followup again in the morning.

We will keep following up with regards to this matter and will report back to our members as we receive information with regards to the electrical issues in this post.

Come to our office, complete your membership form and your Section 102 Dispute form.
You will need to bring your I.D. card / book with you and your last municipal account.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Office Hours: Monday - Fridays 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4pm.

Costs - 2020: Annual Registration Fee - R80. Monthly membership fee - R100  / R200 per month for businesses

REMEMBER: ANYBODY CAN BE A HIT MEMBER. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PROPERTY OWNER.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE OVER 18 AND LIVE OR CONDUCT BUSINESS WITHIN THE GREATER HARRISMITH AREA.

You can also download the forms right here on our website under the downloads section. Please email your completed forms to admin@hitassociation.org.za.

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #NoElectricity #NoWater #MalutiAPhofung #MalutiAPoofi #SiesMalutiAPhofung #NoServiceDelivery #HITResidentsAssociation
2020/042#

Cable was repaired at 1pm today.

NEXT TO 83 STUART STREET – POSSIBILITY OF LIVE ELECTRICITY IN WATER CNR STUART AND LINDLEY STREET

We have received no word that this cable has been repaired or that it is at all safe. With the major water leak on Corner Stuart and Lindley Street, there is lots of water on the road.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!

DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN PLAY IN THE WATER AND PLEASE TRY TO AVOID GETTING IN TO CONTACT WITH THE WATER. THE CABLE WAS STILL BURNING FROM UNDER THE GROUND YESTERDAY, WHICH COULD MEAN THAT IT IS NOT PROPERLY INSULATED. THIS COULD BE FATAL.

We have reported this to Maluti-A-Phofung again along with the big water pipe burst.
We will be following up on this matter.

 
Regards
HIT MANAGEMENT

The water bubbling shows that there is electricity in the water.

#HITResidentsAssociation #Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #MalutiAPhofung

Come to our office, complete your membership form and your Section 102 Dispute form.
You will need to bring your I.D. card / book with you and your last municipal account.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Office Hours: Monday - Fridays 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4pm.

Costs - 2020: Annual Registration Fee - R80. Monthly membership fee - R100  / R200 per month for businesses

You can also download the forms right here on our website under the downloads section. Please email your completed forms to admin@hitassociation.org.za.

Come to our office, complete your membership form and your Section 102 Dispute form.
You will need to bring your I.D. card / book with you and your last municipal account.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Office Hours: Monday - Fridays 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4pm.

Costs - 2020: Annual Registration Fee - R80. Monthly membership fee - R100  / R200 per month for businesses (We assess all businesses and the monthly fee may vary in accordance to the size of the business - Come and talk to us.)

REMEMBER: ANYBODY CAN BE A HIT MEMBER. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PROPERTY OWNER.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE OVER 18 AND LIVE OR CONDUCT BUSINESS WITHIN THE GREATER HARRISMITH AREA.

You can also download the forms right here on our website under the downloads section. Please email your completed forms to admin@hitassociation.org.za.

A very nasty sewerage spill / blockage at the lower end of town in the field in Victoria Street.

The member who reported this blocked manhole felt so concerned with all the sewerage spilling in the field and the nearby stream which leads to the Wilgeriver that he decided to check it out himself. The repair was really easy. He found a 25L Paint Bucket stuck in the bottom of the manhole, once removed, the sewerage flowed freely down the sewerage line.

We unblocked two manholes in Erasmus street in Wilgepark and checked a 3rd one which is in a property in Erasmus street just behind the 2nd one. The resident was complaining that the sewerage pushes out in to his property, but we didn’t find any problems. We suspect with the other two manholes blocked the sewerage pushed up in to this property as these filled up and did cause problems within the property. But, with the first manhole unblocked, manholes 2 and 3 are flowing freely now and we don’t see any more sewerage leaks or spills.

Sewerage is flowing freely for now.

Although  all 3 manholes are repaired, we cannot guarantee that the repairs will last and that there will not be any more blockages. Due to the municipality’s lack in service delivery and in particular on-going maintenance and repairs, we still have some other problems to solve. We are presently working towards resolving this sewerage blockage and spills for good. We will keep our members posted.

Repairs done by HIT Residents Association was done on behalf of our members as Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality did not respond to the complaints. Repairs are for the municipality's account.

We completed the repair by replacing the broken pipe. Please feel free to visit the previous post if you have not read it at https://hit-residents-association-repairs-sewerage-blockages-and-spills-on-behalf-of-maluti-a-phofung-municipality.html

Repairs such as these are simply not possible without members. We thank our members for your continued support and for being the change you want to see. 

Come to our office, complete your membership form and your Section 102 Dispute form.
You will need to bring your I.D. card / book with you and your last municipal account.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Office Hours: Monday - Fridays 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4pm.

Costs - 2020: Annual Registration Fee - R80. Monthly membership fee - R100  / R200 per month for businesses

REMEMBER: ANYBODY CAN BE A HIT MEMBER. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A PROPERTY OWNER.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE OVER 18 AND LIVE OR CONDUCT BUSINESS WITHIN THE GREATER HARRISMITH AREA.

You can also download the forms right here on our website under the downloads section. Please email your completed forms to admin@hitassociation.org.za.

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #NoElectricity #NoWater #MalutiAPhofung #MalutiAPoofi #SiesMalutiAPhofung #NoServiceDelivery #HITResidentsAssociation
2020/041#

The rest of the sewerage issues mentioned in the letters above will be repaired as of Monday. We will keep you posted and will be doing further updates to this post as we go along with the repairs and unblocking of sewerage.

Come to our office, complete your membership form and your Section 102 Dispute form.
You will need to bring your I.D. card / book with you and your last municipal account.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Office Hours: Monday - Fridays 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 4pm.

Costs - 2020: Annual Registration Fee - R80. Monthly membership fee - R100  / R200 per month for businesses

You can also download the forms right here on our website under the downloads section. Please email your completed forms to admin@hitassociation.org.za.

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #NoElectricity #NoWater #MalutiAPhofung #MalutiAPoofi #SiesMalutiAPhofung #NoServiceDelivery #HITResidentsAssociation
2020/040#

Maluti-A-Phofung has openly admitted that they have no intention of paying Eskom. RESULT: Their FNB bank account is still frozen!

Even though Judge Mhlambi ruled in favour of Maluti-A-Phofung’s appeal against Eskom on 9 October 2020, Eskom managed to swing them of their feet by appealing the ruling and so MAP still finds themselves… Penniless and broke while their cash is still on ice!

We have received word that MAP workers are very unhappy and on strike because they have not been paid! WHAT AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!

How does one not pay your employees? Surely you should be able to negotiate some sort of arrangement under normal circumstances? But, sadly this is not normal circumstances.  Maluti-A-Phofung has played their card of arrogance by refusing to pay their Eskom debt thinking they had the ACE in hand! Well once again they lost and now they are blaming First National Bank for poor service delivery. Makes one wonder when these pathetic games will end?

The residents of Greater Harrismith and Maluti-A-Phofung’s employees!

This whole month was a month filled with on-going complaints from residents due to no water and regular power outages.  Today is no exception! We got word that there was another electrical fault at the plant and Harrismith had no water for most of the day! We as residents expect MAP to fix these problems, but their employees haven’t been paid. Would you work if you don’t receive your salary?

Power failures at the plant have resulted in to dry taps. We have also had reports of broken pipelines from Nuwejaar Spruit and broken pumps. This is purely because of a lack of planning and a lack of maintenance from MAP’s side.

Other causes of power outages around town:

We have even gotten reports on trees that are catching fire at the roots! Makes one wonder what’s happening underground and how safe we really are?

As for our court hearing that we won on 27 August 2020 with regards to the repairs to the sewerage plant and the sewerage leaks around town:  Sadly, while Maluti-A-Phofung’s bank account is frozen, we will just have to be patient for a little while longer. Unfortunately, having their bank accounts frozen also gives them reasonable grounds not to respond to our demands and even if we take the matter further, we will not win because MAP has no access to their funds and cannot be given a fair chance to repair the leaking sewerage lines or the dysfunctional sewerage plants. This places us in a catch 22 situation for now, but we are keeping our eyes on them and will inform you as soon as we are able to take further steps.

When all residents decide to stop making the same mistakes in believing that Maluti-A-Phofung will start providing the decent service delivery we deserve.

Let’s face it: Our water troubles started during 2014. It is 6 years later and we are all still waiting for Maluti-A-Phofung to fix our water troubles and as we can see: The situation is just getting worse and worse with MAP in control. Not too mention our electrical problems, potholes, problems with refuse removal, blocked sewers, etc..

It’s time that we all unite and join an association which acts as our pressure group. HIT Residents Association is coping very well with the support we are getting from our current members. But, in order to place more weight on Maluti-A-Phofung and to speed up the process of obtaining decent delivery, we need more members. While residents insist on believing that Maluti-A-Phofung will come to the party on their own (which they won’t), the process will take much longer and we will just have to endure the problems for longer before things may change.

Please feel free to get in to contact with our office. Our friendly secretary, Marinda, will be more than happy to assist you with completing your forms and answering all your questions.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880;

Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682;

Email Address: admin@hitassociation.org.za

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #NoElectricity #NoWater #MalutiAPhofung #MalutiAPoofi #SiesMalutiAPhofung #NoServiceDelivery #HITResidentsAssociation
2020/039#

WHY JOIN HIT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION?

• You will not have to fight MAP legal fees by yourself anymore.

• You and your family will live in a clean and safe town and suburbs.

• You will regain your property’s value due to improved service delivery.

• Economical circumstances will improve. Young professionals, entrepreneurs and young employees will want to relocate to Harrismith.

• You will be able to determine the standard of your lifestyle.

• You will be able to solve problems in a friendly, efficient and professionally managed office.

 
Please do not hesitate to contact Marinda at our offices at 52 Stuart Street, Harrismith.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880; Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682; Email Address: admin@hitassociation.org.za

HOEKOM AANSLUIT HIT INWONERS VERENIGING?

• U hoef nie meer self MAP-regskoste te beveg nie.
• U en u gesin sal in 'n skoon en veilige stad en voorstede woon.
• U sal die waarde van u eiendom herwin as gevolg van verbeterde dienslewering.
• Ekonomiese omstandighede sal verbeter. Jong professionele persone, entrepreneurs en jong werknemers sal na Harrismith wil verhuis.
• U sal die standaard van u lewenstyl kan bepaal.
• U kan probleme oplos in 'n vriendelike, doeltreffende en professioneel bestuurde kantoor.

Moet asseblief nie huiwer om Marinda by ons kantore in Stuartstraat 52, Harrismith, te kontak nie.

52 Stuart Street; HARRISMITH; 9880; Phone numbers: 087 997 0683 / 087 997 0682; Email Address: admin@hitassociation.org.za

2020/#037 #HITResidentsAssociation #MalutiAPhofung

Dear English Readers. We have not forgotten about you. Please scroll down for the translation.

 
n Appelprosesseringsaanleg van R240 miljoen, ’n kameelmelkery van R150 miljoen en ’n geelvis-teelprojek van R150 miljoen vir die Vrystaat is eers van die baan nadat beleggers van Mexiko onttrek het.
Die Maluti-a-Phofung-munisipaliteit (Kestell, Qwaqwa en Harrismith) gaan eers konsentreer om die Eskom-skuld van R5,3 miljard af te betaal. So sê Tseko Mothamaha, die munisipale bestuurder. Hy het reageer op talle klagtes oor die feit dat Harrismith reeds van einde Julie geen elektrisiteit-toevoer het nie.
Dit terwyl grootskaalse projekte in die munisipaliteit se ontwikkelingsplan van 2020/2021, wat in Netwerk24 se besit is, glo goedgekeur is. Mothamaha sê daar sou ook ’n splinternuwe winkelsentrum in Qwa Qwa gebou word.  “Maar die beleggers het weens korona onttrek.”


Die bestuurspan van die HIT (Harrismith; Intabazwe and Tshiame) Residents Association wat uit sakelui wat die gemeenskap verteenwoordig bestaan, is woedend oor die reuse projekte wat beplan is terwyl besighede nou moet sluit weens ’n gebrek aan basiese dienslewering soos krag, terwyl hulle boonop die gevolge van die inperking moet oorleef. In ’n dokument met hul terugvoer op die ontwikkelingsplan, skryf hulle die “foutiewe dokument wys net daarop dat die munisipaliteit en sy raadslede nie ’n idee het wat binne die munisipaliteit aangaan nie”. Hulle skryf die munisipaliteit se administrasie soos dit in sy huidige formaat is, is eenvoudig nie herstelbaar nie, totaal bankrot met ’n totaal onproduktiewe personeel. Willem König, voorsitter, sê afgesien van die feit dat besighede hier al reeds vir 28 dae geen krag het nie, is daar ook vir jare nie meer enige rioolwerking nie. Voorts hoop die vullissakke op en vloei daar riool voor besighede en deur die sinkhuise in die nedersettings verby. Hul klagtes aand die MAP val op dooie ore, sê hy. “In die Covid-tyd het hulle besluit om vir elkeen van die 1 400 werknemers by die munisipaliteit ’n 28%-verhoging te gee. Ons sien hulle nie! Hulle doen niks nie. Ons verwyder die swart sakke en rommel. Hierdie ouens is non-existent.”

’n Nuwe kragkabel is Sondag in die Hardustria industriële gebied installeer. Mothamaha sê mense moet besef hy is nog redelik nuut (hy is 27 Maart in diens gestel) en dat die uitdagings enorm, “maar nie onoorkombaar nie”, is. “Daar is talle inwoners en fabrieke wat onwettige konneksies met Eskom se kragstasie het. Dit gee ons probleme in terme van ons kapasiteit.”Hy sê hulle beplan om Dinsdagoggend verskeie klagtes in verband hiermee by die polisie in te dien. Van die R5,3 miljard wat die munisipaliteit aan Eskom skuld, is R1,5 miljard rente. Hy sê hy het R72 miljoen in Julie aan Eskom betaal; “’n eerste in die geskiedenis van die munisipaliteit”.


#Netwerk24 #MalutiAPhofung #GeenDiensLewering

2020/#036

“FS municipality budgets for a camel dairy while the town stumbles”
Cheréne Pienaar
 
An apple processing plant of R240 million, a camel dairy of R150 million and a yellow-fish breeding project of R150 million for the Free State are only off the track after investors withdrew from Mexico. The Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality (Kestell, Qwaqwa and Harrismith) will first concentrate on paying off the Eskom debt of R5.3 billion. So says Tseko Mothamaha, the municipal manager. He has responded to numerous complaints about the fact that Harrismith has had no electricity supply since the end of July. This while large-scale projects in the municipality's development plan of 2020/2021, which is in the possession of Netwerk24, have apparently been approved. Mothamaha says a brand new shopping center would have also been built in Qwa Qwa. "But the investors withdrew due to corona."
 
The management team of the HIT (Harrismith; Intabazwe and Tshiame) Residents Association, which consists of businessmen representing the community, is furious about the huge projects planned while businesses have had to close due to a lack of basic service delivery such as power, while trying to survive because of the restriction.  In a document with their feedback on the development plan, they write that the "incorrect document only indicates that the municipality and its councilors have no idea what is going on within the municipality". The municipality's administration as it is in its current format is simply not recoverable, totally bankrupt with totally unproductive staff. Willem König, chairman, says that apart from the fact that businesses here have not had power for 28 days, there has also been no sewage operation for years. Furthermore, the garbage bags pile up and sewage flows past businesses and through the corrugated iron houses in the settlements. Their complaints to MAP have been falling on deaf ears to date, he says.  "During the Covid era, they decided to give each of their 1400 employees at the municipality a 28% increase. We do not see them! They do nothing. We remove the black bags and rubbish. These guys are non-existent. ”
 
A new power cable was installed in the Hardustria industrial area on Sunday. Mothamaha says people need to realize that he is still fairly new (he was hired on March 27) and that the challenges are enormous, "but not insurmountable". "There are numerous residents and factories that have illegal connections with Eskom's power station. It gives us problems in terms of our capacity. ”He says they plan to lodge several complaints in this regard with the police on Tuesday morning. Of the R5.3 billion that the municipality owes to Eskom, R1.5 billion is interest. He says he paid R72 million to Eskom in July; "A first in the history of the municipality".

Volgens HIT en Harrismith Sector 2 CPF dra ons geen kennis van enige ander organisasies behalwe vir die Harrismith Water Heroes wat tans die dorp skoon maak nie. Die brief wat tans rondgaan as Intabazwe Skoomplaas Projects registrasie nommer 2020/425434/08 se registrasie nommer is ook nie geldig nie en kan nerens op die NPO register gevind word nie.
Ons vra dat die persone betrokke met ander organisasies in kontak met ons sal tree en hulle self voorstel.
Hiermee vra on sook die publiek om nie sulke organisasies te ondersteun nie.
Dankie
Andries De Clerk – 0832627194 – CPF Sector 2 Harrismith Chairman
Willem König – 076 308 7112 – HIT Residents Association
According to HIT Residents Association and our local CPF Harrismith Sector 2 , Water Heroes are the only organization that’s been cleaning town and they are not aware of any other organizations that’s presently involved with projects within our town and surrounds. There is presently a letter asking for donations going around town from Intabazwe Skoomplaas Projects registration number 2020/425434/08. This registration number cannot be found on the NPO register. We ask that all other organizations come forward and introduce yourselves.
We also ask that the public do not support these associations.
Thank you.
Andries De Clerk – 0832627194 – CPF Sector 2 Harrismith Chairman
Willem König – 076 308 7112 – HIT Residents Association

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#Harrismith #MainSeweragePlantDown #RioolInRivier #SewerageInWilgeriver #NoServiceDelivery #MalutiAPhofung
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#Harrismith #MainSeweragePlantDown #RioolInRivier #SewerageInWilgeriver #NoServiceDelivery #MalutiAPhofung #MaroelaMedia
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This project started on 21 / 04 / 2020. This blog post covers our progress as we go along and dates from latest news to the oldest news.

We are humbled and extremely grateful for the donations in food and money that we have received since this project started. Without these donations, we CANNOT take on projects such as these and help other people.

Thanks to a generous farming and business community, we are getting ready to distribute the donations in the food we have received within the Greater Harrismith district. See our videos for more information.

In addition to preparing all this food for distribution, we also delivered 10 x 10 kg bags of Maize Flour to the Harrismith Distribution Center at Q4.

If you would like to donate, please feel free to get in contact with us.

Contact person Willem König - 076 308 7112.

100 kg of Sugar Beans and 100kg Cake Flour was delivered to VVA already packed in 2 kg bags.

We also packed 450 x 2 kg Sugar Beans and 250 x 2kg Cake Flour and it’s ready for distribution.
Thank you to all who have donated and the hands that helped pack the bags.

#Harrismith #VVA #HITResidentsAssociation #Covid19 #LockDown

We as HIT Residents Association would like to appeal to You as the community to help us help others. As most of you may know: With COVID-19 in our midst, many households have lost their monthly income and as a result, these households are out of food or will be without food very soon. 

We have already made a premises available from where we can work and ensure that donations in food will be packaged, allocated and distributed to households. The project will be managed by the three directors of HIT Residents Association.

We would be most grateful if you can assist us with donations in any of the following:

• Maize Flour
• Potatoes
• Sugar Beans
• Cash

HIT Residents Association
Standard Bank Harrismith
Acc no 040821013
Reference: FOOD and your name if you wish

With this said, we are very grateful and truly blessed in this project. We have asked for guidance through prayers and we have already received donations. Thank you so much to all of you who have already donated. We really appreciate your support.

We will be keeping you up to date via our blog, Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Please feel free to get in to contact with us should you have any questions.

Regards

HIT Residents Association Management

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #Charity #FoodParcel #COVID-19 
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#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #Charity #FoodParcel #COVID-19

#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #HITResidentsAssociation #BlockedStormPipe #MAPfailsatservicedelivery #Maluti-A-Phofung #DisgracefulMunicipality

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#Harrismith #Intabazwe #Tshiame #HITResidentsAssociation #SewerageLeaks #BlockedSewerage

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