By Loxion News Staff Writer
Businesses in the Emfuleni Local Municipality are facing a growing crisis as skyrocketing electricity bills and unreliable municipal services threaten their survival. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has stepped in to mediate between local employers and the municipality, highlighting the dire state of Emfuleni’s service delivery and its impact on the local economy.
According to Cllr Duncan Mthembu, DA Emfuleni Caucus Leader, the situation has become critical for many local businesses, with some forced to downscale operations and consider retrenchments. A prime example is Dixon Batteries, which represents numerous businesses struggling with inflated utility charges and administrative chaos in municipal billing.
Adding to their woes, a stolen electricity cable from 2020 has still not been replaced — a delay that continues to cause major disruptions. The failure to restore this key infrastructure has left the company vulnerable to repeated power outages, further straining its operations.
“The replacement of this stolen cable would offer some relief from the ever-increasing electricity failures and help these businesses remain operational,” said Mthembu. “Unfortunately, they have been met with an unresponsive municipality that appears indifferent to their plight.”
Following persistent pressure from the DA, the Emfuleni Local Municipality has finally pledged to investigate the concerns raised by Dixon Batteries and conduct a feasibility study on the replacement of the damaged cable network.
To build stronger cooperation between the municipality and local businesses, the DA has also recommended several key measures:
- Appointing a dedicated official in the Executive Mayor’s office to manage stakeholder relations.
- Establishing a Business Support Desk to assist local entrepreneurs and companies with daily operational challenges.
Cllr Mthembu reaffirmed the DA’s commitment to advocating for Emfuleni’s business community. “We will continue to apply pressure until the issues are resolved. Our goal is to ensure that Emfuleni becomes a place where businesses can thrive, create jobs, and sustain livelihoods.”
The DA’s intervention underscores a broader call for accountability and effective service delivery in Emfuleni, where years of mismanagement have left both residents and businesses battling unreliable electricity supply, water issues, and administrative dysfunction.
