By: ANG Reporter
Executive mayor of Central Karoo District Gayton McKenzie has gone on a blitz in his town, switching off electricity for businesses and the rich who owe the municipality exorbitant debt.
Twitter was abuzz with the blitz with followers of the mayor being amazed at the mayor’s active stance. Mckenzie switched the lights off for the Sun 1 Hotel which owes more than R500 000. He mentioned on his Twitter account that he had done this without fear or favour.
With reference to another building that had enjoyed protection and privilege despite owing thousands, Mckenzie said: “This building owes the municipality 800 thousand rands and has had uninterrupted electricity for years whilst people owing as little as 100 rands get their electricity blocked or cut.”
The mayor said he was in disbelief over the amount of privilege the private sector had while the poor suffered. “The most chilling matter I discovered since becoming Mayor is that certain rich people, certain politically connected across all parties and a select group of councillors don’t pay electricity, only the electricity of the poor gets blocked and cut, that all ends today,” he said.
McKenzie’s blitz on those who owe money to the municipality comes as the country grapples with the power crisis. The country has been plunged into high levels of load shedding due to a recently ended strike at Eskom and maintenance issues.
Different political parties have taken their own stances when it comes to rate collection in municipalities. But McKenzie said if the poor are forced to pay then the rich should pay as well.
That’s the right approach and actions. Well done Prez
He is the real leader of the world and showing the world how to be a gud president/king of the people