Grocott's Mail
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Tuesday, June 24
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Grocott's Mail
    • NEWS
      • Courts & Crime
      • Features
      • Politics
      • People
      • Health & Well-being
    • SPORT
      • News
      • Results
      • Sports Diary
      • Club Contacts
      • Columns
      • Sport Galleries
      • Sport Videos
    • OPINION
      • Election Connection
      • Makana Voices
      • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
      • Newtown… Old Eyes
      • Incisive View
      • Your Say
    • CUE
      • Cue Archives
    • ARTSLIFE
      • Makana Sharp!
      • Visual Art
      • Literature
      • Food
      • Festivals
      • Community Arts
      • Going Places
    • OUR TOWN
      • What’s on
      • Spiritual
      • Emergency & Well-being
      • Covid-19
      • Safety
      • Civic
      • Municipality
      • Weather
      • Properties
        • Grahamstown Properties
      • Your Town, Our Town
    • OUTSIDE
      • Enviro News
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Science
      • Conservation
      • Motoring
      • Pets/Animals
    • ECONOMIX
      • Business News
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Personal Finance
    • EDUCATION
      • Education NEWS
      • Education OUR TOWN
      • Education INFO
    • EDITORIAL
    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»NEWS»Courts & Crime»Makana municipality found in contempt of court
    Courts & Crime

    Makana municipality found in contempt of court

    Municipality ordered again to prove that it is paying the town's electricity bill
    Grocott's MailBy Grocott's MailMarch 15, 2023Updated:March 16, 2023No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    New Makana Municipal Manager Pumelelo Kate and Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara at a stakeholders meeting at City Hall on Thursday 10 November 2022. Photo: Jackie Clausen.

    By Staff Reporter

    Makana municipality has been found in contempt of court for disobeying a 2019 court order which compelled them to pay the town’s electricity bill.

    The Makhanda Business Forum won the court order against the municipality, Makana mayor Yandiswa Vara and municipal manager Phumelelo Maxwell Kate, on 9 March.

    The Makhanda Business Forum also brought the 2019 court order, after Eskom publicly stated that they would cut off Makhanda’s electricity for blocks of eight hours until the municipality paid their bill.

    Eskom had agreed not to disconnect the town’s electricity if the municipality started paying off the arrears and provided written affidavits and notices to the court to prove they had complied with an agreed payment plan.

    The Makhanda Business Forum said the municipality seemed to be making regular and accurate payments until 2021.

    “But by the end of March 2022, Makana municipality’s outstanding account with Eskom was again over R40 million, citing low collection of debt. Amounts paid to Eskom did not cover current amounts due, nor were they the accurate payment plan amounts,” said Makhanda Business Forum chairperson Richard Gaybba.

    Makhanda High Court judge Justin Laing found the municipality in contempt for not complying with the 2019 court order.

    Laing further ordered that Kate and any future municipal managers must provide an affidavit to the court every month and show evidence that the municipality is paying off the Eskom debt.

    Previous ArticleViolin, flute, and jazz trio to play on Tuesday
    Next Article Kukho Ithemba eMakana. Landela nje umzekelo kaMasipala wase-Umngeni!
    Grocott's Mail

      Comments are closed.

      Code of Ethics and Conduct
      GROCOTT’S SUBSCRIPTION
      RMR
      Listen to RMR


      Humans of Makhanda

      Humans of Makhanda

      Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

      © 2025 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.