Question NW530 to the Minister of Social Development
05 April 2017 - NW530
Terblanche, Ms JF to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)(a) (i) How many times and (ii) for which period(s) has the electricity supply to the SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) office in Potchefstroom in the Tlokwe Local Municipality been cut (aa) in each of the past three financial years and (bb) since 1 April 2016 and (b) what was the reason for the electricity cuts in each case; (2) whether any officials have been held to account for any late payments of the specified office’s electricity bills; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether any steps have been taken to prevent any future electricity cuts to the specified office; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether any electricity supply cuts occurred at any other SASSA offices in the North West in the specified period; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NW587E
Reply:
1.(a) (i) the electricity supply was cut off once to SASSA Tlokwe Local Office.
(ii) during the month of February 2017.
(aa) the electricity supply was never cut for the period 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016
(bb) 14 February 2017
(b) The Department of Public Works (DPW) used to be responsible for the payment of this account at this office until April 2016. SASSA and the DPW signed an agreement whereby SASSA was to take over payment of the electricity account and to settle all outstanding electricity amounts with the municipality. SASSA made a payment agreement with the municipality to settle all outstanding electricity amounts for the periods December 2016 to January 2017. Due to non-payment the electricity was cut on the 14 February 2017.
2. No, SASSA official has been held accountable, this matter is still under investigation.
3. Yes, measures had been put in place to ensure that there is a clear oversight of monitoring the payments of all water and electricity accounts at SASSA offices in the province. A desktop monitoring tool has been developed which shall be presented for implementation to management. This is to ensure that the line unit responsible must monitor the payments of these accounts.
In an effort to prevent future electricity cuts to the SASSA offices, the municipality made a commitments that will also email the invoices instead of using only the post office. on a monthly basis to dedicated officials of SASSA. The names of the officials and their contact’s details were already forwarded to the municipality
4. The electricity was cut off on the 27 January 2017 at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Office by the new landlord for non-payment of the outstanding electricity bills for the past three financial years. The previous landlord who passed away was not submitting invoices regularly despite the fact that SASSA was making follow ups on a monthly basis.
SASSA was also ensuring that confirmation of services received was prepared and submitted to our Supply Chain Management Unit for receipting into the system to ensure that funds are reserved for payment processing as to and when the invoices are submitted.
The landlord suggested that SASSA did not paid their electricity account, it emerged that the new landlord could not balance his books (reconcile) in relation to electricity payments. Meetings were held between the landlord and SASSA. And the officials presented proof of payments. The landlord reconnected electricity