Balancing infrastructure protection, leasing management, and social assistance
- Karen Scheepers
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Through a series of coordinated public notices and community outreach programs scheduled throughout 2026, the City of Matlosana is addressing critical operational challenges while enforcing legislative compliance across its administrative boundaries. From stabilizing the local electricity grid against illegal interventions to auditing public facility leases and streamlining indigent support, these initiatives highlight the municipality's ongoing efforts to regulate public services and ensure long-term community development.
Meter tampering and illegal connections trigger severe winter power outages in Jouberton and Alabama
The City of Matlosana has issued an urgent warning to the residents of Jouberton and Alabama following a sharp increase in unplanned electricity outages caused by network overloading. Investigations conducted by the municipality revealed that the primary cause of these winter power interruptions is illegal meter tampering. Criminals are reportedly being paid to bypass electricity meters, allowing households to consume unmetered electricity without paying the municipality.
This illicit load severely overloads local transformers and power lines. When the network is overburdened, it overheats, leading to critical equipment failure, explosions, and prolonged blackouts. The municipality highlighted that this behavior not only breaks the law but also unfairly punishes law-abiding residents who consistently pay for their electricity.
According to data released by the municipality, a total of 6,239 non-buying or bridged meters have been identified across various sectors. The area of Jouberton Extension 24 was flagged as having the highest concentration of non-buyers, totaling 862 instances.
A localized breakdown of the non-buying meters includes:
Alabama Proper & Extensions: Alabama Proper (35), Ext 1 (32), Ext 2 (123), Ext 3 (224), Ext 4 (536), Ext 5 (521).
Jouberton Proper & Extensions: Jouberton Proper (8), Ext 1 (472), Ext 2 (18), Ext 3 (61), Ext 4 (8), Ext 5 (33), Ext 6 (94), Ext 7 (455), Ext 8 (33), Ext 9 (131), Ext 10 (233), Ext 11 (167), Ext 12 (297), Ext 13 (227), Ext 14 (123), Ext 15 (148), Ext 16 (223), Ext 17 (192), Ext 18 (43), Ext 19 (119), Ext 20 (194), Ext 21 (197), Ext 22 (240), Ext 23 (190), and Ext 24 (862).
The City urges all residents and community leaders to partner with municipal authorities by anonymously reporting meter tampering and illegal connections to the City’s hotline at 072 646 7698 or to the nearest police station. Tampering constitutes a criminal offense under the Electricity Regulation Act and the City’s Electricity By-Laws. Offenders face immediate disconnection, heavy fines, criminal prosecution, and will be held financially liable for any damaged municipal infrastructure.
City of Matlosana opens applications for three-year leasing of municipal sport and recreation facilities
The City of Matlosana Sport and Recreation Department has officially invited all interested sports clubs and federation chairpersons to apply for the leasing of municipal sport and recreation facilities. The formal leasing process is structured for a period of three years, commencing on 1 August 2026 and running until 30 June 2029.
The core objective of this leasing initiative is to establish proper administration, accountability, regular maintenance, and sustainable utilization of municipal assets in strict accordance with applicable municipal legislation, policies, and procedures.
All applicants are required to submit their completed applications and supporting documentation to the Sport and Recreation Department offices, or via email to mmolaeng@klerksdorp.org or ctselane@klerksdorp.org, on or before the deadline of 10 July 2026. Incomplete applications may result in administrative delays or immediate disqualification.
The municipality has outlined seven mandatory supporting documents that must accompany each application:
An official request letter signed by the Chairperson, indicating the intention to lease the facility.
Full names, surnames, and positions of the club or federation executive committee members.
A letter of affiliation from the relevant National and/or Provincial Federation.
A copy of the club or federation constitution.
Certified copies of the Identity Documents (IDs) of the authorized signatories.
Proof of address of the club/federation or its executive representative.
An NPO registration certificate.
For further enquiries regarding the leasing process, stakeholders are encouraged to contact Cedric Tselane on 074 372 0555.
Speaker's office launches comprehensive indigent subsidy registration drive across local wards
The Office of the Speaker of Council, led by Cllr Stella Mondlane-Ngwenya, has announced a comprehensive Indigent Subsidy Drive to register qualifying households for municipal relief. The registration process will take place at designated municipal pay points and libraries across various wards starting at 09:00 AM daily, spanning from July through October 2026.
The municipality has established a strict set of criteria to determine eligibility for indigent support:
Only registered residential services delivered by the Council will qualify.
No residential consumer conducting a business from the residential property (with or without special consent) shall qualify for assistance.
Occupants or residents who own more than one property, or who apply while occupying an invalid house, will have their applications rejected.
Where the registered owner is deceased, underage children residing in the house must produce relevant documentation to be considered.
Only households where the total monthly income is less than R5,000.00 may apply.
Pensioner indigents whose subsidy was approved in the preceding financial year do not need to reapply, as their status is automatically renewed, though they must visit the center to verify that they are still alive.
Every applicant must complete an application agreement, which includes a detailed affidavit and a household customer profile.
Applicants must grant permission for an ITC credit check to verify their financial status if required.
Registered indigent consumers are entitled to the free installation of a pre-paid electricity meter and a water restriction device; however, falling into arrears will result in the disconnection of the pre-paid service.
Applicants must present themselves in person with the following documentation: the latest municipal account, a certified copy of the account holder's identity document, pension certificates from the SASSA department or a police affidavit stating survival methods, proof of income (if applicable), and certified birth certificates of dependents.
The municipality warned that if a recipient provides false information or fails to report a change in household circumstances, the support will be stopped immediately. The recipient will be held liable for the repayment of all relief received, normal credit control policies will apply, and criminal charges may be instituted. Furthermore, no property may be sold by an indigent consumer within 12 months of a debt write-off, or the new owner will be held liable for the written-off amounts.
The Indigent Subsidy Drive schedule is structured as follows:
06–10/07/2026: Ward 06 at Pay Point Ext 13
13–17/07/2026: Ward 07 at Pay Point Ext 6
20–24/07/2026: Ward 08 at Pay Point Ext 6
27–31/07/2026: Ward 13 at Pay Point 13
03–07/08/2026: Ward 11 at Pay Point Down
11–14/08/2026: Ward 05 at Pay Point Ext 19
17–21/08/2026: Ward 37 at Pay Point Ext 19
24–28/08/2026: Ward 09 at Pay Point Down
31/08–04/09/2026: Ward 10 at Pay Point Ext 6
07–11/09/2026: Tigane at Paypoint/Library
14–18/09/2026: Ward 22 at Pay Point
21–25/09/2026: Ward 23 at Pay Point
28/09–02/10/2026: Ward 24 at Pay Point
05–09/10/2026: Ward 25 at Pay Point
12–16/10/2026: Wards 26 & 27 at Pay Point
Residents seeking further clarity on the registration drive or venues may contact the municipal inquiry line at 018 487 8004.
Final Thought
By balancing infrastructural protection with strict regulatory compliance, formal community asset leases, and structured socio-economic relief programs, the City of Matlosana attempts to safeguard public revenue streams while managing essential local services. The cooperation of local leadership, sports federations, and residents remains fundamental to the sustainability of these localized administrative frameworks.
🔌📋🏟️
Comments