The community is tired of the embezzlement of money by the municipality. Instead, they want a better state of affairs when purchasing their prepaid electricity vouchers.

"Will you please stop being money-centred and start operating with peoples’ interest at heart. Manage your affairs accurately and with utmost integrity," says the secretary of the Makhado Park Civic Organisation, Mr Fhatuwani Lucas Masindi.

At a meeting for Wards 20 and 21, Mr Masindi stated their problems with purchasing prepaid electricity vouchers.

"This town is predominantly occupied by the working class. We were a bit advantaged through the after-hours sales of electricity vouchers at the Fire Station. It was to our dismay and sadness that we were notified about the closure of that outlet. We thought that, instead the municipality was going to open more outlets around town, so that those who come late from work can have access to this one basic need," said Mr Masindi. He was supported by Mr KJ Nethamba, also from the civic organisation.

At the meeting, DA Councillor Jacques Smalle said that the municipality was to buy vending machines where electricity could be bought after hours. These machines would be installed at places like the post office and supermarkets.

Another thing that amazed the Makhado Civic Organisation was that it was such a hassle to obtain a prepaid electricity card.

"We understand that in anything defined as pre-paid there are no hassles upfront. We are so amazed by the hassles of unprecedented proportion directly linked to the purchase of pre-paid electricity vouchers.

"Our people are required to first show up their balances of rates and taxes before purchasing electricity. This is causing a chaotic situation for our people. They are confused by the arrogant behaviour of our service provider, as it doesn’t make sense. We understand it as our obligation to pay for rendered services. But it is not fair for one to be denied the purchase of a pre-paid electricity voucher, while on the other hand one is handed over to the credit bureau or one is blacklisted," Mr Masindi said.

The municipality should come up with a well-defined policy which is legally reasonable to deal with those who evade paying rates and taxes, was the feeling.

The issue of misappropriating monies was also brought up in a written statement by the Makhado Civic Organisation.

"We want to indicate to our authentic authority the embarrassment caused by some of the elements who mismanage and embezzle millions of rands which were suppose to have been directed to other projects for community upliftment. This seems to be the order of the day in this municipality. There are so many funds which just went untraced, even during the dawn of our democracy. It seems this trend will go on, noticed but unchallenged, as this sceptic act is committed by those in the higher echelons of governance.

"There are also strategies or so called by-laws which are promulgated to force the residents to pay large amounts of funds to recoup those monies misappropriated.

"Please bear with us, because we are tired of this behaviour," reads the statement.

This week, the municipal spokesperson, Mr Peter Magwala, was attending a workshop and not available for comment.