Bedworth Park residents boo mayor

BEDWORTH PARK. – Concerned residents staged a walk-out the moment the executive mayor of Emfuleni spoke about the new Smart Meter System to be introduced.
Interrupting the mayor, the residents booed mayor Gretha Hlongwane at the event last Wednesday.
They allegedly accused and blamed her for not starting with the new system to the neighbouring area of Sharpeville and or Bophelong. A loud commotion of a song, “Sharpeville first, Sharpeville first,” was heard from the attendees on August 19.
The community wanted the municipality to introduce the Smart Meter Electricity and Smart Meter Water Reading system in Sharpeville first. During the proceedings the mayor was served with a memorandum of grievances by the concerned residents.
Some of the ANC branch members complained that they were not informed about the system. They blame the municipality for adopting the Chinese system to ‘kill’ the community.
Apparently landlords were behind the disruption of the meeting. They allegedly informed tenants that after the new system has been installed, they will increase tariffs.
The new Smart Meter Technology will affect everyone. Those not paying will receive very little water. The community failing to pay electricity, it will automatically be switched off.
In an exclusive interview, councillor Hlongwane told Vaalweekblad that the meeting went well until a few hooligans interrupted the programme. The purpose of the meeting was to explain how the system will affect everyone.
She said the targeted areas are Bedworth Park, SE 7, Vereeniging, Zone 10 and 12 Sebokeng. “We must correct all the billing system. I have never said that only people from the suburbs must pay. All the residents of Emfuleni must start to pay for rates and services.”