CENTLEC SOC LTD

BULLETIN

June 2018

EDITORIAL COMMENT In this edition of Bulletin, we seek to highlight

the achievements and bring to your attention

the variety of news about your institution.

This edition covers topics related to the

Bloem Show 2018, CENTLECs’ involvement

in Mantsopa Local Municipality and also put

on the spot light the newly appointed SHE

representatives, First Aiders, Evacuation

Marshals and Fire Fighters and other future

events.

Please trust that you will enjoy reading this

brochure.

IN THIS ISSUE

Foreign National nabbed for power theft

CENTLEC eradicates health hazards with-

in its workplace

Legal appointments for Fire fighters and

Evacuation Marshalls Announced

Please use this platform to communicate all activities, events and other developments within

your section.

0514122633

0514092228

communications@centlec.co.za @Centlec

“It is time for the next generations to

continue our struggle against social

injustice and for the rights of humanity.

It is in your hands.”

- Nelson Mandela

Page 2

Mangaung Municipal’s power utility, CENTLEC, which provides pow-er to more than 220 000 households in the City of Mangaung and other Local Municipalities in the Free State says its fight against tampering and electricity theft is gaining momentum. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 13

th of June 2018, the munici-

pal-owned enterprise says one suspect was arrested on the 5th of

June 2018 for tampering and illegally connecting electricity to her business in Bloemfontein. The 31 year old suspect, Bebush Sodebo Agidie, an Ethiopian national and a business woman, was arrested by the Elite Police team, The Hawks, after she had tried to offer bribery to the mem-bers of the CENTLEC Revenue Protection Team. While doing their routine inspections, members of the CENTLEC Revenue Protection Team, visited one of the stores in Bloemfontein CBD area where

they detected a meter tampering in one of the shops. A fine amounting to R39 438-16 was issued to the shop owner. She, in turn offered a cash amounting to R3500 as a bribery to the said officials who then immediately alerted the police. The shop owner was arrested by the Hawks.

She has since appeared before the Bloemfontein Regional Court on the 13th of June 2018 charged with contravening the provisions of Act no 18, of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act of 2015, paragraph 4, section3 (1) and (b) 105, Schedule 2 under Criminal Procedures Act of 1997 and is currently out on the R 8 000 bail. Her next appearance will be on the 06

th of July 2018.

This arrest comes merely a year after the successful conviction of Mr Mothabeng who was handed a five year sentence by Botshabelo Magistrate Court on the 17

th of March 2017 after he was found Guilty

of contravening the provisions of Act No 18 of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, of 2015 paragraph 4, section 3 (1) (a) and (b) and Schedule 2 under Criminal Procedures Act of 1997. Speaking along the side lines of this incident the CEO of CENTLEC Mr AN Mgoqi said “As CENTLEC (SOC) Ltd, we urge all our people

and corporates to refrain from using any form of bribery against our officials who are out there to do their work. Those who will be found on the wrong side of the law attempting to bribe our officials will face the full might of the law and for our officials who will have accepted to be bribed there will be serious consequences against them” The CEO went further to applaud the good work done by the members of the Revenue team who were involved in the operation which resulted in the foreign national woman being arrested. In the meantime CENTLEC is on serious drive to collect revenue especially from various businesses, institutions and companies that are still owing electricity. The amount owed by various businesses and companies on electricity exceeds R100s of millions, this include in the towns of Kopanong, Mohokare and Mantsopa municipalities.

Whilst we appreciate and welcome some of the businesses, Institutions and companies that are keep-ing up with their account, we appeal to those still in arrears to make arrangements to settle or have their accounts up to date, failure to do so, not only we are going to disconnect their electricity, they will be handed over to debt collections . Electricity theft, meter tampering and vandalism of valuable infrastructure is considered a serious offence in South Africa and any other person or institution found guilty of stealing electricity, tampering and vandalizing valuable infrastructure can be sentenced to maximum jail term period of ten years .

FOREIGN NATIONAL NABBED FOR POWER THEFT

ARREST OF THE SUSPECT BEBUSH SODEBO AGIDIE

MEMBERS OF THE CENTLEC REVENUE PROTECTION

OPENING A CASE AT THE POLICE STATION

Page 3

CENTLEC ERADICATE SAFETY HAZARDS WITHIN ITS

WORKPLACE

Health and safety of employees should be a primary goal for all employers in various organisations, large, small or medium, throughout South Africa. Employers are bound by the act of Parlia-ment to ensure that they protect all persons within the work place against possible hazards and establish all relevant advisory and legal structures within employment.

According to section 8,(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act no 85 of 1993, all employers are expected to amongst other things, provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of his/her employees. On the 22nd of June 2018, CENTLEC (SOC) Ltd, through the Health and Safety Unit, organized a First Aid Training for all First Aiders. Although it is often overlooked, First aid and CPR trainings are critical for all employees within the organization. About 18 people were given an introductory training to first aid and CPR, and have now become more safety aware which will assist in eradicating and even saving lives in cases where grave injuries occur.

Appointment and training of First Aiders is been provided for in GRS 3, Sub regulation 4 which says that where more than 10 em-ployees are employed within a particular workplace, the employer of such employees must take steps to ensure that for every group of up to 50 employees, at least one person who possesses a valid certificate of competency in first aid is readily available during nor-mal working hours.

Plans are under way to further train others employees who are still without proper Frist Aid Training to ensure that almost majority of the employees are aware and know what is expected during the need of first aid skill in the working environment at large.

DEMONSTRATION BY Me TAMSIN MURISON DURING

THE FIRST AID TRAINING

ATTENDANTS DURING THE FIRST AID TRAINING

Page 3

CENTLEC (SOC) Ltd has recently signed the Service Level Agreement with Mantsopa Local Municipality whereby it will provide metering and vending system services and also assist with technical personnel and resources to provide necessary support to the munici-pality. Mantsopa Local Municipality has been identified as one of the financially struggling municipalities in the country and its ESKOM debt runs into millions of rands.

CENTLEC (SOC) Ltd was identified by the Free State provincial government and touted as one of the most effective municipal utility to take over the provision of electricity and all related services in many struggling municipalities such as Mantsopa within the province. It is one of the only two municipal electricity utilities in the country, known for and been awarded various awards for enforcing contracts and leading in the provision of electricity services beating the likes of City Power who have a massive financial muscle. This great move brings the company closer to the realization of its long term vision of increasing its footprint within the Free State and beyond the borders of the province. In prepa-ration to the anticipated take-over on the 01

st of July

2018, various meetings and interactions were held with councilors of all affected wards, in the areas of Excelsi-or, Tweespruit and Ladybrand. During the meeting, var-ious issues affecting the community of Mantsopa were

raised. Topping the list was the ESKOM debts which has to be settled by the municipality and the extent to which it impacts on the work of CENTLEC within the municipality. The reporting of faults, billing and payment processes, the capacity of the call centre in man-aging the flow of incoming telephone and dispatching of personnel, conversion of rota-tional meters to prepaid, meter auditing and vending, repairing of street lights and tariffs application for the next financial year were also discussed at length in all interactions with the community of Mantsopa.

In other interactions prior to the meeting of Tweespruit, another meeting was held between top officials of CENTLEC and the councilors of Mantsopa at Manyatseng old council chambers. Councilors under the leadership of the municipality speaker, councilor Achie Moduka, wanted clarity on the state of readiness by CENTLEC in taking over the provision of electricity provision in certain parts of the municipality and the personnel roll out and deployment of resources within the municipality. CENTLEC through the mouth of Mr Xolile Faku, took councilors into confidence when he highlighted and explain the type of work, skills and expertise of the company’s workforce and also highlighted achieve-ments and the kind of experience the company has gained through the years of provid-ing electricity in other municipalities. He further assured councilors that all the provisions of the Service Level Agreement will be respected and implemented to the latter to ensure the smooth transition and the delivery of high quality of services to the communi-ty of Mantsopa.

Mr Faku briefing the councilors of Mantsopa

Local Municipality

PROVINCIAL FOOTPRINT TO BE REALIZED SOONER THAN EXPECTED

FROM LEFT: Cllr Achie Moduka (Speaker: Mantsopa Local Municipality), Mr Godfrey le

Grange (GM: SFS) Mr Lele Mamatu (GM: Strategic Support) and Mr Xolile Faku (GM:)

Page 4

CENTLEC (SOC) Ltd is committed to ensure a hazard free environment and prioritize healthy and safe working environment for

all its employees and clients. This can be evident in the recent appointment of fire fighters and evacuation Marshalls at CENTLEC, RE-AFFIRMING the commitment of the employer to conform to the prescription of the law. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1993, every employer in South Africa have a responsibility to provide and ensure a healthy and a safe working environment to his or her employees.

The following persons were appointed as Fire Fighters and Evacuation Marshalls in various sections:

INITIALS & SURNAME SECTION

DATE OF AP-POINTMENT

END OF

APPOINTMENT

R Mofokeng Planning 01/10/2017 31/09/2019

S Twala IT Rhodes 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

A Kayser Human Resource Development 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

L Khiba Planning 01/10/2017 31/09/2019

S Booysen Medium Voltage 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

K Malotle Medium Voltage 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

MV Tshepe Energy and Network Control 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

P Mathe Connections 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

T Nkwale Planning 01/10/2017 31/09/2019

T Mothebe Finance 01/01/2018 31/12/2020

Z Gculelo HR (Rhodes) 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

V Ngwanza Security (Rhodes) 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

N Yola Security (Rhodes) 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

S Mangate Supply Chain Management Evacuation Marshall (RHODES) 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

RP Netshithuthu-ni Design and Development 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

MP Ramoeletsi Design and Development 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

TE Mokokoane Security 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

TJ Selilenyane Regional Services-Botshabelo 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

WT Lekata Supply Chain Management Fire Fighter (RHODES) 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

R Lebudi HR (Rhodes) 01/01/2018 31/12/2020

MA Qhoai Transmission 1/8/2016 31/8/2018

L Matsepane Regional Services-SFS 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

W Solomons Regional Services-SFS 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

A Boikanyo Regional Services-SFS 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

M Fokase Regional Services-SFS 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

TR Sekitlane Regional Services-SFS 1/7/2016 31/7/2018

M Moroane Planning 01/10/2017 31/09/2019

S Sixeki Metering (Fire Fighter)

K Mohlakane Metering (Evacuation Marshal)

Executive Office (Rhodes to still be nomi-nated)

The responsibilities of the Fire Fighter and Evacuation Marshalls are as follows:

To identify all possible fire hazards and take the necessary action to reduce the fire risk as far as possible;

To familiarise yourself with the type and position of fire-fighting equipment in your section;

To ensure that regular checks and inspections of fire-fighting equipment on the premises are carried out;

To ensure you are well trained in the use of the equipment and fire- fighting techniques;

Keep management informed of possible fire risks and incidents; and

To work and practise as a team with the other team members to obtain a high state of preparedness.

To assist in evacuating the workplace and addressing any emergency not planned for.

FIREFIGHTERS AND EVACUATION MARSHALLS ANNOUNCED