City of Mbombela Local Municipality promises no electricity interruptions this festive season
According to municipal spokesman Joseph Ngala, a substantial amount of money was paid to Eskom on Friday, November 3.
MBOMBELA – The threat of having the lights go out on December 19 remains, but the City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) is confident that a workable agreement will be reached between itself and Eskom.
Eskom confirmed that, despite a payment agreement not yet being reached, talks have been ongoing between the power utility and CMLM. “Eskom and the City of Mbombela have been in talks.
“However, there is no repayment plan concluded at this stage,” said Eskom spokesman Eric Khoza.
Also read: Eskom announces plans to cut power to Mbombela
“I have been in discussion with the CFO, Wiseman Khumalo, and the acting municipal manager, Neil Diamond, and they have both assured me that the engagements between the City and Eskom are ongoing,” he said.
This follows in the wake of allegations made by Diamond that Eskom had acted in bad faith by publishing a notice alerting the public to the possibility of indefinite bulk electricity supply disruptions due to non-payment of debt by CMLM to Eskom.
“We are confident that we will not have the electricity switched off this festive season, and that the City will not fall into the same kind of situation as other municipalities in the province,” said Ngala, who gave his assurance that CMLM are working on establishing a revenue-enhancement strategy to ensure that all debt owed to Eskom is paid.
Also read: City accuses Eskom of bad faith
Ngala said the municipality will do everything in its power to avoid a situation in which its ratepayers are subjected to power interruptions over the festive season.
• The Constitutional Court on Monday accepted the application by the business chambers of Graskop, Sabie and Lydenburg to stop the power interruptions in Thaba Chweu municipality.
The municipal area has been suffering load shedding due to its Eskom debt for weeks. All opposing parties have until Monday to file their affidavits with the court.
Also read: City of Mbombela engages in talks with Eskom
