Newcastle’s power to be cut?
The Newcastle Municipality is millions in debt to Eskom of more than R182-million
If Newcastle’s lights go out, place the blame at the municipality’s feet.
This was one resident’s comment after a recent media statement from the Democratic Alliance (DA), stating the municipality’s debt to Eskom was more than R182-million.
The DA has called the possibility of power cuts ‘very real’.
According to DA Councillor Bebsie Cronje, the significant amount owed to Eskom by Newcastle Municipality was tabled during the Finance Portfolio meeting of October 18.
R63-million of this was reportedly due at the end of August.
Cronje said instead only R5-million was paid to the power utility, which to her was proof the municipality under the leadership of the African National Congress had proven incapable of caring for the finances of a heavily burdened entity.
“It is time the paying residents and businesses of Newcastle take a stance against the ANC for the way [it gambles] with our lives and money and start holding the ANC leadership accountable for the financial problems of the Newcastle Municipality.”
The rumours of looming power cuts mirrored reports in March this year, at which time municipal leadership claimed it had gone into agreement with Eskom to avert power cuts.
This time the municipality was not quite as verbose.
Although Municipal Manager, Errol Mswane committed to responding to the DA’s statement, no comment was received at the time of posting.
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