Following shocking new revelations from Eskom regarding the debt owed to the energy giant by the local municipality, Mr Bheki Kubheka, Govan Mbeki Municipal spokesman, acknowledged on Monday, 14 August that the debt crisis remains an issue.
“As per the Eskom statement made on Monday, 7 August and published by the Ridge Times on Wednesday, 9 August it is the right of our community to know the status of the Eskom debt, as well as all challenges that we are experiencing in relation to the settlement of this debt.”
According to Mr Kubheka, the municipality indeed owes Eskom R420-m which includes the “old” debt plus interest on current outstanding payments.
One of the major problems facing the municipality is electricity revenue losses due to illegal connections.
However the municipality met with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs), Treasury and Eskom on 26 July in a continued attempt to find amicable solutions and grounds for successful re-negotiating a new repayment agreement.
Attention was drawn to a previous publication by the Ridge Times, wherein proof was provided of illegal electricity connections in eMzinoni, but the municipality failed to address this and stated: “As part of the long term solution, we have finalised the phase one audit for the installation of smart metering system and we continue to act upon electricity theft.”
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