‘Municipalities owe Eskom billions’

Municipalities owe Eskom billions in outstanding debt and are contributing to the country’s power crisis, said AfriForum.

Eskom instituted load-shedding last week Thursday and while it was lifted the same day, as winter approaches, the power utility is on alert.

AfriForum said that many municipalities were failing residents.

“The outstanding debt adds to the country’s electricity woes,” spokesperson Tiaan Esterhuizen said in a statement.

“Taxpayers pay their accounts every month but are left without power as a result of poor financial management by municipalities,” said Esterhuizen.

Fin24 reports that Mpumalanga’s municipalities owed Eskom more than R800-million, while municipalities in the Free State owed more than R570-million.