Debt riddled municipalities face blackout
The South African Local Government Association (Salga) is meeting with Eskom this morning as several municipalities still need to make arrangements to pay off debt.
Eskom's Khulu Phasiwe says five municipalities still have to make arrangements or face power cuts - again - from the first of next month.
"They will be discussing the rising debt which many municipalities are finding themselves in and some of the possible solutions in terms of making sure we have a lasting solution," says Phasiwe.
Salga's Tahir Sema says Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown will be part of the meeting with the Eskom board and top management.
"We will also meet Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen around midday. We are taking initiatives to ensure that our municipalities understand the gravity of the situation," says Sema.
Several municipalities had to settle their Eskom debt or face bulk supply interruptions.
Most of the municipalities managed to settle their accounts or made payment arrangements, but Minister Brown asked Eskom to give those municipalities who are still struggling time to make arrangement until the end of January.