Newcastle warned over R200-million Eskom debt
The province’s Department of Co-operative Governance is urging residents and communities residing in the Newcastle area in northern KZN to settle their electricity bills.
Eskom issued the town a notice earlier in the week detailing its intentions to introduce power interruptions from the end of September. The municipality owes the power utility R200-million dating back to 2017.
Cogta says it will discuss the issue with the municipality. Spokesperson Lennox Mabaso says businesses and farmers owe the most money.
"We need to remember the the Newcastle municipality purchases electricity from Eskom which is utilised by business and the people - therefore it is user-pay system", he said.
"Currently, according to the debt books there are a lot of people owing the municipality and those who who are stealing power. So we are appealing to those who still need to pay to do so so that we avert a crisis", Mabaso said.