The City of Johannesburg’s R4.9 billion debt to Eskom, with an additional R1.4 billion due by the end of November 2024 has sparked tension between the two organisations. Eskom now threatening to implement load shedding in Johannesburg as a result of the unpaid debt.
Unpaid municipal debt is a core issue for Eskom, and Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says, “We can no longer accommodate entities that do not pay without harming our own business. Borrowing money to operate while we should be paid for the electricity we provide by the municipalities we supply to is unsustainable.” As of September 2024, the total unpaid debt to Eskom is around R90 billion, an existential threat to the entity and South Africa’s energy. Eskom, in an official notice, is threatening to interrupt the power supply as a result of this unpaid debt.What else to read
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