Court dismisses Eskom's application amid bill dispute
The High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed Eskom's urgent application to force City Power to pay unsettled debt which is still under dispute.
In June, the High Court ordered the City of Johannesburg and City Power to pay R1 billion plus interest for an unpaid electricity account for the cost of bulk electricity supply services in March.
City Power was subsequently granted leave to appeal the ruling.
The court criticised the power utility's petition for an urgent order, amid a pending appeal process to challenge an earlier judgement.
“Somewhat curiously, the relief was sought pending the hearing in COJ’s application for leave to appeal a judgement which was granted against earlier this year.” the Judge Myburgh said
“At the risk of saying more than is necessary, I cannot see how the requirement for urgency can possibly be satisfied in respect of a claim which has not even arisen,” he said.
City Power has, meanwhile, indicated it is in the process of finalizing its appeal due for submission in the coming week.
"We still maintain that critical aspects of the evidence were not fully considered by the earlier court in reaching its conclusion and are confident that a different court will find otherwise in our favour," said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
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