Eskom attaches Emfuleni Municipality bank accounts over R8bn debt

As of August 2024, Emfuleni owed R8 052 093 269,36 for bulk electricity.

The amount represents ~10% of the total R82 billion owed by municipalities to Eskom and places Emfuleni among the top three municipalities in debt to the power utility.

In a notice given in July to the National Treasury and Emfuleni Municipality, Eskom indicated that Emfuleni is no longer a beneficiary of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) 124 Debt Relief program due to multiple breaches.

This is after the municipality in the south of Gauteng failed to comply with the requirements of the National Treasury debt relief program.

Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says the Sheriff of the Court has successfully attached Emfuleni’s four bank accounts to ensure that the money collected for electricity is paid directly to Eskom.

"The attachment of the bank accounts allows Eskom to receive payment for the electricity it supplies, ensuring continued service to the municipality’s customers. Eskom has exhausted all legal and mediation avenues to secure payment for services rendered since 2018.

"Collecting municipal debt is a key focus for Eskom. The company will employ various strategies to recover owed funds, enabling investment in maintaining and strengthening electricity supply, fostering socio-economic growth, and reduce the need for interventions such as loadshedding.

"Eskom cannot financially sustain the electricity debt of the municipality without severely impacting its own operations and the citizens of the country. The municipality’s failure to pay for bulk electricity compromises Eskom’s financial stability and its ability to provide affordable electricity."

Mokwena adds that municipal debt remains one of Eskom’s biggest challenges.

"As of the end of March 2024, municipal arrears stood at around R74.4 billion, with an increase of approximately R15.9 billion during the last financial year (1 April 2023, to 30 March 2024)."

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