Madibeng municipality settles its Eskom debt
The Madibeng local municipality in North West has paid its Eskom debt amounting to over R20 million, mayor Jostina Mothibe said on Thursday.
“We have cleared our debt with Eskom way before the deadline. We will not subjected to blackouts,” she said.
Power utility Eskom had issued a notice to interrupt bulk electricity supply to the Madibeng area in February if the municipality could not settle its debt.
“Local municipality of Madibeng is currently indebted to Eskom in the amount of R22,721,015.14 for the bulk supply of electricity, part of which has been outstanding and escalating since October 2014,” Eskom said in a notice place in the local newspaper Brits Pos at the time.
Mothibe said the municipality was facing a problem of electricity theft through illegal connections.
“We experience a challenge of illegal connection in many areas. We paid off our debt to Eskom, but the current account is huge due to illegal connections. The municipality will have to install smart meters to counter this problem.”
Power interruption would have been effected from March 30, between 07h00-10h00 and from 18h00-20h00.
Acting municipal manager Energy Manaka said the municipality paid Eskom on March 22.