Power utility Eskom was owed more than R2.3 billion by various municipalities, civil rights organisation AfriForum said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“While the country has seen a week of rolling blackouts, municipalities owe Eskom more than R2.3 billion,” spokesman Tiaan Esterhuizen said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The outstanding debt adds to the country’s electricity woes.”<\/p>\n
He said Mpumalanga’s municipal debt to Eskom was more than R800 million, while municipalities in the Free State owed more than R570 million.<\/p>\n
“Taxpayers pay their accounts every month but are left without power as a result of poor financial management by municipalities,” said Esterhuizen.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Eskom CEO Brian Dames said the country’s power supply remained constrained.<\/p>\n
The power utility introduced emergency rostered power cuts, called load shedding, to prevent a collapse of the national power grid because coal supplies for electricity generators were wet.<\/p>\n
Esterhuizen said municipalities that failed to pay their accounts should have their licenses to supply electricity revoked.<\/p>\n
He said electricity management should be privatised.<\/p>\n
“AfriForum believes that privatising electricity management will eliminate the impact of inept municipalities, and solve problems with electricity supply. Privatisation will also streamline debt collection and an accurate invoicing system.”<\/p>\n
Comment from co-operative governance spokesman Botshelo Rakate could not be obtained.<\/p>\n
Eskom: cutting power was painful<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Eskom state of emergency lifted<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n