Cape Town – Eskom has threatened to cut power in Johannesburg due to the city’s outstanding debt, which now totals nearly R5 billion, with an additional R1.4 billion due by month’s end.
Despite agreements to pay while disputing alleged overbilling claims, Johannesburg has failed to make full payments, the power utility said in a statement.
“Despite all the avenues that Eskom explored and efforts to accommodate the CoJ, the matter has reached a point where Eskom can simply no longer afford to accommodate the CoJ (City of Johannesburg) without putting further financial strain on and harming its own business,” Eskom.
Eskom serves notice of power interruption against City of Johannesburg and City Power. pic.twitter.com/M5BdQpgHFz
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 7, 2024
It continued: “Eskom today [Thursday] served a notice of intention to interrupt power supply to the City of Johannesburg and City Power at certain pre-determined times of day in accordance with the provision of Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.”
The statement said that if Eskom proceeds, power cuts in Johannesburg would occur at scheduled times.
The power utility said that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has admitted its debt to Eskom but is withholding full payment, citing unverified claims of overbilling on some supply points.
“It is for this reason that the CoJ is applying set-off against the monthly bills raised by Eskom, which is contrary to the electricity supply agreement and the agreements reached with its Chief Financial Officer, Rendani Sadiki, and the Chief Executive Officer of City Power, Tshifularo Mashava, and City of Johannesburg management. In more than one meeting, it was agreed that the CoJ would continue to pay whilst the alleged overbilling is investigated; this undertaking has been reneged on,” it said.
Eskom said it will decide on the scheduled power cuts after reviewing public feedback by December 12, 2024.
The cuts, if implemented, may target specific areas within the city.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
