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Bloemfontein - A handful of Free State municipalities had by Monday settled their outstanding electricity accounts with Eskom.
This followed after Eskom threatened to cut supply to 11 municipalities if outstanding electricity debts were not paid by next week.
Regional Eskom spokesperson Adri Strydom said the Dihlabeng (Bethlehem), Masilonyana (Theunissen), Matjhabeng (Welkom), Moqhaka (Kroonstad) and Phumelela (Vrede) municipalities had settled their arrears.
Eskom last week issued several Free State municipalities with notices of its intention to disconnect their electricity supply if they did not settle their outstanding accounts before July 20.
Strydom said the Mangaung Local Municipality (greater Bloemfontein area) and the Ngwathe municipality (Parys) had made partial payments, but had not yet settled their accounts in full.
Two municipalities, Nala (Bothaville, Wesselsbron) and Mafube (Frankfort), had not paid anything.
Strydom said due to client confidentiality she could not say what amounts were still outstanding.
Eskom reiterated that if outstanding payments were not made by July 20, it would continue with disconnections as planned.
In the meantime, AfriForum announced it would consider taking legal action against Eskom to keep the lights on in Free State municipalities.
AfriForum spokesperson Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg said the organisation had already lodged a complaint with the Public Protector and requested an investigation into the reasons for the crisis.
He said since poor municipal management was to blame for the current situation, Eskom could not punish town residents who paid their bills.
Jansen van Rensburg said AfriForum had sent letters to its members in many of the towns indicating that they would help non-members, residents and institutions, such as old age homes, to ensure they have power.
"Local communities must start cooperating more closely and call the management of local municipalities to account for their actions," Jansen van Rensburg said in a statement.
- Sapa
This followed after Eskom threatened to cut supply to 11 municipalities if outstanding electricity debts were not paid by next week.
Regional Eskom spokesperson Adri Strydom said the Dihlabeng (Bethlehem), Masilonyana (Theunissen), Matjhabeng (Welkom), Moqhaka (Kroonstad) and Phumelela (Vrede) municipalities had settled their arrears.
Eskom last week issued several Free State municipalities with notices of its intention to disconnect their electricity supply if they did not settle their outstanding accounts before July 20.
Strydom said the Mangaung Local Municipality (greater Bloemfontein area) and the Ngwathe municipality (Parys) had made partial payments, but had not yet settled their accounts in full.
Two municipalities, Nala (Bothaville, Wesselsbron) and Mafube (Frankfort), had not paid anything.
Strydom said due to client confidentiality she could not say what amounts were still outstanding.
Eskom reiterated that if outstanding payments were not made by July 20, it would continue with disconnections as planned.
In the meantime, AfriForum announced it would consider taking legal action against Eskom to keep the lights on in Free State municipalities.
AfriForum spokesperson Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg said the organisation had already lodged a complaint with the Public Protector and requested an investigation into the reasons for the crisis.
He said since poor municipal management was to blame for the current situation, Eskom could not punish town residents who paid their bills.
Jansen van Rensburg said AfriForum had sent letters to its members in many of the towns indicating that they would help non-members, residents and institutions, such as old age homes, to ensure they have power.
"Local communities must start cooperating more closely and call the management of local municipalities to account for their actions," Jansen van Rensburg said in a statement.
- Sapa
