This, after they failed to honour their commitment to pay their outstanding debt by 10:00 this morning.

The Dihlabeng and Masilonyana municipalities in the Free State Province had agreed to make the relevant cash payment as negotiated with Eskom, a payment plan for the arears as supported by a Council Resolution and a written undertaking in the form of a Council Resolution that current accounts will be honoured going forward.

They, however, defaulted on this and as a result will experience twice-daily supply interruptions of electricity between 06:00 – 08:00 and 17:00 – 19:30 (Monday to Friday) and 08:30 – 11:00 and 15:00 – 17:30 (Saturday and Sunday).

Meanwhile, a Clarens business owner, Ralph Burls, says they are relieved that their town will not be affected by the power cuts. He says they pay directly to Eskom and not through their local municipality - Dihlabeng. 

Burls says tourists should not consider cancelling bookings to this Eastern Free State town as the power cuts do not affect them at all.

Katleho Morapela/OFM News and Statement supplied by Eskom