The power utility, which is owed more than R26 billion by municipalities around the country, said it was also seeking a further court order against the municipality.

"Eskom wishes to confirm that as of 5pm on Friday we have not received any payment from the municipality. Eskom had demanded a payment of R222 million plus R40 million which is outstanding from their last payment in order to suspend the confiscation of municipal property," Eskom spokesman Sikonathi Manthshantsha said.

"With the municipality having failed to meet those demands, Eskom indeed wishes to confirm that the sheriff of the court will proceed again with attaching property belonging to the municipality."

He said this was part of efforts to collect R615 million, for which Eskom approached the North Gauteng High Court, and secured an attachment order to settle the debt in 2018.

Eskom has again approached the high court for an order against Emfuleni regarding the remainder of its debt.  "This is to obtain an order against the municipality for payment of debt amounting to R1.7 billion."

Mantshantsha said the court application would be heard on March 31.

He confirmed that Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter was scheduled to meet with the Gauteng MEC for local government, Lebogang Maile, but that the discussions would not deter the power utility from seeing through the court application.

De Ruyter signalled this month that Eskom would harden its stance on unpaid municipal debt.

African News Agency (ANA)