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FS Cogta MEC set to answer questions on growing municipal debts

───   KATLEHO MORAPELA 14:45 Wed, 16 May 2018

FS Cogta MEC set to answer questions on growing municipal debts | News Article

The new Free State MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Oupa Khoabane, is soon expected to provide answers on municipal debts in the provincial legislature.


This, after members of opposition parties submitted their set of questions on defaulting municipalities and their debts to Eskom and the water boards. Eskom today told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that municipal debts across the country have increased by R4.2 billion in the 2017/18 fiscal year, bringing their total debt to R13.6 billion with the bulk of it still owed by municipalities in the Free State. The utility's spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, said the province owes Eskom R6.5 billion, followed by Mpumalanga with over R3.3 billion and the North West with over R800 million.

With just a week into office after being moved from the Agriculture Department following last week’s provincial cabinet reshuffle, Khoabane is already expected to give a detailed plan on steps to be taken to ensure that the Maluti-A-Phofung, Matjhabeng, Ngwathe, Nala, Moqhaka, Dihlabeng, and Nketoana municipalities, among others, adhere to their payment agreements with Eskom.

Khoabane will in the next sitting also be expected to answer questions on the on-going water crisis in the province and how municipalities are going to repay the water boards. 


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