McGluwa stated that the municipality is among those in the province that are due to have their electricity supply cut off owing to their failure to honour their payment agreements with Eskom. McGluwa issued a statement on Monday afternoon, detailing how over nine municipalities in the province owe Eskom over one billion rands. From the breakdown list it was alleged that the Rustenburg Local Municipality owes the power supplier over R260 million. Magae said statements made by McGluwa are lies and are part of a ploy to discredit the manner in which the municipality is handling its finances.

 Spokesperson at the Rustenburg Local Municipality, David Magae, told OFM News that the municipality has in fact registered a formal dispute with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) over an account that was erroneously billed by Eskom to the Municipality. Furthermore, Magae said that the municipality’s financial matters are in order and they are handling all their accounts, including the Eskom account, with precision. “As things stand, the municipality pays its creditors month-to-month to ensure that the accounts are not in arrears and are up to date,” Magae told OFM News.

 McGluwa alleges that the three North West municipalities with the most debt owing to Eskom are the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, which has an alleged outstanding debt of R360 million, the Naledi Local Municipality, which allegedly also owes R260 million, and finally the Rustenburg Local Municipality, which allegedly also owes R260 million. Other municipalities McGluwa alleged are under threat by Eskom to have their bulk electricity supply suspended, should they fail to honour their repayment agreements, are as follows:

• Matlosana Local Municipality: R175 million

• Mamusa Local Municipality: R62 million

• Kgetleng River Local Municipality: R58 million

• Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality: R29 million

• Romotshere Moiloa Local Municipality: R26 million

• Maquassi Hills Local Municipality: R14 million

According to McGluwa, these amounts are the Eskom debt breakdown per municipality as indicated at 18 October 2018.

OFM News