Question NW945 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
05 May 2021 - NW945
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
What are the latest steps that he and/or his department is taking to recoup the R28 billion municipal debt currently owed to Eskom as revealed by the latest annual report?
Reply:
According to the information received from Eskom
Eskom continues with its debt management processes which included the issuing of debt summons, attachment of assets and bank accounts if required. Eskom is also pursuing the dispute mechanisms as defined in the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act and creates awareness of the role of various government departments in the resolution of the arrear debt. Eskom also engages stakeholders via the Eskom Political Task Team and Multi-disciplinary Revenue Committee in seeking resolution to the Municipal debt problem.
Eskom is also embarking on a municipal active partnering programme whereby services are offered to struggling municipalities to assist with electricity reticulation, distribution and revenue collection with the purpose of sustainably improving the electricity value chain, thereby securing payment for the electricity supplied to end consumers of the municipality. A focused intergovernmental approach is also being followed with special intervention in Maluti a Phofung by the Deputy President who has established a task team to track progress on the implementation of these initiatives in the municipality.