ESKOM says this is just temporary suspension of power-cuts in order to allow the municipality time to make means to pay up.
The power utility has suspended electricity disruptions in eMalahleni and will begin again on 3 March 2017 if the municipality doesn’t pay.
This suspension of power-cuts also applies to Msukaligwa municipality.
The two Mpumalanga municipalities are among the 34 municipalities across the country owing over R10bn to the State Owned Entity, which has risen from R6bn in past few years.
eMalahleni alone owes over R1bn while the Msukaligwa local municipality in Ermelo owes R145m which rose from R139m in just over a year – and this resulted in power-cuts.
“Eskom feels the pain inflicted to the members of the public and the unintended consequences of the disruption,” the power utility said in a statement on Wednesday this week.
“We have decided to suspend the supply interruptions with immediate effect until 3 March 2017,” it said.
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“This gesture from Eskom will allow the defaulting municipalities some time to remedy the breach and also bring some normality to the affected communities.
“Should the municipalities fail to remedy the breach,” the power utility warns, “the interruptions will resume from 4 March 2017 and Eskom reserves the rights to continue with the interruptions following adequate notice to the communities”.
(edited by ZK)
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