The DA is shocked to learn that the Rand West Municipality, like many ANC-led Gauteng municipalities, is struggling to pay the R210 million they owe to Eskom as of 30 April 2018.
This was revealed during a sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature this week, by Uhuru Moiloa, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
Rand West is the latest municipality to join Emfuleni, Merafong and Mogale City in neglecting to pay Eskom, with the last three municipalities collectively owing Eskom an estimated R500 million.
If urgent and decisive action is not taken, the outstanding Eskom debt by ANC-run municipalities in Gauteng will reach R1 billion.
Eskom has threatened to disconnect municipalities that are failing to meet their financial obligations for the supply of bulk electricity.
The ANC in Gauteng previously committed to having its government pay its bills, but now a fourth municipality under its control is in severe arrears with Eskom.
The ANC is incapable of holding their mayors and office bearers to account, which allows them to run their municipalities into the ground.
The DA will be holding a picket outside the Rand West municipality tomorrow to highlight this gross mismanagement, as well as the illegal investment of R81 million by the municipality with the VBS Mutual Bank.
The people of Gauteng have the power to positively change the province, by voting for a DA-led government that will always prioritise service delivery and job creation, and stop corruption.