DA wants to know why Emalahleni’s Eskom debt is over R3 billion

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is on the warpath.

On March 9 the DA candidate for Ward 18, Ms Salomi Kriel accompanied by DA leadership laid charges at the Witbank Police Station against the municipal manager Mr Sizwe Mayisela for failing to service the Eskom debt which now stands at a staggering R3.5 billion.

“The municipal manager must account for the financial status of the institution and its viability thereof, it is clearly indicative that there is widespread corruption and nepotism within the institution which has contributed to it becoming technically insolvent,” Kriel said.

Kriel said the DA calls for a forensic investigation into the finances of the municipality and a lifestyle audit of all section 56 managers including other officials and the municipal manager.

In response the municipal spokesperson Mr Lebo Mofokeng on behalf of Mayisela said the allegations made by the DA need to be responded by giving correct information as they seem that they were made without getting factual information.

“It is a well-known fact that the municipality has been having trouble in making full payments to Eskom since 2012. Hence the municipality was placed under administration and the Eskom bill kept on escalating,” Mofokeng said.

He said one of the reasons why the municipality is failing to service the Eskom Bill fully is the non-payment by some of the residents and business people.

“The municipality does make payments to Eskom but of course is unable to pay the current account fully. The situation is made worse by the interest charged on the historical debts and penalties imposed for exceeding the notified maximum demand. If all the consumers within the municipality pay what they consume, then the municipality will be able to pay all its creditors within thirty days.”

This is an unfolding story.