Eskom to cut Free State municipality’s power

Local government officials were holding talks on Tuesday with power utility Eskom following threats to cut power to the Mafube local municipality in the Free State.

Mafube executive mayor Madala Ntombela said Eskom wanted to cut electricity supply on Wednesday.

"We are still talking, we are communicating with Eskom to find a solution," he told Sapa on Tuesday afternoon.
Ntombela said the municipality had asked the provincial government to help and they had also started talks with Eskom.

"It's not yet finalised but at least we are talking." Ntombela said.

He was hopeful that by Wednesday morning, during a scheduled meeting, an agreement would be finalised.

The municipality and Eskom must come to some sort of agreement because the municipality was unable to pay the current outstanding Eskom bill of R23 million, Ntombela said.

The municipality paid Eskom R8 million in December last year.

Ntombela said Eskom's claim that electricity would be cut due to non-payment was not accurate.

The municipality covers towns such as Frankfort, Villiers, Cornelia and Tweeling.



SAPA