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Four municipalities out of thirty in the Western Cape are currently in arrears with Eskom. These are Matzikama, Cederberg, Kannaland and Beaufort West municipalities.

When it comes to bulk water services, the Overberg Water Board is the only Water Board within the Province and there is currently no arrear debt owed by any municipality.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the department of Local Government in the province monitors municipalities in the province to determine if bulk service accounts are being settled timeously.

“We are very pleased to note that 26 of our municipalities are currently in good standing with Eskom and none are in arrears when it comes to water. I want to congratulate those successful municipalities for keeping their accounts clean and I urge the ones that remain outstanding to work with the province to resolve their debt challenges.”

Bredell says most municipalities in the province are rural and struggling with severe financial challenges.

“There is, however, no excuse to not pay your Eskom bill. Municipalities are able to reallocate the profit they get for facilitating electricity to their communities, but the amount owed to Eskom should not be utilized for other costs.”

Issued by The Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape