The Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging), which is already infamous for being dysfunctional, sunk to new depths this week when Eskom attached its four bank accounts.
The step was necessitated by outstanding historical debt of R8 billion.
It follows Emfuleni’s failure to honour its debt-relief agreement with Eskom that was approved by the National Treasury.
The amount of R8 billion comprises about 10% of the R82 billion that the Municipality has owed Eskom since 2018.
Over the years, the Municipality has been embroiled in many legal battles with Eskom which not only caused its outstanding debt to accumulate, but also incurred enormous legal costs.
Bulk service providers have been attaching Emfuleni’s bank accounts for years.
Rand Water, for instance, attached the Municipality’s bank accounts and movable assets several times.
The Gauteng government placed Emfuleni under partial administration between May 2018 and September 2023, but to no avail.
The FF Plus implored the Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Mr Hassan Mako, to urgently address the Municipality’s debt problem.
Residents should no longer be punished for the ANC’s failed governance of Emfuleni.
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