The City of Johannesburg has settled its R5.25 billion electricity debt to Eskom, but opposition parties criticise underlying financial mismanagement issues.
Municipalities owe creditors R161 billion while Eskom reports R110.5 billion in municipal arrears, creating a crisis that survives electoral cycles and threatens essential services.
National Treasury defends withholding R13.5 billion from 69 municipalities to ensure creditor payments, aiming to change financial behavior without service delivery impact.
Eskom is consulting 14 municipalities about potential power cuts due to R110 billion in unpaid bills, while seeking sustainable solutions for rising municipal debt.