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GRAAFF-REINET NEWS & VIDEO - Eskom is threatening to cut the electricity supply to the entire Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipal service area.

Mayor Deon de Vos told council on 30 January that the power supplier told the municipality to pay up by 6 February, or the municipal district will be left without electricity. The municipality owes Eskom millions, but is refusing to divulge just how much is owed.

"The municipality reserves comment to the media regarding all Eskom related matters until consultations with Eskom are concluded," said Acting Municipal Spokesperson, Edwardine Abader.

However, the Advertiser learned from a reliable source that Eskom wants R24-million in its bank account, with an acceptable agreement to pay off the rest.

According to the source, the council's top decision-makers, such as Municipal Manager Dr Eddie Rankwana and Acting Chief of Financial Services Delphine Sauls, are busy calculating what the municipality can come up with. "But it won't be near the required amount," the source said.

De Vos said Rankwana must make sure that all legal steps are taken to ensure that no power cuts occur.

On Tuesday morning, 4 February the source said an amount would be paid to Eskom on the same day. "It's now up to them to decide if it is acceptable or not, otherwise they will terminate the power supply."

According to information, the municipality have agreed to pay the utility company R9-million per month. On top of that the municipality is said to pay an extra R780 000 per month to honour the payment of a separate amount of R48-million. Eskom saw red when the municipality failed to make the November payment and paid less than required for a few months.

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Ewald Loock, a DA councillor and Chairperson of Finance in council, said parliament left the municipality in a difficult position, with the amalgamation of Camdeboo, Ikwesi and Baviaans municipalities.

Camdeboo owed Eskom R10-million, with Ikwesi owing R22-million and Baviaans R4-million.

That is in addition to a combined R65-million owed to other creditors. "Now we sit with the debt and to this day not one single member of parliament has fought to help us get rid of it," Loock said.

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