OUTA says Joburg power-cut process still active despite reported Eskom deal

Staff Reporter

Eskom’s process to cut electricity to parts of Johannesburg remains active despite public reports suggesting the City of Johannesburg’s debt dispute with the utility had been resolved, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said.

OUTA said no tangible evidence had been provided that a settlement had been reached between Eskom and the city, and warned that the public participation process under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) had been undermined by perceptions that the matter had been settled.

Eskom issued notice in May that it intended to reduce, interrupt or terminate electricity supply to certain bulk supply points in Johannesburg because the city and City Power owed it more than R5.2 billion in arrears, excluding a further current account payment due in June.

The threat triggered concern over the possible impact on South Africa’s biggest city and economic hub, before Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Johannesburg Mayor Dada