Photo by: Duane Daws
Civil rights organisation AfriForum on Friday said it would call on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to withdraw the licences of municipalities that have defaulted on their payments to power provider Eskom.
“[We will be approaching] the courts in terms of the protection of the public’s constitutional rights,” it said in a statement, adding that it intended to also mobilise communities to protest and direct petitions to each municipal council’s Speaker.
“The Eskom debt, in excess of R10.2-billion, is detrimental to innocent South African citizens,” it highlighted, stating that it would now create a legal fund whereby citizens could contribute to hold municipal officials accountable.
To date, AfriForum has spent nearly R1-million.
Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown earlier this week ordered Eskom to abandon electricity supply cut-offs until January 31, as it would have a detrimental economic impact on smaller towns.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan also sent out a strong message to municipalities to pay their service accounts.