AfriForum warns Eskom re load shedding in four Eastern Cape municipalities

22 December 2015

AfriForum has informed Eskom that they standing ready to bring an urgent court application if the power utility does not switch on the electricity in the Nxuba, Gariep, Maletswai and Ikezi Municipalities in the Eastern Cape before 13:00 today. This comes after Eskom this morning started implementing ill-timed additional load shedding in these municipal areas – as they’re reportedly in arrears with their Eskom accounts.

“Eskom is holding taxpayers ransom due to the bad financial management of these local municipalities. It’s wrong to burden loyal taxpayers even further,” says Tiaan Esterhuizen, Manager of Community Structures at AfriForum.

Thomas van Dalen, Provincial Coordinator of the civil rights group in the Eastern Cape, says it places communities under immense pressure – especially in the festive season – if municipalities do not pay their bills.

“We have been granted interdicts against Eskom before, and will not hesitate to fight for the rights of these communities too.”

Issued by Tiaan Esterhuizen, Manager: Community Structures, AfriForum, 22 December 2015