Eskom will keep the lights on at three Free State municipalities which have made new payment agreements with the power utility.
Speaking to Fin24 by phone on Tuesday afternoon Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe said that that the municipalities Masilonyana and Nala had both reached payment agreements with Eskom. Later in the evening, he notified Fin24 that Tokologo municipality had also made a new payment agreement.
All three municipalities were scheduled to have power interruptions from Wednesday, July 18, over non-payments.
On Monday Phasiwe said that Eskom would only be open to new payment agreements if the municipalities made substantial payment towards their debt.
At the time he told Fin24 that Tokologo owed Eskom over R30m. According to Phasiwe Nala owes Eskom close to R200m.
He could not disclose the amounts that the municipalities had paid to Eskom on Tuesday.
He explained that Nala’s next payment date is August 1. Masilonyana is to pay Eskom on August 25. Tokologo must pay Eskom on July 20, for June’s outstanding accounts.
Phasiwe said that the current arrangement is not ideal, but it seems to be working as municipalities are paying up to avoid power interruptions.
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