WATCH: Municipal cars, furniture seized as Eskom tries to recover money

Vehicles and furniture belonging to the Emfuleni municipality in Vanderbijlpark were seized on Monday morning to help settle its unpaid debt owed to Eskom.

In total, Emfuleni owes Eskom R2.3 billion, says Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha. In 2018, a court judgment ruled that Eskom could recover R615 million in this debt from the municipality.

“We have issued another summons to collect the balance,” Mantshantsha tweeted.

He shared videos of the Sheriff of the Court removing vehicles and furniture from an Emfuleni municipal building in Vanderbijlpark:

Towards the end of last year, Eskom threatened to cut power to Emfuleni – which includes Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark and  Vereeniging - due to unpaid bills.

According to an ENCA report, the municipality is blaming its debt woes on an apartheid-era agreement which allowed large manufacturers to pay cheaper, subsidies electricity power.