During a recent joint meeting of the portfolio committees on electricity and energy and cooperative governance and traditional affairs it became clear there is some sympathy for Eskom when it comes to the issues of nonpayment by municipalities. The problem is large, with Eskom confirming that the backlog now stands at more than R114-billion, while warning that it could exceed R300-billion by 2030 if left unchecked and will threaten its financial turnaround.

Johannesburg is a clear example of what happens when the nonpayment culture is not addressed

During a recent joint meeting of the portfolio committees on electricity and energy and cooperative governance and traditional affairs it became clear there is some sympathy for…