South African officials discuss R467 billion municipal electricity debt crisis
via The Citizen4 min read
South African ministers and officials from Eskom and the South African Local Government Association Salga convened to address the R467 billion debt owed by consumers to municipalities, and the R110 billion municipalities owe Eskom. Electricity and energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramakgopa emphasized the need for "innovative and drastic ways" to resolve the debt, warning that municipalities could lose basic functions. He noted that while Distribution Agency Agreements DAA have improved revenue collection and reduced losses in some municipalities, their impact needs to be more widespread. The municipal debt relief program has seen 24 out of 71 participating municipalities have one-third of their historic debt written off, with 27 others receiving partial write-offs. However, 13 municipalities received termination letters for non-payment. Eskom reported success with load reduction in 971 areas, leading to a 42% drop in consumption due to improved payment. Smart meters were highlighted as effective, showing a 26% revenue increase for municipalities and 96% payment recovery for Eskom. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Cogta attributed the crisis to a "culture of non-payment" and systemic breakdown in revenue collection, suggesting DAAs as a tool for recovery in distressed municipalities. Salga, however, expressed concerns that DAAs threaten municipal autonomy and advocated for internal reforms, increased funding, training, and support for municipalities.
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The Economic Freedom Fighters EFF announced its parliamentary caucus will boycott President Cyril Ramaphosa’s budget vote debate, labeling him a "constitutional delinquent." The party stated it refuses to legitimize a president who has allegedly violated his oath of office. This decision comes as President Ramaphosa challenges the Section 89 report, which found prima facie evidence of potential constitutional and legal breaches following the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm in 2020. The EFF argues that President Ramaphosa does not deserve a parliamentary audience until impeachment proceedings against him are concluded, citing his legal challenge to the Section 89 report as an attempt to avoid accountability. The party also criticized the Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza, for allegedly failing to act neutrally on the Phala Phala matter, suggesting her loyalty lies with the ANC and President Ramaphosa rather than with parliament and the constitution.
Must ReadThe Department of Basic Education DBE has identified several issues with the Western Cape Education Department's WCED pupil admissions system, including that waiting lists from schools in the province contained only African and Coloured pupils. These findings were presented to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Basic Education during a follow-up on allegations of racial profiling and discrimination in pupil admissions. The Western Cape High Court previously ruled aspects of the WCED's admissions system unconstitutional and discriminatory, a judgment the provincial department has since appealed. The DBE's preliminary findings indicate that the Western Cape admissions system allows schools to use their own criteria and discretion for placements, with school governing bodies actively involved in administering admissions in many Cape Town schools. Concerns include schools using their own selection criteria, the apparent lack of zoning or residential address use for placement, and the prioritization of parents' right to select schools over the rights of disadvantaged pupils. The DBE also noted that provincial officials typically intervene only after pupils are unplaced, without evidence of instructions to schools to review placement decisions. The review of admissions policies revealed some schools consider academic performance, interviews, tests, scoresheets, proof of employment, and unabridged birth certificates, as well as requests for information on sports participation, lead
Must ReadMalawi has initiated a voluntary repatriation program for its nationals in South Africa due to increased violent attacks targeting African migrants. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that this initiative is for citizens who have formally requested assistance, with logistical details to be finalized. The ministry has been closely monitoring reports of vigilante demonstrations and attacks, and its High Commission in Pretoria and Consulate-General in Johannesburg are in contact with Malawian diaspora leaders to offer support. Diplomatic engagements with South African authorities have been positive, with Malawi commending South Africa for taking steps to address concerns. Consular support is being arranged for affected Malawians. This development follows recent protests in multiple South African provinces where demonstrators threatened foreign nationals and their property. Organizations leading these protests, such as March and March, have set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. African ambassadors previously boycotted South Africa's Africa Day celebrations, citing safety concerns for foreign nationals amidst rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Violent anti-immigration protests have occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape, with foreign nationals, including refugees and children, seeking police protection in Durban.
The ANC has recently removed two mayors, Sipho Radebe of Emfuleni Local Municipality and Douglas Maimane of Madibeng Local Municipality, in less than a week. The party stated its commitment to municipalities focused on community needs, service delivery, job creation, and economic opportunity, emphasizing that the needs of the people come before individual ambitions. However, political analyst Wayne Duvenhage suggests this could be crisis management and last-minute maneuvering before upcoming elections. Duvenhage noted that the ANC might be trying to appear proactive against underperforming officials, but cannot apply this consistently across all areas, particularly in coalition governments like Johannesburg. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula previously stated that Joburg mayor Dada Morero would not be recalled in an election year, a decision Duvenhage believes is driven by a political agenda. Radebe's removal in Emfuleni followed service delivery failures and the DA winning a ward in the area, while Maimane's recall in Madibeng was due to internal ANC disputes and allegations of campaigning against the party, leading to legal action.